Avonte Maddox Injury: Health, Mobility Still A Question Mark For Eagles CB In Super Bowl LVII

The Eagles steamrolled the 49ers, 31-7, in the NFC Championship Game as No. 3 cornerback Avonte Maddox returned after missing the last three games with a left turf toe injury. 

Because of the 49ers' quarterback carousel quagmire, the 26-year-old didn't have his stop-and-start ability and lateral quickness challenged in the same way he will against the Chiefs' sharp and varied passing offense. 

According to the Pro Football Docs, Maddox will likely still have limited mobility against Patrick Mahomes II and his menagerie of weapons in Super Bowl LVIII, seven weeks and one day since the great left toe hyperextension. 

Depending on the health of Chiefs' wide receivers Juju Smith-Schuster, Kadarius Toney, and Mecole Hardman and how Andy Reid and Mahomes weaponize them, the slot corner could be put into any number of uncomfortable coverage matchups that will test his toe. 

Avonte Maddox NFC Championship Game Film Review

Maddox, SIC score 75, had three combined tackles in 19 snaps vs. the one-dimensional Forty-Niners, 11 of which were in coverage.

The fifth-year defensive back didn't make his on-field playoff debut until the seventh play, when Haason Reddick logged his second sack of as many quarterbacks. 

Maddox spent much of the afternoon covering Deebo Samuel or Jauan Jennings in the flat or on a slant or engaging with a run-blocker just past the line of scrimmage. 

His most meaningful contributions came on rushing plays, including twice in three attempts early in the fourth quarter when Maddox stuffed Samuel. 

PFF graded Maddox's rush defense at 87.5 and his coverage at 64.9 – compared to 62.7 rushing and 70.3 coverage in the regular season – although the 49ers averaged only 4.875 yards on 16 pass attempts to four targets after Purdy's torn UCL eight minutes into the NFC title game.

The versatile cornerback was also one of many unwitting victims during Christian McCaffrey's 23-yard touchdown rush in the second quarter when he failed to catch the back from a seemingly advantageous angle.

Maddox made 43 combined tackles and three TFL with three passes defended and three forced fumbles in nine games interrupted by an ankle sprain, hamstring strain, and big toe sprain.