One player has been on the roster for a week and the other for a day, but FB Emil Igwenagu and TE Evan Moore could play prominent roles when the Eagles play the Washington Redskins on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

Igwenagu will start at fullback for injured Stanley Havili (hamstring) because the player slated to start for Havili, RB Chris Polk, is also injured -- he’s listed as doubtful with a sore toe.

Igwenagu had also been the No. 2 tight end because the usual No. 2, Clay Harbor, was put on injured reserve this week with a back injury. So, Moore, a four-veteran who has played in 47 NFL games, will back up starter Brent Celek, who is returning to the lineup after missing last week’s game with a concussion.

Igwenagu, signed off the practice squad on Dec. 12, had a busy week as he took practice snaps at fullback and tight end. At first, he didn’t know if he’d play either in a game and now he might play both.

“That was the plan all week, to stay on top of both,’’ Igwenagu said. “We wanted to make sure we ready for any situation because in this game you just never know.”

Moore just signed with the Eagles on Thursday, so he’s received a cram course in the Eagles’ system which, fortunately, is similar to offenses he’s played before.

“He actually looks good,’’ coach Andy Reid said. “He did a nice job in the pass game and what we asked him to do in the run game, he was good with. He understands the offense. He’s been there. He was with Pat [Shurmur, Browns coach and former Eagles assistant] in Cleveland for three seasons and then in Seattle. He understands the terminology.”

And the Eagles understand the situation -- they’re going to be shorthanded and might have to depend on somebody who has never worn an Eagles uniform in an NFL game before.

“He’s a big man that can run and catch and so, sign him up and get him going,’’ offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said of Moore. “That’s the situation we’re in. If he can help us, we’ll utilize him.”

Opportunity knocks: Two players who were starters for most of the season lost their jobs because injuries opened the door for others who made sure it didn’t shut on them again.

Guard Danny Watkins missed three games with an ankle injury and the Eagles signed veteran Jake Scott off the street to replace him. Suddenly, the entire line started to function better and Reid kept Scott in the lineup when Watkins was ready to return.

Safety Nate Allen was hampered by a sore hamstring, but it was an injury to the other safety, Kurt Coleman, that gave Colt Anderson a chance to play. And Anderson played well, so, when Coleman came back, Anderson was moved into Allen’s spot and Allen was moved to the bench.

“Danny started off with an injury and you let another guy in and then you learn a lesson there,’’ Reid said when asked about Watkins, his first-round draft pick last year. “With that group [offensive line], you want all five of them dancing the same dance, and if somebody steps in and is doing a pretty good job with it and it works, then you go with it.”

And when Allen’s name was brought up, Reid nodded his head.

“Well, he’s another one,’’ Reid said. “He had the injuries, the lingering hamstring. So, he was fighting that back and forth and then the other guys got in and they showed what they could do. … When given an opportunity to make plays, they’ve made some plays, so they deserve that opportunity to be in there.”

Maclin looks for redemption: It was one of the worst games of WR Jeremy Maclin’s career -- he didn’t have a catch and his team was beaten badly. Now he gets another shot at the Washington Redskins.

“There have been two games this year where we just got flat-out dominated, and that was one of them,’’ Maclin said of Washington’s 31-6 victory six weeks ago.

“It’s frustrating, because we couldn’t get in a rhythm with turnovers,’’ Maclin added. “I just felt that everything that could go wrong went wrong, and it’s kind of been that way all season. Individually, I didn’t have a catch that game, so it’s motivation for me to go out there and hopefully make some noise to help my team.”

But Maclin also knows it doesn’t matter how many passes he catches or how many points his team scores because it seems almost certain that Reid will be fired when the season ends.

“I don’t like to think about that,’’ Maclin said, shaking his head. “I’ve been saying this since Day 1 -- I’m a Coach Reid guy. He’s a great coach. What he preaches and what he does works, and it’s proven.

“It’s just unfortunate that talks like this have even surfaced. We’ll see, but all we can do is go out there and get a win for Philadelphia.”

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Philadelphia Eagles from blogger Kevin Noonan, follow @CBSEagles.