Peters returns Thursday night to protect Nick Foles' blind side, which, frankly, can be very blind. The other candidates to play left tackle are Halapoulivaati Vaitai, the only Eagle who had a worse preseason than Foles, and rookie Jordan Mailata, a converted rugby player with unlimited potential but zero football experience. The importance of Peters' return cannot be overstated. He is the cavalry, charging over yonder hill.
Some quarterbacks can function without the aid of an impenetrable offensive line. Foles is not among them.
They might pass quickly, like Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger. Last season, in his two full regular-season starts and his three playoff games, he held on to the ball an average of 2.