The Sports Xchange

PHILADELPHIA — Quarterback Sam Bradford has been taking a lot of heat for the struggles of the Philadelphia Eagles passing game. He is 29th in the league in passing and has a league-worst 37.9 completion percentage on third down.

But wide receiver Jordan Matthews said the receivers, who already have 11 drops, deserve a big chunk of the blame.

“The biggest thing I hate is that he gets so much of the blame,” said Matthews, who has a team-high 22 catches, but also three drops.

“That’s unfair and it’s not true. We have to go out there and make plays for him. That’s what helps him get going. He’s putting it on us. We have to go out there and do it.”

–The Eagles will have a new kicker when they face the Redskins on Sunday. Cody Parkey was placed on injured reserve after tearing three groin muscles.

The team signed Caleb Sturgess, who spent the last two years with the Dolphins. He has a mediocre 77.5 career field goal percentage and was only 20-for-33 from 40-plus yards with Miami. He finished 19th last year and 26th the year before in touchback percentage on kickoffs.

–The Eagles hope to be getting linebacker Kiko Alonso back this season, perhaps even for their Nov. 8 rematch against Dallas.

Alonso, who missed last season because of a torn left ACL, reinjured the ACL two weeks ago in the Eagles’ 20-10 loss to the Cowboys. Alonso had an arthroscopic procedure done Tuesday by Dr. James Andrews to determine the severity of the damage to the original ligament graft.

Season-ending reconstructive surgery was a possibility if the injury was severe enough. But Andrews told Alonso that he won’t need surgery and should be able to play after about four weeks or rehab.

–The Eagles have failed to gain a first down on 17 of their 40 possessions. That’s 42.5 percent of them, which is the lowest percentage in the league.

Last season, the Eagles failed to make at least one first down on only 30.5 percent of their possessions. The year before, only 25.2.

–Linebacker Mychal Kendricks was a full practice participant for the first time since sustaining a hamstring injury in the Eagles’ Week 2 loss to Dallas. He hopes he will be able to play Sunday against Washington.

NOTES: Wide receiver Riley Cooper (knee) did not practice Wednesday. Cooper has only three receptions this season. … Running back DeMarco Murray (hamstring) was a limited practice participant Wednesday. … Wide receiver Josh Huff (hamstring) was listed on the injury report and was a limited practice participant.