By Harry Allison
Eagles coach revealed Monday afternoon that the reason running back didn’t get more than six touches in last night’s game against the Carolina Panthers because of an injury to his groin.
“He’s been hurt the last two weeks,” Kelly said.
Mathews suffered the groin injury prior to the team’s game last Monday night against the New York Giants, but did play, carrying the ball nine times for 40 yards.
Against the Panthers, Mathews carried the ball six times for 97 yards, including a 63-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, which he pulled off despite the injury.
“When he pulled by (Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly), he said he kind of pulled it again,” Kelly said. “He didn’t think he was going to make it into the end zone. (Running back coach Duce Staley) monitored him after that.”
Overall, Matthews has 15 carries for 137 yards over the past two weeks, despite playing with the injured groin, an injury that could linger past the team’s bye week and right into their Nov. 8 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys.
“He is injured right now,” Kelly said. “We’ll see if he’ll be available for the Cowboys game.”
