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For an Eagles team thin at safety, it takes a village to replace Rodney McLeod

Every NFL roster has positions where it is deep, and positions where that is just not the case. The Eagles' thinnest position right now is safety, so Doug Pederson's confirmation Friday of MCL surgery for Rodney McLeod could have big implications for the Super Bowl champions' chances of repeating.

Pederson wouldn't confirm that McLeod will go on injured reserve or that his season is over, but unofficially, that is what the team believes. McLeod, 28, has been the starter next to Malcolm Jenkins since McLeod arrived as a free agent from the Rams in 2016. He isn't a superstar, but he is dependable and solid, a strong tackler who is rarely fooled in coverage.