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PHILADELPHIA -- Evan Mathis is eligible to return to the active roster, just in time for the Eagles’ other veteran guard to go on the injured reserve list. According to a report in the Philadelphia Inquirer, right guard Todd Herremans will have season-ending surgery to repair the tear in his left biceps. Herremans tore the muscle during the Eagles’ game in Arizona. He wore a brace and attempted to play with the injury in Houston on Sunday. It appears Herremans, 32, was trying to bridge the gap between his injury and Mathis’ eligibility to return. By playing with one functioning arm, Herremans allowed the Eagles to have some stability on their offensive line. With Mathis returning, Herremans can have surgery without abandoning his post. Mathis will step back in to his spot at left guard. Matt Tobin, who has improved each week as Mathis’ replacement, is likely to slide over to right guard to replace Herremans. Andrew Gardner, who replaced Herremans after he hurt his ankle Sunday, is the other candidate to replace Herremans. While his intentions were honorable, Herremans struggled against J.J. Watt and the rest of the Texans’ defense Sunday. With a bulky brace on his left elbow, there was no hiding where Herremans was vulnerable. “I thought he was effective,” Eagles coach Chip Kelly said. “There were certain things that obviously when they kind of got to his inside arm, which was the arm he hurt, I think sometimes he wasn't as strong as he normally would have been. But I thought he battled out there and played his tail off.” At times, Herremans simply lunged forward and tried to get a hold of the defender across from him. The Eagles got through that game, but it would have been difficult for Herremans to continue playing as opponents figured out the limitations caused by his injury. If Herremans is placed on IR, as expected, it will be official. The Eagles will never have their 2013 offensive line start a single game together in 2014. Left tackle Jason Peters has started all eight games. Right tackle Lane Johnson missed the first four games after being suspended for violating the NFL’s PED policy. Herremans started the first eight games, but will be gone the rest of the season. Center Jason Kelce missed four games after having surgery to repair a sports hernia.
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