Eagles Injury Update: Hurts Clears Scare, but Key Starters Still Sidelined as Commanders Game Looms
Jalen Hurts took a big shot late in the third quarter on Sunday, and for a moment, it looked like the Eagles' season might be holding its breath. But on Tuesday, the quarterback made it clear-he’s good to go.
“No, I’m fine,” Hurts said when asked if he felt any lingering effects. That’s a sigh of relief for Philly fans, especially with a quick turnaround before Saturday’s road game against the Commanders.
But while Hurts is in the clear, the Eagles’ injury report is anything but light.
Because Tuesday was just a walkthrough, the team’s injury report was an estimation, not based on full-speed practice. Still, it paints a picture of a team that’s banged up heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
DNPs Stack Up
Six players were listed as non-participants:
- RB Saquon Barkley (stinger)
- DT Jalen Carter (shoulders)
- G Landon Dickerson (calf)
- T Fred Johnson (ankle)
- T Lane Johnson (foot)
- TE Cameron Latu (stinger)
That’s a significant chunk of talent, especially in the trenches.
Let’s start with Barkley. He carried the ball 22 times for 78 yards and a touchdown on Sunday.
He briefly exited in the first half but returned and logged 39 snaps before the backups took over late. His workload suggests the stinger isn’t overly serious, but his status will be something to watch closely as the week progresses.
On the offensive line, the Eagles are still without Lane Johnson, who’s missed four straight games with a Lisfranc sprain in his foot. The veteran right tackle went down against the Lions back on November 11 and hasn’t suited up since.
He’s missed losses to the Cowboys, Bears, and Chargers, as well as the win over the Raiders. At 35, Johnson is inching toward a return, but he’s not quite ready to practice yet.
In his absence, Fred Johnson has stepped in admirably. But now he’s dealing with an ankle injury of his own, suffered during practice last week. He still managed to play on Sunday, but his availability for this week is now in question.
Jalen Carter, one of the anchors of the defensive front, has missed the last two games after undergoing procedures on both shoulders. The Eagles’ D-line has held its own without him, but there’s no question they’re hoping to have the disruptive rookie back in time for the postseason push.
Landon Dickerson has been battling a calf issue since the Chargers game. He exited that one briefly but returned, then started against the Raiders and logged 52 snaps before the starters were pulled.
The Eagles have been managing his workload, giving him a practice day off in each of the last two weeks. The Pro Bowl guard has been gutting it out through multiple injuries this season, and Tuesday’s DNP may be more about maintenance than a setback.
Limited and Full Participants
Only one player was listed as limited: RB Tank Bigsby, who’s dealing with an illness. That’s something to monitor, especially in a short week, but not as concerning as the long list of DNPs.
Three players were listed as full participants:
- LB Zack Baun (hand)
- OLB Jaelan Phillips (knee)
- T Cameron Williams (shoulder)
That’s good news for the Eagles’ depth, particularly on defense, where Baun and Phillips can provide some rotational punch and special teams help.
Looking Ahead
The Eagles will hold their first full practice of the week on Thursday, and that’s when we’ll get a clearer picture of who’s trending toward playing. With a Saturday kickoff on deck, the margin for recovery is tight.
Philadelphia’s playoff hopes are still firmly intact, but the health of key starters-particularly along the offensive and defensive lines-could be the difference between a deep run and an early exit. Getting Lane Johnson and Jalen Carter back would be massive.
Keeping Barkley and Dickerson on the field? Equally critical.
For now, Hurts is healthy, and that’s the most important piece. But the Eagles are limping into the weekend, and the next few days will go a long way in determining just how ready this team is for the stretch run.