PHILADELPHIA - DeVonta Smith wasn’t on the field for Thursday’s Eagles practice, and the reason is the kind that gets everyone in Philadelphia paying attention fast: a hamstring injury.
It’s the same area that cost Smith an extended stretch during training camp, so this latest setback carries extra weight with the Bears game looming Monday night. Smith had been rolling in Sunday’s Week 2 win over the Tennessee Titans, putting together one of the most important performances of the day for Philadelphia. He finished with 10 catches for 117 yards and a 22-yard touchdown in the second quarter, then came through again with two toe-tap grabs on the Eagles’ game-winning scoring drive in the final two minutes.
In his sixth season with the Eagles, Smith has become the driving force behind Philadelphia’s new passing offense. With A.J. Brown out of the picture, Smith has a chance to show he belongs among the NFL’s elite wide receivers.
The production has been there early. Smith had three catches for 53 yards in the Eagles’ Week 1 win over the Washington Commanders on Sept.
- Washington kept a safety over the top to help double him, and that opened things up for Dontayvion Wicks, who turned the extra space into a 64-yard touchdown and a nine-yard touchdown.
If Smith can’t go against Chicago, the Eagles will need Wicks to carry a heavier load as the No. 1 wide receiver. Wicks had five catches for 74 yards against the Titans’ secondary and, in his first season with the Eagles, has grown into a top No. 2 NFL wide receiver.
Smith was seen Thursday warming up without pads, and his availability for Monday night should become clearer over the next few days.
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Eagles Found A Legal Kickoff Edge The NFL May Not Ignore
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Around the league, though, the move has already started to draw attention, with other teams studying whether the setup should remain legal as is. Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower has also weighed in, and special teams coordinators are set to meet before the Eagles and Bears play, a sign this is becoming more than just a quirky Philadelphia adjustment. [Read more 🡒]