The Eagles head into Monday night’s meeting with the Bears carrying a 2-0 record, but the bigger story is how much the game plan could shift depending on Chicago’s quarterback situation. Caleb Williams has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, while Tyson Bagent moved from concussion concerns to questionable after being cleared to practice. If neither can go, Case Keenum would get the nod, and it would be his first start since 2023.
Chicago’s injury list doesn’t stop there. Noah Sewell and Shemar Turner are also out, leaving the Bears without three players for the matchup in Philadelphia. Sewell and Turner both practiced for the first time this week after opening the season on the reserve/PUP list.
On the Eagles’ side, three players have already been ruled out: Hollywood Brown, Dallas Goedert and Fred Johnson. Jonathan Greenard is listed as questionable with a pectoral injury, though the signs point toward a return. The encouraging news for Philadelphia is that DeVonta Smith and Saquon Barkley are set to play, which helps soften the blow of having 11 players on the injury report.
Barkley’s own status had been a talking point after he dealt with a stinger, but he sounded confident about being ready. “Everyone knows what it is - a stinger - some are worse than others, and just keeping the nerves calmed down around it.
Beautiful thing is it’s a Monday night game, so I have a little more time. But right now, the mindset is I'm good to go.
Might have to put on a little cowboy collar for a little bit, but I'd rather that than something with my ankles and my feet and my legs.”
Sirianni also sounded upbeat about Greenard’s week of work. “He's had a good week.
It's exciting to have him out there. We'll see where we are at the end of today.
Like I said, today's a very important part of the process, but I feel like he's had a good week. It brings good energy.
I've really enjoyed, I mean, I've hated that he hasn't been able to go in for him and for our team, but I've really enjoyed being around him on the sideline and what he's like on a game day. He’s got a lot of knowledge, and he's really good with his teammates, and that's been very noticeable to me, and I'm excited when it's the time to get him back out there.
He's worked his butt off to be able to get back out there as soon as possible. I'm excited to have that leadership that I've seen him show when not playing.
Excited about him, and he's had a good week, though.”
The Eagles also added a familiar face back into the mix, re-signing cornerback Shaun Wade to the practice squad. Wade was one of the brighter spots in a rough preseason for the cornerback group, leading the team with 18 tackles and adding three forced fumbles. He didn’t make the original roster, but he’s back now to help provide some depth.
There was also a little more from the week in quotes. Jalen Hurts talked about the feeling of arriving at the stadium in Tennessee and seeing Steve McNair honored on the wallpaper outside.
“Last week was a really good feeling and a bit emotional feeling to pull up to the stadium and see Steve McNair on the wallpaper outside. ... I get to meet MJ, build relationships with him, Tom Brady and all these other guys.
Steve McNair is the only one I've truly looked up to and watched and been enamored by and never got to meet him. That win was special for that reason, and I was reminded of that when we pulled up to the stadium.
It kind of hit me there.”
And tight end Zach Ertz, back with the Eagles, said the return means plenty to him. “I never wanted to leave in the first place, so let's just put that out there.
The opportunity finally arose where I could come back. There's been times I asked in the past to come back and it didn't come to fruition for whatever reason.
But it's just a blessing to be back. If you told me when I got hurt that I'd be back 9 1/2 months back to the Philadelphia Eagles, you could have signed me up then.
For me, this is a place I always called home.”
In Other News...
Eagles Suddenly Face A Tougher Week 3 Question Than Expected
The Eagles went into the week expecting a clearer read on Chicagos quarterback situation, but the Bears now appear likely to be without Caleb Williams because of a hamstring injury. Tyson Bagent has cleared concussion protocol and could return to practice, which at least gives Chicago another option as it sorts through the position for Week 3.
Ben Johnson confirmed Bagents clearance, a positive development for a Bears team still trying to stabilize under center. Case Keenum could still end up starting, so Philadelphia may have to prepare for more than one possibility even as the matchup looks different than it did when the schedule first pointed to Williams. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Have A Week 3 WR Question Fans Did Not Expect
The Eagles entered the week expecting to sort through a familiar set of early-season injury concerns, but the wide receiver picture took an unexpected turn when Hollywood Brown was added late to the injury report with a knee issue and sat out a practice. For a team still trying to settle its passing-game rotation, the timing matters, especially with a game coming up and the depth chart suddenly looking a little thinner than it did a day earlier.
If Brown is unable to go, Elijah Moore could become part of the conversation in a bigger way. The offseason addition has not played in the first two games, but the Eagles may turn to him for specific offensive packages or even special teams work if they need another receiver available, giving him a chance to finally enter the mix at a moment when the team did not seem to be planning for one. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Defense Suddenly Faces A Bigger Bears Problem Than Quarterback
The Bears quarterback picture has been murky all week, and that has kept a little extra attention on Chicagos visit to Philadelphia. Backup Tyson Bagent was back at practice after reportedly clearing concussion protocol, according to head coach Ben Johnson, after sitting out earlier in the week and fueling speculation that Case Keenum might get the nod if Caleb Williams remains sidelined.
For the Eagles, the bigger issue is not simply who lines up under center, but how much the uncertainty changes the shape of the game. The betting line has already moved as Bagents status has swung back and forth, and Philadelphias defense now has to prepare for a matchup that could still tilt depending on whether the Bears are dealing with one backup quarterback, another, or more late-week confusion. [Read more 🡒]