The Sports Xchange

PHILADELPHIA – Rookie linebacker Jordan Hicks, who was taken in the third round of the draft in April, figured to spend this season earning his keep on special teams.

But then Kiko Alonso and Mychal Kendricks both got hurt last week and suddenly Hicks was the next man up.

On Sunday, he played every defensive snap in the Eagles’ 24-17 win over the Jets.

Hicks had an interception, recovered a fumble and led the team in tackles.

“It’s happening real fast,” Hicks said. “It’s been a fast two weeks. Huge. I believe everything is supposed to happen for a reason. I approach everything the same. With everything I’ve got. Whatever happens happens.

“I’ve just gone out there and tried to play loose, tried to play with a lot of passion and have a lot of fun. If I do that things will work out.”

–The Eagles will have a new kicker Sunday in Caleb Sturgis when they play the Washington Redskins.

The opening occurred when Cody Parkey was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with a still unidentified injury.

The Eagles signed Sturgis, a fifth-round pick by the Dolphins in 2013. He wasn’t particularly accurate in his two seasons with them, converting 55 of 71 field-goal attempts and just 20 of 33 from 40-plus yards.

Parkey missed time with a groin injury in the preseason. But Kelly said this a “new” injury.

“In his leg,” he said.

Kelly said it started bothering him in warmups Sunday and affected his kickoffs.

“He had to kind of adjust how he was kicking the ball off,” he said. “He didn’t get his kickoffs where we normally get the kickoffs.”