The Philadelphia Eagles head into their Saturday matchup against the Washington Commanders missing two key starters once again: right tackle Lane Johnson and interior defensive lineman Jalen Carter. For Johnson, it marks his fifth straight game on the sidelines, while Carter will miss his third in a row.
On the other side, the Commanders are also dealing with significant absences, including starting quarterback Jayden Daniels and left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Here's a breakdown of the inactives and what they mean for both teams heading into the weekend.
Eagles Inactives & Key Absences
RT Lane Johnson (groin)
When Lane Johnson doesn’t suit up, the Eagles feel it - and the record backs that up.
Philly is 1-3 this season without their All-Pro right tackle, continuing a trend that’s followed Johnson throughout his career. His absence disrupts both the run game and pass protection, and while the Commanders don’t boast a fearsome edge rushing unit, Johnson’s presence is always a stabilizing force.
The team had held off on placing him on IR after his injury against the Lions, hoping he might return by Week 15, but that optimism didn’t pan out. He’ll miss this divisional matchup as well.
iDL Jalen Carter (shoulder)
Carter was labeled week-to-week after undergoing a shoulder procedure following the Week 13 loss to the Bears.
This will be his third straight missed game, but the Eagles’ defensive interior hasn’t collapsed without him. Young linemen like Moro Ojomo, Jordan Davis, and Byron Young have stepped up admirably, helping to maintain some push up front.
Still, Carter’s explosive ability to disrupt from the inside is hard to replicate.
TE/FB Cameron Latu (stinger)
Latu entered the week questionable and will sit this one out. His role has been more niche - a hybrid tight end/fullback piece - but his absence slightly limits the Eagles' offensive flexibility in short-yardage and heavy sets.
EDGE Josh Uche
With the Eagles healthier on the edge and deeper in their rotation, Uche is the odd man out this week.
RB A.J. Dillon
Dillon sits behind Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, and Will Shipley on the depth chart, making him a healthy scratch again.
CB Mac McWilliams
McWilliams continues to be a regular on the inactive list, and that trend continues here.
Practice Squad Elevations
The Eagles elevated TE E.J. Jenkins and CB Brandon Johnson from the practice squad ahead of this game - likely to bolster depth at positions affected by injuries or rotational needs.
Notable Eagles on IR / Reserve Lists
- S Andrew Mukuba (IR): The rookie safety had an up-and-down season but was showing growth before a recent injury. He’s eligible to return after Week 16, though defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has already ruled that out. Marcus Epps has filled in capably in his absence.
- WR Johnny Wilson (IR, knee/ankle): Wilson brought physicality to the perimeter as a 6’6” blocking specialist. He only caught five passes all year, but his impact was more about setting the edge. His rookie season ends after logging over 400 snaps and four starts.
- EDGE Ogbo Okoronkwo (IR, triceps): Signed for depth, Okoronkwo played just four snaps before going down. His season is likely over.
- EDGE Azeez Ojulari (IR, triceps): Once considered a key rotational pass rusher, Ojulari has fallen down the depth chart and now finds himself buried behind six other edge defenders.
- FB Ben VanSumeren (IR, knee): VanSumeren was expected to take on a bigger role in 2025 before a devastating patellar tendon tear on the season’s opening kickoff ended his year.
- iOL Willie Lampkin (IR): At 5'11", 290 pounds, Lampkin is undersized by NFL standards, but he impressed in the preseason before landing on IR. His 21-day practice window expired without a return, so he’s done for the year.
- OT Myles Hinton (IR): The rookie sixth-rounder never made it to the active roster due to a back injury. His practice window also expired, ending his season.
- OT Cameron Williams (IR): Another rookie tackle, Williams struggled in camp and was stashed on IR. Though his practice window was opened recently, he’s not expected to suit up this year.
Commanders Inactives & Key Absences
QB Jayden Daniels
Daniels has officially been shut down for the season, and Marcus Mariota will get the start. It’s a significant shift for Washington’s offense, as Mariota brings a different skill set and less upside than the promising rookie.
LT Laremy Tunsil
Tunsil is out, and that’s a big blow to Washington’s pass protection.
Rookie Brandon Coleman is expected to start in his place. Coleman has upside, but the Eagles' edge rushers - even without Carter inside - should see this as a favorable matchup, especially with rookie RT Josh Conerly also starting.
Other Washington Inactives
- RB Chase Edmonds
- T George Fant
- TE Colson Yankoff
- DT Eddie Goldman
Notable Commanders on IR / Reserve Lists
- TE Zach Ertz (ACL): Ertz was a reliable target for Washington again this season, finishing with 50 catches for 504 yards and 4 touchdowns before tearing his ACL in Week 13. He’s still second on the team in receiving yards - a testament to his consistency - but his season is over, and at 35, his future is uncertain.
- CB Marshon Lattimore (ACL): Lattimore’s 2025 campaign was rough even before the injury - nine penalties in nine games - and now he’s out for the year. With both Lattimore and Trey Amos sidelined, the Commanders are leaning on Mike Sainristil, Noah Igbinoghene, and Antonio Hamilton at corner. That’s a group the Eagles' receivers should be able to exploit.
- CB Trey Amos (fibula): The rookie corner started eight games but struggled with missed tackles. His season ended with a fractured fibula in November.
- DE Dorance Armstrong (knee): Armstrong had 5.5 sacks in seven games before a season-ending knee injury. He was one of Washington’s most productive pass rushers early on.
- DE Deatrich Wise (quad): Wise was part of the defensive line rotation before a Week 2 injury ended his season.
- RB Austin Ekeler (Achilles): Ekeler was the team’s third-down back and a reliable pass-catcher before tearing his Achilles in Week 3.
- WR/RS Luke McCaffrey (collarbone): McCaffrey was developing into a solid deep threat and handled return duties before a collarbone injury in Week 9. He had 11 catches for 203 yards and three scores.
- DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste (pectoral): Jean-Baptiste had a strong start to the year but hasn’t played since Week 3. Despite the early timing of the injury, Washington appears content to keep him sidelined for the rest of the season.
What It All Means
Both teams are limping into this one, though the Eagles have done a better job weathering their injuries than Washington has.
Philly’s offensive line will be tested without Johnson, but the Commanders’ depleted pass rush and secondary offer opportunities for Jalen Hurts and company to get back on track. On defense, the Eagles’ depth along the line has held up well without Carter, and with Washington starting a backup QB and missing key offensive linemen, this feels like a matchup the Eagles should control in the trenches.
Saturday’s game might not feature all the stars we hoped for, but it’s still a pivotal NFC East clash - and the team that manages their injuries better could walk away with a key late-season win.