Welcome to The Linc, the daily Philadelphia Eagles links roundup at Bleeding Green Nation!
Jalen Carter playing through this injury doesn’t really seem tenable? Shutting him down sure wouldn’t be ideal, especially in the short-term. But they really need the healthy version of him for this team to reach their ceiling. And so they might need to bite the bullet at some point.
Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles news and links …
Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter playing with hairline fracture in his
wrist – Inquirer
Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter has a hairline fracture in his right wrist, NFL sources told The Inquirer. Carter suffered the injury in the Week 1 win over the Washington Commanders and has played with a soft cast in the last two games. He was an estimated full participant in Wednesday’s walkthrough ahead of Sunday’s game vs. the Rams. Carter’s playing time has decreased since the injury. He played 66 snaps in the opener (94%), 41 snaps vs. the Titans in Week 2 (77%), and 51 snaps (71%) in Monday night’s 27-7 loss at the Bears. […] “It’s a negative,” Fangio said. “There’s no way it can’t be, but to be honest with you, he’s done better than I thought he would with it.”
Eagles-Bears Film Review: Rough game for Vic Fangio – BGN
I criticized the lack of fight earlier, so I should also mention the first-half goal-line stand. The Eagles made several big plays with their backs against the wall. Jalen Carter made this one without using his right hand. That is impressive, but it also shows the problem. He clearly can’t play right now, and the Eagles desperately need him to be a disruptive player again. He recorded no pressures on 33 pass-rush snaps. The Eagles are paying him a lot of money and can’t rush the quarterback. It’s a big issue.
Eagles-Rams preview: 5 things to watch – PhillyVoice
5) The Eagles’ receivers vs. the Rams’ banged-up secondary. The Rams’ secondary is a little banged up heading into this matchup. Their normal configuration looks like so: CB: Trent McDuffie, S: Kamren Curl, S: Kam Kinchens, SCB: Quentin Lake, CB: Jaylen Watson. Kinchens has missed each of the last two games with a hamstring injury. He did practice on Wednesday, but was limited. When he got hurt, Lake moved to safety, and Josh Wallace filled in at the slot. Watson was carted off the field with a shoulder injury during the Rams’ loss to the Broncos Week 3. When he got hurt, Wallace played outside corner, and moved into the slot in nickel, with Emmanuel Forbes playing on the outside. Of course, Forbes was a player who A.J. Brown reliably dominated during Brown’s time with the Eagles, because he outweighed Forbes by like 40 pounds. That won’t be as big of a mismatch this time around, but certainly the Eagles have prioritized attacking Forbes in the past. Wallace is now also on the injury report. He was limited on Wednesday with a shoulder injury. In other words, the Rams have had to do some juggling in their secondary. To be determined who will be available on Sunday, and who won’t. So far, one of the bright spots for the Eagles has been the play of DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks. We also saw a glimpse of progress (baby steps, for sure) from Makai Lemon on Monday night, both as a receiver and blocker.
Game Review – CHI 27, PHI 7 – Iggles Blitz
The Bears were embarrassed by their 9-3 loss to the Vikings in Week 2. Johnson had them fired up and ready to play. Sirianni clearly did not have the Eagles at the same level. The biggest strategic mistake came when Sirianni decided to punt on 4th down in the second half. He admitted after the game that he should have gone for it. Some think he should have called timeout when Hurts was being checked for a concussion. I don’t think you can fault him for that. Too many unknowns in that situation. Sean Mannion had a good plan in the first half. The Eagles out-gained the Bears 186 to 176 and only trailed 10-7. The Eagles ran a WR screen with 19 seconds left in the first half. Hurts was able to then get the team lined up and the ball snapped with one second left. He pushed his way in for a TD. The result was good, but that was a highly risky call with no timeouts. The second half was terrible.
Before he called plays for the Eagles, Sean Mannion was the Rams’ ‘Big Shooter’ – The Athletic
They called him Big Shooter. Sean Mannion, 6 feet 6 and 230 pounds, was the most imposing Los Angeles Rams quarterback in the summer of 2017. Starter Jared Goff was a lean, lanky 22-year-old then. Dan Orlovsky, then a 6-foot-5 veteran, coined Mannion’s nickname. Orlovsky said he and Goff would watch “this mountain of a man” break huddles in training camp, lumber toward the line of scrimmage, then “fudging rip these throws.” “Every ball was like a fastball,” said Orlovsky, now an ESPN analyst. “Sean would get in there and hand-missile this 20-yard in route, and I’d be in the back yelling, ‘BIG SHOOTER!’” […] Orlovsky described Mannion as a “very serious,” “very intense guy” who “always wanted to do well.” “Jared would throw an interception, and it would almost be like it never happened,” Orlovsky said. “Sean would throw an incompletion, and he’d be like he just lost the Super Bowl.” In 2017, first-year Rams coach Sean McVay brought Orlovsky aboard to mentor both quarterbacks until final roster cuts. Orlovsky took no practice reps, instead offering advice and sharing his process for studying playbooks and film. Orlovsky was yet again counseling a future Eagles offensive coordinator.
The never-ending safety competition that has turned into a rotation – NBCSP
Marcus Epps and Michael Carter II battled all training camp for the same starting safety position. And now we’re four weeks into the season and that competition still isn’t over. Now it’s a rotation. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio used both Epps and Carter against the Bears in Week 3 — Epps played 27 snaps, Carter played 20. And on Wednesday, the longtime DC said that rotation is going to continue. “Those two guys are still going to man it,” Fangio said. Of course, you can argue that if you have two safeties at one spot, it’s because you don’t really have one. So when asked if he’d like either Epps or Carter to eventually settle into that role, Fangio said, “That’s always your goal.” So how did we get here?
NFL Fantasy 2026 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Defenses for Week 4 – NFL.com
SIT’ EM — The highly drafted Eagles defense hasn’t scored more than five fantasy points in any game this season and logged negative points against Case Keenum’s Bears on Monday night. That unit is tied for 26th among D/STs, has the league’s fifth-lowest sack rate and would be an iffy start in an average matchup. The Rams are not an average matchup after dropping 54 points over the last two games without Puka Nacua. Even if Matthew Stafford throws another pick (he already has four), Philly’s defense has not shown enough to be trusted in starting lineups.
Spadaro: Vic Fangio knows a ‘tough assignment’ awaits vs. Rams on Sunday – PhiladelphiaEagles.com
Adding to the challenge is another star weapon, wide receiver Davante Adams. All he’s done in the last two weeks is catch 15 passes for 332 yards and two touchdowns. He pairs with Nacua to present a dynamic 1-2 receiving combination. “He’s got size, number one. He’s quick and a really good releaser off the ball,” Fangio said of Adams. “He knows how to body up DBs and get himself an advantage one way or the other. With a quarterback like Stafford, that’s all you need.” Another unique part of the Rams’ offensive approach is the way they use their personnel: Los Angeles sends out a 13 personnel package – one running back, three tight ends, more than any team in the league (42.2 percent, 84 total snaps per NFL Next Gen Stats). They use the tight ends as pass catchers and in-line blockers, so the Rams can run or pass effectively in that grouping. All of this is nothing new, of course. Fangio and the Eagles have seen the Rams three times in the last two seasons and have emerged victorious in all three games. Fangio finds a way. It is never easy, but the Eagles have adjusted, and they will have to do the same on Sunday.
Puka Nacua expected to play against Eagles – Turf Show Times
The Los Angeles Rams expect receiver Puka Nacua to return this Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, according to Sean McVay. Nacua returned to practiced and participated in a limited capacity on Wednesday. Nacua, who has been listed with both hip and psoas injuries, has not played since Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. Nacua had five catches for 74 yards in Week 1.
3 Reasons Why the Chicago Bears Won vs. the Philadelphia Eagles – Windy City Gridiron
1) Ben Johnson. With the exception of one series where I would have liked for him to kick a field goal after Rome Odunze committed his weekly drop, this time in the endzone, Ben called his best game of the season and completely outcoached Nick Sirianni AND Eagles DC Vic Fangio. The fact that he did so with 3rd string QB Case Keenum (more on him later) was even more impressive. For me, I was most pleased with the decrease in penalties as that has been hindering us the first two weeks of the season. Ben had these Bears ready to play and bounce back from a lackluster effort the week prior in their first real emotional and mental test of the season. He also seemed to relish the opportunity to do so without a 1st overall pick at QB for him for the first time in his play calling career. Overall, it was a near 50/50 split of run and pass with some of the creative genius sprinkled throughout the game and the players were ready to play. I gave him blame last week in Chicago’s loss, and he bounced back in a big way against a playoff contender. Exactly what you like to see from your head coach.
Ravens sign center Andre James, guard Kyle Hergel to practice squad – Baltimore Beatdown
In a corresponding move, the team promoted safety K’Von Wallace from the practice squad to the 53-man roster to create space for both signings. As a vested veteran, Wallace can be released and re-signed to the practice squad at any time. He was elevated for the Ravens’ Week 3 matchup in Brazil but did not play in the game.
Patriots sign veteran O-lineman off Cardinals practice squad, per report – Pats Pulpit
The New England Patriots have started filling the openings on their roster. The first of the two vacant spots went to an interior offensive lineman. Matt Pryor was signed by the team off the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad, as first reported by Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. Pryor, 31, started his NFL career as a sixth-round draft pick with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018. The TCU product spent three years with the team, and later also had stints in Indianapolis, San Francisco, Chicago and again Philadelphia. In March, he signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals, but was released ahead of late-August’s roster cutdowns and added to the club’s practice squad.
Packers Roster Update: No NFL team has more offensive linemen than Green Bay – Acme Packing Company
For what it’s worth, Green Bay signed two more practice squadders on Wednesday, receiver Coleman Owen and [former Eagles and Bucks County native] defensive lineman David Blay.
Vikings Announce Five Practice Squad Signings – Daily Norseman
Audric Estime is probably the most familiar name of that group. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. He spent his rookie year with the Broncos and was waived following training camp in 2025. After a short stint on the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad, he signed with the New Orleans Saints and stayed with them through the rest of the season. He was with the Saints to start this season as well, but was waived by them with an injury settlement a week ago. For his career, he has 122 carries for 508 yards and three touchdowns, and has also caught 17 passes for an additional 130 yards.
NY Giants’ QB Jameis Winston faces questions despite Sunday’s victory – Big Blue View
The New York Giants are 1-0 with Jameis Winston as their starting quarterback. At least they are under John Harbaugh in 2026. But somehow it doesn’t feel as though the Giants won on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. The opening odd for the Giants in Week 4 were as 1.5-point favorites at home against the Arizona Cardinals. Since then, the line has flipped and now the Cardinals are favorites on the road against the Winston-led Giants. The media, it seems, is disappointed in the Giants with Winston at quarterback. Yeah, they won… But where were the fireworks on a soggy Sunday?
Cowboys steal lockdown boundary corner – Blogging The Boys
To acquire Porter, the Cowboys will send a 2028 second-round pick as well as a 2027 sixth-round pick. Note the year on that second-rounder. While it appears rather cheap, it’s worth noting that Porter is in the final year of his rookie deal, meaning that unless the Cowboys work some type of extension, he’ll become an unrestricted free agent next offseason. This creates a lot of uncertainty when it comes to his future with the Cowboys. Will he be a one-year rental? Will the Joneses try to extend? Lots of questions remain. But for now, he’s a member of the Cowboys and brings a lot to this cornerback group. Porter is an excellent boundary corner. He has top-notch press skills and thrives when he can get into the chest of the receiver. He has a knack for disrupting the timing of the receiver, making it tough for quarterbacks to sneak completions his way. He also has a reputation for showing up big in clutch moments, regularly shutting things down on third down and preventing big plays. The Cowboys are in desperate need of both of those things.
Commanders vs. Colts Wednesday injury report: Rachaad White only player in London not practicing – Hogs Haven
The Commanders already ruled out two players before flying to London. Sam Cosmi is still in the concussion protocol, and Nick Cross is recovering from the internal injury/illness that hospitalized him after the Week 2 game vs the Cowboys. RB Rachaad White is the only player who traveled to London who didnt practice today. He suffered a shoulder injury last week, and Dan Quinn said he would be getting treatment today. Jayden Daniels was on the practice field for the first time since dislocating his left elbow again. He’s wearing a brace on it, and Quinn said that would be the case going forward this season. Daniels plans to return this season, and he will reassess with doctors after to see if surgery is required.
What’s next after Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson are placed on injured reserve? – Cat Scratch Reader
Horn and Jackson will miss the Eagles-Panthers game in Week 6.
The Carolina Panthers have announced that Jaycee Horn (quadriceps) and Mike Jackson (groin) have been placed on injured reserve. That ends their season for at least the next four games, likely longer in at least Horn’s case. For those keeping track at home, Horn and Jackson formed one of the more formidable cornerback duos in the NFL and were the top two defensive backs on the Panthers team. Fifth year veteran Akayleb Evans, third year veteran Chau Smith-Wade, and rookie 4th round pick Will Lee III make up the entirety of the team’s current cornerback room.
Mike Tomlin’s Minecraft city is the most fascinating thing an NFL coach has ever done – SB Nation
Tuesday night was a beautiful lead-in to October, the best month on the sports calendar. Major League Baseball offered four playoff games for sports fans, while the WNBA served up a pair of playoff contests, including a clash between Dallas and Golden State that ended in overtime. But the real magic was playing out on YouTube. That is where shortly after 8:00 p.m. Eastern none other than former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was introducing the world to his Minecraft city. Weeks ago, Tomlin let slip on a podcast that he has been playing the game for years, something he started as a way of bonding with his children while they were playing the game when they were younger, but that he continued as his children grew out of Minecraft and into other games. Rather than putting the sticks down, Tomlin kept building, and refining, his massive city.
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