The Philadelphia Eagles’ Week 4 meeting with the Los Angeles Rams arrives with plenty of tension attached to it.
Philadelphia is coming off a 27-7 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 3, a result that dropped the Eagles to 2-1 and marked one of their worst defeats in the last six years. The Rams, meanwhile, are 1-2 after a close loss to the Denver Broncos. Both teams are looking for a win that can steady things before the season starts to drift.
Here’s the current NFC East picture heading into the matchup: the Eagles and New York Giants are tied at 2-1, while the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders sit at 1-2.
The injury report is already shaping the conversation for both sides. For Philadelphia, Zack Baun, Hollywood Brown, Dallas Goedert, Fred Johnson, Will Shipley and DeVonta Smith all did not practice on Wednesday. Jihaad Campbell, Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo were limited, while Tank Bigsby, Jalen Carter, Darius Cooper, Jonathan Greenard and Byron Young were full participants.
Los Angeles had several players open the week with DNPs as well. Davante Adams, Aaron Donald, Jaylen Watson, Terrance Ferguson and Colby Parkinson were all out of practice on Wednesday. Nate Landman, Josh Wallace, Puka Nacua and Kam Kinchens were limited.
Baun’s status stands out as one of the biggest concerns for Philadelphia. He remains in concussion protocol, and on a short week, there may not be much time for him to clear it. If he cannot go, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. would move into the starting lineup.
The Eagles also have to find a way to get their offense back on schedule after a rough Week 3. Philadelphia was shut out in the second half, failed to find any rhythm for long stretches, and turned the ball over three times, matching the fewest turnovers in the Nick Sirianni era. There’s plenty to clean up, and the bigger question is whether the group can fix it before the problems deepen.
Another major issue is how the Eagles would handle Puka Nacua if he’s back on the field. The signs point to him returning in Week 4 after working through his injury, which would put added pressure on a Philadelphia secondary that has struggled recently. Quinyon Mitchell will most likely draw the assignment, but Riq Woolen and Cooper DeJean will also need to respond.
Jalen Hurts enters the game with something to prove as well. He didn’t have a clean outing against Chicago, finishing with zero touchdowns and one interception, though he kept the Eagles afloat until the game slipped away. Against a quality opponent like the Rams, he has a chance to deliver the kind of performance that changes the tone around him.
The coaching staff is under the microscope too. Nick Sirianni, Sean Mannion, Vic Fangio and the rest of the group are coming off what was described as their worst collective game in a long time. They’ll need to be sharper in both preparation and play-calling if Philadelphia is going to look more like a team that can stay on track.
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Eagles Suddenly Have A Troubling Availability Question Before Rams Game
The Eagles first look at their Week 4 preparation brought an immediate layer of uncertainty, with the injury report offering a snapshot of a roster that is already being watched closely. Zack Baun landing in the NFL concussion protocol is the biggest concern for Philadelphia on the defensive side, especially with the Rams coming to town and the margin for error in the middle of the field likely to be thin.
Philadelphia also has a handful of familiar names working through their own issues, including Marquise Brown, Dallas Goedert and DeVonta Smith, all of whom showed up on the report with different practice participation levels. Even early in the week, the list is long enough to make the Eagles keep a close eye on who can actually get on the field when the matchup with Los Angeles arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Carter's Injury Is Forcing An Eagles Decision Fans Feared
Jalen Carter has been working through a hairline fracture in his right wrist since Week 1, and the early signs have been hard to ignore. The Eagles defensive tackle has been playing with a soft cast, but his snap count has dipped over the first three games and the injury has started to show up in his effectiveness, creating a familiar kind of concern around one of the teams most important young defenders.
Now the Eagles are facing the kind of roster decision nobody wanted to see this early in the season. Short-term injured reserve would give Carter time to rest and recover without forcing him to grind through the issue, but it would also leave the defense without a disruptive interior presence for the next stretch of games. For a team that expects to lean on Carter all season, the question is no longer whether the wrist matters. It is how much the Eagles are willing to protect the second half at the expense of the present. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Have A Safety Problem They Thought Was Solved
The Eagles went into the season expecting the safety spot beside Reed Blankenships old role to be sorted out, but through Week 3 it has become a job share instead. Marcus Epps and Michael Carter II are splitting the starting duties, with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio confirming the rotation will continue as the team leans on both players in different defensive packages.
For a defense that wanted clarity on the back end after letting Blankenship leave in free agency, the arrangement is at least a workable answer for now, but not exactly a settled one. The Eagles are getting useful snaps from each defender, yet the continued rotation also leaves open the bigger question of whether one of them will seize the spot outright or whether this becomes a long-term committee. [Read more 🡒]