The Philadelphia Eagles issued their third and final official injury report of the week on Friday in advance of their Week 4 game against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Eagles ruled six players OUT: DeVonta Smith, Zack Baun, Dallas Goedert, Marcus Epps, Hollywoood Brown, and Fred Johnson.
Smith is dealing with a hamstring injury that prevented him from practicing this week. Reports indicate he could miss another game or two after this weekend. Not great for the Eagles to be missing their top receiver at all,
let alone against some tough opponents. With Smith and Brown out, the Eagles will be down to the following five receivers: Dontayvion Wicks, Makai Lemon, Elijah Moore, Darius Cooper, and Britain Covey. Wicks figures to be the Eagles’ No. 1 target in Smith’s absence. Lemon could also see increased opportunities … just hopefully not in the entirely predictable screen reception variety. Moore played more snaps than Cooper last week despite being a healthy scratch in either of the first two games. The Eagles might trust Moore to play more on offense, even though Cooper has shown potential there. Cooper could still get some more chances than usual while also playing on special teams. Covey is the Eagles’ punt returner.
Baun is missing a game for non-rest reasons for the first time since joining the Eagles. He wasn’t able to practice this week due to a concussion. His absence means that Jeremiah Trotter Jr. will make his first career start in a game where the Eagles aren’t resting starters. It’ll be interesting to see how Trot Jr. fares. He has some athletic limitations but he’s very savvy and plays with great anticipation. Smael Mondon will be the top backup. The Eagles could look to temporarily elevate newcomer Anfernee Orji for emergency depth and special teams purposes. Chance Campbell was placed on the practice squad injured reserve list earlier this week.
Goedert is missing his second straight game due to a knee injury. And so the Eagles will be without both their top wide receiver and top tight end against the Rams. Goedert’s absence means the Birds will roll with Zach Ertz, Johnny Mundt, and E.J. Jenkins as their tight ends on Sunday. Mundt played the most snaps of any player at his position in Week 3 but Ertz had just rejoined the team days prior. We’ll see if Ertz’s workload increases at all. Also will be interesting to see if the team leans more into 12 personnel with DeVonta out.
Epps was unexpectedly added to the injury report on Thursday as a limited participant. He then did not practice on Friday. Maybe he has a legitimate injury. But maybe the Eagles are soft benching him? Maybe not, though, because now they only have one full-time safety on the roster: Andrew Mukuba. Michael Carter II figures to start in place of Epps but he’s a converted nickel cornerback. Ditto for Kenny Moore, who is slated to make his Eagles debut this weekend. Of course, Cooper DeJean will play safety when the Eagles utilize their base defense, which could be often against the Rams, who utilize 13 personnel at a very high rate. If the Eagles want more safety depth, they could look to temporarily elevate Cole Wisniewski from the practice squad for this game.
Brown apparently got injured in practice last week. He’s set to miss his second game in a row. Brown was previously active for Week 1 but played zero snaps. He took a couple designed touches in Week 2.
Johnson apparently got injured in practice last week as well. He’s also set to miss his second game in a row. Rookie blocker Markel Bell will be the swing tackle in his absence. He might already be the swing tackle when Johnson is healthy; that much is unclear. The Eagles ran one play last week with Bell as a sixth offensive lineman.
Players notably listed without a game status: Jihaad Campbell, Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Jonathan Greenard, Byron Young, Will Shipley, Tank Bigsby, Darius Cooper, and Jonathan Jones.
Campbell was limited on Friday with a “knee/rest” injury designation. He was previously limited on Wednesday before being upgraded to full go on Thursday. And then back down to limited on Friday. That’s a little unusual. But he’s going to play. The Eagles certainly need him to be able to suit up with Baun out.
Carter spoke to reporters in the locker room on Friday and revealed that his cast will come off in the near future. I’m no medical expert, clearly, but it seems like he probably shouldn’t be playing right now? Would be good to heal him up with the bigger picture in mind. But that won’t be the case.
Davis and Ojomo were limited on Wednesday and Thursday before being upgraded to full go on Friday. They’re ready to play.
Greenard was full go in practice this week. That’s an upgrade from last week, when he was limited for two days and full go for one day. Seems like he might be able to handle a bigger role than he played against the Bears, which was only 25% of the Eagles’ defensive snaps.
Shipley was slowly ramped up this week. He was listed under DNP on Wednesday before being upgraded to limited on Thursday. He was full go on Friday.
Young, Cooper, and Bigsby were all full go in practice all week.
Jones is a new addition to the report with a quad injury. He was a full participant on Friday, however.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES INJURY REPORT (FRIDAY)
OUT
LB Zack Baun (concussion)
WR Hollywood Brown (ankle)
S Marcus Epps (groin)
TE Dallas Goedert (knee)
OT Fred Johnson (knee)
WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring)
…
RESERVE/INJURED
CB Jakorian Bennett
TE Grant Calcaterra
OG Landon Dickerson
S Andre’ Sam
TE Eli Stowers
WR Johnny Wilson
Bennett, Calcaterra, and Stowers are eligible to return to the active roster after Week 4. Dickerson is eligible to return to the active roster after Week 5. Sam and Wilson are out for the season.
RESERVE/NON-FOOTBALL INJURY
S Tucker Large
LOS ANGELES RAMS INJURY REPORT (FRIDAY)
The Rams ruled three players OUT: starting defensive tackle Aaron Donald, starting cornerback Jaylen Watson, and No. 2 tight end Terrance Ferguson.
The Eagles dodging both Donald and Myles Garrett is a nice break for their offensive line. But we’ll see if they can actually take advantage.
Watson’s absence puts Emmanuel Forbes in line to start against the Eagles.
Ferguson ranks second among Rams tight ends in targets, receptions, and yards.
The Rams ruled one player QUESTIONABLE: Colby Parkinson.
Parkinson did not practice this week. Players who don’t practice typically don’t play and the Rams already have a lot of tight end depth. But we’ll see.
OUT
DT Aaron Donald (back)
TE Terrance Ferguson (ankle)
CB Jaylen Watson (shoulder)
QUESTIONABLE
TE Colby Parkinson (knee/shoulder)
…
RESERVE/INJURED
QB Matthew Caldwell
OL Justin Dedich
EDGE Myles Garrett
RB Ronnie Rivers
EDGE Keir Thomas
OL Keagen Trost
EDGE Eddie Walls III
