Eagles lost the second linebacker for the season

The Philadelphia Eagles Coach Andy Reid said Thursday that linebacker Omar Gaither will not be available to play with the team for the rest of the season because he is to have a surgery on his left foot.

The season-ending injury was suffered during Sunday’s loss to the Oakland Raiders. And Gaither is the second middle linebacker in Eagles jersey to be lost for the season. The first one was Stewart Bradley, who was placed on injured reserve after tearing an ACL in a preseason scrimmage.

In order to fill in the spot left by injured linebackers, the Eagles acquired linebacker Will Witherspoon from the St. Louis Rams at the cost of rookie wide receiver Brandon Gibson and a fifth-round pick in 2010. The team will have Witherspoon start against the Washington Redskins on next Monday night.