The Eagles are heading into their pivotal Week 17 matchup in Buffalo with a mixed bag on the injury front - some key reinforcements are back in the fold, but a few notable names remain sidelined.
Let’s start with the good news: wide receiver A.J. Brown and offensive lineman Landon Dickerson both returned to practice Friday after missing earlier sessions this week.
Brown had his wisdom teeth removed - not exactly the kind of procedure you want during a playoff push - but he’s back and ready to go, entering Sunday’s game with 935 receiving yards on the season. That’s been a quiet but consistent campaign for the Eagles’ top target, and his presence will be critical in what could turn into a high-scoring affair against Buffalo.
Dickerson, meanwhile, has been battling a calf injury in recent weeks, but this week he was listed with an illness. He’s also expected to suit up Sunday, giving the Eagles’ offensive line a much-needed boost in the trenches.
However, not all the updates are positive. Right tackle Lane Johnson and linebacker Nakobe Dean both missed the entire week of practice and are trending toward being ruled out for Sunday’s game. The final injury report will confirm their status, but the writing’s on the wall - it’s unlikely either will be available.
This would mark Johnson’s sixth straight missed game since suffering a Lisfranc sprain against the Lions back on Nov. 16.
In his absence, Fred Johnson has stepped in and held his own. He’s expected to get the start again, and while he doesn’t bring the same All-Pro pedigree, he’s been a steady presence on the right side.
With just two games left in the regular season, it’s possible we don’t see Lane Johnson again until the playoffs.
As for Dean, he went down with a hamstring injury in the first half of last week’s game against Washington. Rookie Jihaad Campbell will slide back into the starting role.
Campbell started the first eight games of the season while Dean was on the PUP list, and while his reps have been limited since Dean’s return, the first-round pick out of Alabama has shown flashes of the talent that made him such a highly touted prospect. Sunday will be another big opportunity for him to prove he can handle the moment.
There’s more encouraging news on the defensive line - Jalen Carter is back. The Pro Bowl defensive tackle practiced fully all week and is expected to return against the Bills after missing the last three games following a procedure on both shoulders.
Carter mentioned earlier this week that he’s feeling the benefits of the procedure, and if he’s anywhere close to full strength, his return could be a game-changer. His ability to collapse the pocket and disrupt the run game gives the Eagles’ front a different level of bite.
Also worth noting: all seven players who were full participants on Thursday were back on the field Friday. That includes Jihaad Campbell (back/ankle), Fred Johnson (calf), Jalen Carter (shoulders), Zack Baun (hand), Cameron Latu (stinger), DeVonta Smith (illness), and Cameron Williams (shoulder). That’s a solid group of contributors trending in the right direction.
The Eagles practiced Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday this week, taking Christmas Day off - and now they’ll head into Buffalo looking to lock up a critical win with playoff seeding on the line. The injury situation isn’t perfect, but getting Brown, Dickerson, and Carter back is a major lift. Now it’s about execution.