The Eagles are heading into Week 4 without a chunk of their regular lineup, and the final injury report makes that reality impossible to ignore. Philadelphia will be missing six players against the Los Angeles Rams, with DeVonta Smith and Zack Baun among the most notable names officially ruled out.
Baun is sidelined with a concussion, while Smith is out because of a hamstring injury. Neither player practiced all week, so the final call wasn’t a shock. Still, losing both leaves the Eagles with a thinner margin in a game already shaping up to be a tough one.
The full list of players ruled out includes Hollywood Brown, Marcus Epps, Dallas Goedert, Fred Johnson, DeVonta Smith and Zack Baun.
There are also several other Eagles dealing with injuries entering the Rams matchup: Jihaad Campbell, Tank Bigsby, Jalen Carter, Darius Cooper, Jordan Davis, Jonathan Greenard, Jonathan Jones, Moro Ojomo, Will Shipley and Byron Young.
On defense, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is expected to step in at inside linebacker for Baun. The safety situation is also unsettled after Epps was added late to the report, and Vic Fangio doesn’t sound eager to force Kenny Moore into action before he’s ready at the position. That leaves the Eagles looking at either Michael Carter II starting or Cooper DeJean sliding back there, with Carter or Moore then working in the slot.
The absences at receiver matter too. With Smith out and Hollywood Brown also unavailable, Darius Cooper is the likeliest candidate to work outside, while Dontayvion Wicks is expected to take over as WR1 and Makai Lemon remains in the slot.
Goedert will miss a second straight game with his knee injury, and the expectation is that he could still be another week or two away. Zach Ertz will continue in his place and should see more opportunities in the passing game with Smith and Brown both out.
Carter’s wrist remains an issue, and he’ll keep wearing a cast on the fractured wrist while it heals over the next few weeks. Campbell is dealing with a knee injury, but he should still start.
After taking a beating in Chicago in a 27-7 loss to the Bears, the Eagles were already entering this week with plenty of wear and tear. Now they go into a difficult matchup with the Rams looking as battered as they have in a while.
In Other News...
Eagles Passing Game Faces A Major Rams Test Without A Star Receiver
The Eagles head into their matchup with the Rams already short on one of Jalen Hurts most trusted targets, with DeVonta Smith not expected to play because of a hamstring injury. Smith has not practiced this week, and the timing is less than ideal for a passing game that has leaned on his route-running and ability to separate when the offense needs a stabilizing catch.
Philadelphia is planning to move forward with Dontayvion Wicks, Makai Lemon and Darius Cooper at wide receiver, while Hollywood Brown remains out with an ankle injury. That leaves the Eagles trying to piece together a workable passing attack against a Rams defense that can force quarterbacks to be precise, and it puts even more pressure on the rest of the receiver room to create answers quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Injuries Could Finally Open The Door For Darius Cooper
The Eagles head into Week 4 dealing with a receiver situation that could force some reshuffling against the Los Angeles Rams. With DeVonta Smith and Hollywood Brown both banged up, Philadelphia may need to lean deeper into the roster, and that has put Darius Cooper in a more interesting spot than he has been in most weeks.
Cooper has already carved out a role on special teams, and he also came through with a game-winning touchdown earlier this season, giving the staff at least one reason to trust him if the offense needs another option. Even so, Makai Lemon is expected to start, so any larger opportunity for Cooper may hinge on how much the Eagles can ask of a receiver group that is suddenly thinner than planned. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Rookie Makai Lemon Faces A Huge Chance At The Perfect Time
Makai Lemons first month in Philadelphia has been more about steady growth than splash plays, which is not unusual for a rookie receiver trying to find his footing in the NFL. The Eagles 20th overall pick in the 2026 draft has gone three games without the kind of breakout performance that turns heads, but the opportunity in front of him suddenly looks much bigger with DeVonta Smith expected to miss the upcoming matchup against the Rams.
For an offense that has been easing Lemon along, the timing could not be better. Sean Mannion has already shown confidence in the rookies development and believes he can handle a larger role, and now the Eagles may need him to do exactly that when the workload opens up. It is the kind of chance young receivers wait for, especially on a roster that has a clear need in the passing game and a game on the calendar that could push Lemon into the spotlight sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]