The Eagles’ injury picture got a lot murkier on Thursday, and DeVonta Smith is right in the middle of it.
Smith was held out of practice for the second straight day, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, turning what had been a hamstring issue into something that now sounds much more serious for Philadelphia’s Week 4 trip to face the Los Angeles Rams.
“DeVonta Smith sidelined again this week,” Garafolo reports. “Played last week but now sounding like he's legitimately questionable for the Rams game.”
That leaves the Eagles staring at another offense that could be short-handed at a bad time. Philadelphia already has Dallas Goedert out for this matchup, and Smith’s uncertain status only adds to the pressure on Jalen Hurts and a group that took a clear step back in the Week 3 loss to the Chicago Bears.
If Smith can’t go, Hurts will have to lean harder on Dontayvion Wicks, while first-round rookie Makai Lemon would need a much bigger role. Darius Cooper and possibly Zach Ertz would also have to be more involved, and Elijah Moore is another player to watch if Smith is inactive, since he could see real snaps in Week 4.
The offense, though, would still need to flow through Saquon Barkley, Hurts, Lemon, and Wicks if Smith is sidelined.
Philadelphia’s running game looked better in the first half against Chicago, but the overall offensive showing still wasn’t enough to avoid the loss. Now the Eagles head into a difficult matchup with the Rams, who are trying to avoid a 1-3 start themselves, with another key question hanging over the roster.
Smith has not been ruled out yet, but Friday’s practice now looms as a major checkpoint. His participation there could go a long way toward determining whether he’s on the field Sunday.
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Rams Offense Just Lost A Piece Sean McVay Has Counted On
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To help cover the roster shuffle, Los Angeles elevated wide receiver Alex Bachman and defensive end Larrell Murchison from the practice squad. Fergusons absence also opens the door for rookie Max Klare to see more snaps at tight end, giving the Rams another chance to test their depth at a position that suddenly looks thinner than it did a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]