The Eagles’ Friday injury report painted a familiar kind of midweek stress test: a bunch of key names on the shelf again, a few important veterans still working through limited sessions, and a Monday night matchup with the Cowboys that could hinge on who’s actually available.
Philadelphia listed six players as did not participate, and the biggest headline sits right at the top of that group. DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, and Dallas Goedert were all out for the second straight day. Nolan Smith and Michael Carter II also missed again, while Jonathan Greenard dropped from limited on Thursday to DNP on Friday.
Two straight missed practices to open the week is usually a bad sign, and Jeff McLane of The Inquirer reported that Smith and Wicks are trending toward sitting out Monday night. Goedert, though, has a different vibe around him, with “optimism” that he might be able to play.
If Smith and Wicks are both out, Philadelphia’s receiver room gets very thin in a hurry. The available group would be Makai Lemon, Darius Cooper, Elijah Moore, Hollywood Brown, and Britain Covey.
Greenard’s Friday downgrade matters too. With him and Smith looking doubtful for Monday night, the Eagles are getting stretched at edge rusher.
There was also movement in the limited category. Saquon Barkley, Landon Dickerson, Jalyx Hunt, Tyler Steen, Moro Ojomo, A.J.
Epenesa, Willie Lampkin, and Fred Johnson all showed up there, with Barkley expected to play. He still hasn’t gotten a full practice in this week, but the sense is the Eagles are managing his workload to get him to game day.
Dickerson is another one to watch. There’s a feeling he could be available Monday, but he still hasn’t practiced in full, and that’s the hurdle.
If he’s activated from IR by 4:00 PM Eastern on Monday, he could be the answer at left guard. If not, Lampkin could be the fallback option, or the Eagles could consider moving Jake Majors from center to guard.
Hunt stayed limited for a second straight day and could be in line to suit up. Given how thin Philadelphia looks off the edge, his status matters. Steen, Ojomo, and Epenesa were also limited again, and the read here is that Steen and Ojomo are likely to play, while Epenesa is more uncertain.
Lampkin moved up from DNP on Thursday to limited on Friday because of an illness, and Johnson was added to the report with an illness as well. Both appear likely to be available Monday.
On the positive side, Drew Kendall went from limited to full participation and looks set to return to the starting lineup at center. That opens the door for a cleaner picture up front, even if the left guard spot is still unsettled.
The full participants list included Zack Baun, Jakorian Bennett, Hollywood Brown, Grant Calcaterra, Jihaad Campbell, Jalen Carter, Britain Covey, Jordan Davis, Arnold Ebiketie, Drew Kendall, Eli Stowers, and Brown. All of them were full again, and they should be healthy enough to play, though the Eagles still need to decide whether to activate Calcaterra, Stowers, and/or Bennett from injured reserve.
On the other side, Dallas had its own issues. Starting linebacker Dee Winters, All-Pro return specialist KaVontae Turpin, and rookie reserve tackle Drew Shelton were all out again on Friday, which puts them on track to miss Monday’s game.
The Cowboys also added swing tackle Broderick Jones to the report with a wrist injury. P.J. Locke’s 21-day practice window opened as he works back from IR, and he was limited.
Dallas did get some good news, with Von Miller, George Pickens, Tyler Guyton, Cobie Durant, and Marist Liufau all upgraded to full participation on Friday.
In Other News...
Makai Lemon Suddenly Faces A Huge Eagles Test Against Dallas
The Eagles are piecing together their offense at an awkward time, with DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks and Dallas Goedert all missing practice and leaving their availability for Monday night against Dallas up in the air. That uncertainty only adds to the challenge for a unit that is already adjusting to a new look under backup quarterback Tanner McKee, and it puts even more pressure on the depth chart to hold up when the lights come on against a familiar division rival.
Makai Lemon is one of the players who could be asked to do more, and the rookie has already logged a significant share of offensive snaps this season. He has sounded comfortable with his progress, even as the workload has grown around him, and Philadelphia may need that kind of readiness in a hurry if the pass-catching group remains thin by kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Face A Brutal Cowboys Test With Their Season Slipping Away
The Eagles season has entered a far more precarious stretch with the kind of Monday night matchup that can either stabilize a team or push it further into the weeds. Dallas comes to Lincoln Financial Field in Week 7 with both clubs carrying losing records but still hanging around the playoff picture, and the national spotlight on ESPN and ABC only adds to the pressure for Philadelphia as it tries to regroup after a difficult run.
Philadelphia has already had to absorb a major blow on offense, and the response now matters as much as the result itself. The Cowboys offer a bruising test in prime time, and the Eagles will need to find some footing in front of their home crowd if they want to keep the season from slipping further away. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Still Have One Big Jalyx Hunt Question Before Dallas
Jalyx Hunts path back has been a careful one since the knee and ankle scare at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where he came out of the game banged up enough to miss the Panthers matchup. He was back at practice the following week, but the return has not changed the reality that the Eagles are still managing his recovery closely as Dallas approaches.
Hunt has made it clear he does not want to rush back before he is medically ready, and that leaves his availability for the Cowboys game in question. For a Philadelphia defense that values every healthy edge it can get, the final decision on Hunt is one of the more important injury watch items heading into the weekend. [Read more 🡒]