The Eagles’ Week 5 picture has been messy, but Jalen Hurts is at least getting one important piece back.
According to John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia, Dallas Goedert is expected to return for Philadelphia’s matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Clark also reported that Zack Baun is out of concussion protocol and will return Sunday, while Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith, and Drew Kendall are out for Week 5. Jonathan Greenard is questionable.
For an Eagles team that has been sliding after its Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Goedert’s return matters. He opened the season strong in Week 1, catching four of five targets for 77 yards and two touchdowns, before leaving the Week 2 win over the Tennessee Titans early after finishing with one catch on two targets for four yards and no touchdowns.
Goedert has already shown what he can do when Hurts leans on him. Last season, he caught 60 of 82 targets for 591 yards and 11 touchdowns, giving Philadelphia a reliable red-zone option and one of Hurts’ most trusted targets.
The rest of the offense, though, is still in rough shape. With Barkley and Tank Bigsby out of the backfield picture, and Smith gone from the receiver group along with A.J. Brown’s trade, the Eagles are short on proven playmakers.
That leaves Makai Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks, Darius Cooper, Goedert, Zack Ertz, Dameon Pierce, and Will Shipley to support Hurts as Philadelphia tries to knock off the heavily favored Jaguars in London and avoid falling to 2-3.
In Other News...
Jaguars May Soon Face A Trade Choice Fans Didn't Expect
The Jaguars long-running search for help up front has made the trade market worth watching, and the Philadelphia Eagles have surfaced as a logical partner. Jacksonville has been linked to a defensive tackle pursuit, while Philadelphias own roster churn on the offensive line has only added to the sense that the two teams could match up in a deal if the right opportunity opens.
What makes this more interesting from Jacksonvilles side is that the conversation may not stop at adding talent. If the Jaguars decide to move in a different direction, they could find themselves in the unusual position of dangling depth pieces of their own, turning backup offensive linemen into trade chips rather than buyers assets. For a team still sorting out its identity in the trenches, that kind of pivot would say plenty about how the front office sees the next stretch of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Face One Week 5 Battle That Could Decide Everything
The Jaguars head into Week 5 with a matchup that looks tailor-made to test both lines, and that starts with their defense trying to make life difficult for Philadelphia up front. Jacksonvilles pass rush, with Travon Walker part of the mix, will get a real chance to pressure the Eagles protection and force the kind of rushed decisions that can tilt a game early, while the Jaguars own interior offensive line has to hold up against a stout Eagles front on the other side.
Jacksonville also brings a receiving group with enough variety to stress the secondary, but Philadelphias corners have been sticky in coverage so far, with Quinyon Mitchell and Riq Woolen both standing out. That creates a tense kind of chess match for the Jaguars, because the paths to a win may come down to whether they can create enough disruption in the trenches to give their playmakers the room they need. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Just Got A Huge Opportunity Against A Banged Up Eagles Team
The Jaguars head into London with a little more clarity than their opponent, even if Jacksonvilles own injury report still carries a few familiar question marks. Most of the players listed for the Jaguars are expected to suit up, which matters as they prepare for a game that could be shaped as much by availability as by scheme.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, is dealing with a much tougher setup on the offensive side, with several important players not practicing and a recent retirement adding another wrinkle to an already unsettled line. Final statuses are still expected to be updated before kickoff, but the early picture gives Jacksonville a real opening if the Eagles cannot get enough healthy bodies ready in time. [Read more 🡒]