The Philadelphia Eagles issued their third and final injury report of the week on Friday in advance of their Week 8 game against the Washington Commanders.
The big news is that Saquon Barkley is listed without a game status. He will play on Sunday night.
Barkley returned to practice on Friday — albeit in a limited capacity — after being listed under did not participate on Wednesday and Thursday. There’s no question that Barkley wanting to play and help his team try to turn the season around is admirable.
But the team should protect him from himself and sit him down if he’s not nearly healthy enough to play and remain in the game. Which is reasonable to think that’s the case considering he wasn’t even able to fully participate in a practice this week! While overcompensating for his hamstring injury, Barkley injured his back on his first rushing attempt in Week 7 and then played sparingly through obvious discomfort the rest of the game. What’s the point of that? What if he gets further injured? That’s not only a setback as it relates to this season, which very well might be cooked anyway, but potentially long-term as well. It could also prevent teams from making offers not only ahead of the NFL trade deadline but in the offseason, too. Even if you’re not of the mind he should be traded at any point, you should want him healthy for next year! I just think playing him is a short-sighted decision with much more downside than upside.
The Eagles ruled five players OUT: DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, Jihaad Campbell, Britain Covey, and Jonathan Jones.
Smith and Wicks did not practice this week ahead of their second straight game missed; the Eagles will once again be without their top two wide receivers. With Covey also out, the Eagles only have four healthy wide-outs on the roster: Darius Cooper, Makai Lemon, Hollywood Brown, and Elijah Moore. Against the Cowboys last week, Cooper played the most snaps of any Eagles WR while Lemon was right behind him. Despite this, Cooper only saw three targets while Lemon saw eight. The team will probably look to force-feed their rookie first-round pick again in this matchup. To be determined if they’ll look to elevate a fifth receiver from the practice squad. Their options there: Erik Ezukanma, Xavier Gipson (who also has returning experience), and Quentin Skinner.
Campbell will miss the first game of his career. Jeremiah Trotter Jr., who was already eating into Campbell’s playing time, will start in his absence. Smael Mondon is the only linebacker on the roster behind Trot Jr. and Zack Baun.
Jones has been the Eagles’ top backup cornerback on the outside. His absence might mean that Kelee Ringo (or Jakorian Bennett or Mac McWilliams) is the next man up if Quinyon Mitchell or Riq Woolen miss snaps.
The Eagles ruled one player QUESTIONABLE: Jakorian Bennett.
Bennett fully participated in practice all week. He’s still in his 21-day practice window to return from injured reserve. The Eagles have until 4:00 PM Eastern on Saturday to activate him from IR in order for him to play on Sunday. They’ll need to open a roster spot to do so.
Players notably listed without a game status: Barkley (as previously noted), Zack Baun, Landon Dickerson, Dallas Goedert, Drew Kendall, Tyler Steen, Arnold Ebiketie, Smael Mondon, Michael Carter II, Nolan Smith, Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, Moro Ojomo, and Marcus Epps.
They all appeared on the injury report this week.
Nolan Smith is notably set to return after missing Week 7 due to a concussion.
Michael Carter II is also set to return after missing the Eagles’ last two games.
Hunt and Ojomo will play but they were limited in practice all week. They’re clearly not 100%.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES INJURY REPORT (FRIDAY)
OUT
LB Jihaad Campbell (hamstring/quad)
WR Britain Covey (knee)
CB Jonathan Jones (hamstring)
WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring)
WR Dontayvion Wicks (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE
CB Jakorian Bennett (knee)
…
RESERVE/INJURED
CB Jakorian Bennett (practice window open)
RB Tank Bigsby
RB Dameon Pierce
QB Jalen Hurts
S Andre’ Sam
RB Will Shipley
WR Johnny Wilson
On October 14, the Eagles opened Bennett’s 21-day practice window to return from IR. Bigsby is eligible to return to the roster after Week 8. Shipley is eligible to return to the roster after Week 9. Pierce is eligible to return to the roster after Week 12. Hurts, Sam and, Wilson are out for the season.
RESERVE/NON-FOOTBALL INJURY
S Tucker Large
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS INJURY REPORT (FRIDAY)
Washington ruled one player OUT: starting defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw.
He ranks second among Commanders defensive tackles in snaps played this season.
The Commanders ruled four players QUESTIONABLE: starting defensive tackle Daron Payne, rotational defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton, fill-in starting receiver Treylon Burks, and No. 2 tight end John Bates.
Payne is a new addition to the report; he was listed as limited with a foot injury on Friday. Not good for the Commanders’ defense if he can’t play.
Newton was limited in practice all week. Guessing he won’t suit up. But the Commanders could use him to take some snaps since Kinlaw is out and Payne is now questionable.
Burks went limited-DNP-limited over the past three days. We’ll see if he plays. The Commanders are already missing some of their other top receiver options.
Bates was limited on Friday after not practicing the previous two days. He might have a chance to suit up.
Washington notably has starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil, leading receiver Terry McLaurin, and leading rusher Jacory Croskey-Merritt on injured reserve.
OUT
DT Javon Kinlaw (knee)
QUESTIONABLE
TE John Bates (shoulder)
WR Treylon Burks (foot)
DT Jer’Zhan Newton (pectoral)
DT Daron Payne (foot)
…
RESERVE/INJURED
LB Leo Chenal
RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt
EDGE Javontae Jean-Baptiste
WR Jaylin Lane
WR Terry McLaurin
DT Jer’Zhan Newton (practice window open)
OT Laremy Tunsil
RESERVE/RETIRED
LB Nick Bellore
DT DJ Davidson
CB Ahkello Witherspoon
