Calcaterra’s Injury Proves Sirianni Right, Opens Another Door for Latu
Jan 4, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles tight end Grant Calcaterra (81) goes down injured during the third quarter against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
While many are calling for the coaching staff’s heads for not playing the starters, Grant Calcaterra unintentionally proved Nick Sirianni and his minions right.
The Eagles were unable to capture the second seed in the NFC, despite the Lions’ win against the Bears, which occurred seconds before Tanner McKee‘s turnover on downs locked the Eagles into the third seed. With the starters playing, they may have barely squeaked out a win, as they have all season, and they may have gotten injured, as some have this season.
However, the Eagles did not play their starters. They lost and now host an almost-fully-healthy home game against the 49ers, who did play their starters in Week 18. As for their division matchup against Seattle, the Niners knocked in a field goal and lost 13-3. A rather undesirable result for a team that is risking their players’ health.
While the 49ers, with their starters, avoided any major injuries, the Eagles, with their backups, took a detrimental hit to the depth chart. Grant Calcaterra, the backup tight end to Dallas Goedert, was hip-drop tackled by the Commanders’ Jeremy Reaves.
The tight end did not return to the game after suffering leg injuries due to this tackle.
Calcattera has played a large part in the Eagles’ offense, especially their run game, and his injury completely changes the game plan moving forward, especially from a run-protection standpoint. However, this may not be the worst thing. Calcaterra has been awful as a run-blocker this year, yet he’s still being used as one. It’s fair to say that his consistently shed blocks have helped regress Saquon Barkley‘s numbers all the way back to his tenure with the New York Giants.
It’s important to remember that injuries should never be wished upon anyone, and I certainly hope Calcaterra can make a full recovery, but when one door closes, another one opens.
As pointed out by Anthony DiBona of The Philly Special Show, Cameron Latu has been used time-to-time as a run-blocker, a role Calcaterra often has a hand in. Latu’s numbers, though a small sample size, are much better than anything you can conjure up for the backup tight end.
Sirianni and Kevin Patullo have an opportunity to barge through this newly-opened door with Latu as a run-blocker, and even as a receiver, with his history at tight end at Alabama. Latu can provide Patullo with a dynamic ability, just as Calcaterra had, except with better blocking; it’s just up to the coordinator to do so.
No matter what the offensive minds make of Calcaterra’s expected absence, his injury is exactly why Sirianni sat his starters in a winnable week 18 game. The Commanders are not the cleanest team in the league, and after the fiasco in week 16, I would not expect them to leave bodies unchecked.
This Eagles team, which is already dealing with the absence of Lane Johnson and Jalen Carter, does not need to lose another key starter, as they did in 2023 with A.J. Brown.
Calcaterra’s injury, though unfortunate, proved the coaching staff right, and if the deciding factor for risking your players’ health is the 49ers or the Packers, then go ahead and sit the starters because the Eagles are either beating everyone or beating themselves.
Sean Regenye
Sean Regenye is a sophomore broadcast journalism major at Penn State University. He is a die-hard Philly sports fan and loves baseball, especially the Phillies.
Get New Articles Emailed Right to Your Inbox:
