The Rams are headed to Philadelphia short-handed, but that’s only part of the story. The Eagles are dealing with their own damage report, and it’s a heavy one.
Philadelphia will be without star receiver DeVonta Smith, its top option so far this season, along with 2024 All-Pro linebacker Zach Baun, starting safety Marcus Epps and tight end Dallas Goedert. Guard Landon Dickerson, a four-time Pro Bowler, is already on injured reserve.
Los Angeles has its own list of absences. Cornerback Jaylen Watson is out with a shoulder injury, defensive lineman Aaron Donald is sidelined by back soreness, and tight end Terrance Ferguson is out with an ankle injury.
Colby Parkinson is questionable because of knee and shoulder issues. On the plus side, receiver Puka Nacua and safety Kam Kinchens are set to play.
That still leaves both teams in the same familiar place: dealing with what the league gives them and moving on. Injuries matter, but they don’t erase what happened on the field last week.
The Rams’ second-half mess against the Broncos went beyond Watson’s absence in the secondary. The breakdowns were broader than that - missed assignments, communication issues, and even teammates colliding in the end zone. Emmanuel Forbes was part of one of those ugly moments, and it was the kind of mistake that sticks in the memory.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, is trying to bounce back after a 27-7 loss to the Bears on Monday night, with QB3 Case Keenum leading that beatdown. That score matched the Rams’ own rough Week 1 loss, so both teams are walking into Week 4 with something to prove.
The difference is urgency. The Eagles are 2-1 in a competitive but flawed division, while the Rams sit at 1-2 in the NFC West, where the 3-0 Niners and the reigning champion Seahawks are already out front. The Rams are the ones who need a turnaround most badly, even if the injury list makes the task harder.
Smith’s absence is a major blow for Philadelphia, especially since he has averaged 78 receiving yards and nine targets per game. It also changes the way Los Angeles can approach the matchup, with the Rams’ secondary now able to focus more on Dontayvion Wicks and Makai Lemon.
Still, this is the NFL, where the next-man-up idea is part of the job description. The Rams aren’t looking for sympathy, and they won’t get any in Philadelphia.
In Other News...
Rams Enter Eagles Test With A Sudden Special Teams Problem
The Rams head into their Week 4 matchup with the Eagles carrying the usual injury baggage, but the special teams picture changed in a hurry this week. Los Angeles put tight end Terrance Ferguson on injured reserve, waived punt returner Xavier Smith and promoted running back Dean Connors to the active roster, a set of moves that puts extra attention on how the Rams handle the kicking game going into a matchup that already has plenty of personnel questions on both sides.
Philadelphia is dealing with its own absences, including DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert, but the Rams immediate concern is more basic: who handles returns and how cleanly the operation holds together. Those decisions tend to matter most when the games get tight, and with another short-week style test looming against a banged-up opponent, Los Angeles suddenly has one more area to sort out before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Just Watched A Massive Eagles Threat Suddenly Leave The Game
Saquon Barkleys afternoon against the Rams changed in an instant in Week 4, when the Eagles star suffered a right hamstring injury on a non-contact run and headed to the sideline. Barkley was listed as questionable to return after leaving the field favoring his leg, and Philadelphia had to quickly reshuffle its backfield with Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley stepping in.
For the Rams, the timing mattered as much as the injury itself. Barkley is the kind of player who can force an offense to stay on schedule and stress a defense every snap, so his exit immediately altered how the Eagles had to approach the rest of the game. Any setback involving a threat of that caliber is the sort of development a defense notices right away, even before the full impact becomes clear. [Read more 🡒]
Puka Nacuas Return Still Leaves Rams With One Big Concern
Puka Nacua was back on the field for the Rams in Week 4 against the Eagles after sitting out two games because of a pre-hernia injury that involved hip and groin soreness, a reminder of how careful Los Angeles has been trying to be with one of its most important receivers. Sean McVay has already clarified that Nacua does not have a full hernia, and the teams approach has been to manage the issue rather than push it.
Nacuas return mattered because he had already led the Rams in receptions and receiving yards in Week 1, and he still found a way to contribute against Philadelphia. The bigger concern now is less about whether he can play through it in the short term and more about how the Rams balance his value on the field with the risk of the injury lingering over the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]