The fourth preseason game is traditionally the game where the starters get a night off, and the backups take center stage.
That won't be the case for new Eagles middle linebacker Kiko Alonso, who is planning to play in Thursday night's preseason finale against the New York Jets.
Kiko Alonso says he is playing in the final preseason game, just to get reps even if it isn’t with starters.
— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) September 1, 2015
Alonso has yet to play a single rep this preseason due to a concussion he suffered during training camp. He was originally scheduled to make his debut last Saturday in Green Bay, but the 25-year-old was held out due to leg discomfort. The discomfort was caused by tendinitis, which is a common side-effect of ACL surgery.
The former Buffalo Bill has not played in an NFL game since his rookie season in 2013, where he established himself as one of the league's most dynamic young linebackers. He suffered a torn ACL weeks before Bills training camp, and was forced to miss the entire 2014 season.
That being said, there will inevitably be some rust for a young linebacker who hasn't played in an NFL game in almost two years. While he likely won't be joined by first-team defense, Thursday's game will provide a good opportunity for Alonso to shake off the rust before the regular season opener on Sept. 14 in Atlanta.
