The Philadelphia Eagles could be without several important offensive contributors for Sunday's matchup against the Washington Commanders, with running back Saquon Barkley and wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks absent from the portion of Thursday's practice open to reporters.
ESPN's Tim McManus and Olivia Reiner said all three players were missing as Philadelphia began its first full practice of the week after Monday night's 38-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The absences are particularly concerning because the team listed all three players as nonparticipants on Wednesday's estimated injury report. Philadelphia held a walkthrough Wednesday, so the participation designations were projections rather than based on actual practice activity.
Philadelphia Eagles
Barkley continues to deal with hamstring and back injuries after leaving Monday's loss to Dallas. The veteran returned against the Cowboys after missing two games with a hamstring issue, but his back tightened during the contest, eventually forcing him to the sideline.
A shorthanded Eagles team begins on-field prep for the Commanders.
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) October 29, 2026
Don’t see Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith or Dontayvion Wicks. pic.twitter.com/vePzaZs009
His absence Thursday adds to uncertainty in an Eagles backfield already depleted by injuries.
Philadelphia placed Dameon Pierce on injured reserve Wednesday, leaving Elijah Mitchell and Jaydon Blue as the only other running backs on the active roster. Pierce emerged as a key contributor during Barkley's previous absence, leading the team's running backs with 151 offensive snaps over seven games. The Eagles promoted Blue from the practice squad Wednesday, but they haven't added another running back to the active roster.
The Philadelphia Inquirer's Zach Berman noted the limited depth, suggesting that another roster addition might have been expected if Barkley were in serious danger of missing Sunday's game. However, not making another move does not guarantee Barkley will be available against Washington.
Philadelphia also continues to monitor Smith and Wicks, who missed Monday night's loss because of hamstring and ankle injuries, respectively.
Their absences have put additional responsibility on rookie Makai Lemon, who caught his first career touchdown against Dallas, and the remaining members of the receiving corps. For Tanner McKee, losing multiple offensive playmakers would create another significant challenge as the Eagles try to end their five-game losing streak.
Philadelphia enters Week 8 averaging just 18.1 points per game, ranking near the bottom of the NFL in scoring. Losing Barkley and two established receiving options would further limit an offense struggling to sustain drives.
The Eagles' official Thursday injury report will provide more clarity on Barkley, Smith, and Wicks' participation levels.
None of the three has been ruled out for Sunday, but their continued absence from practice makes Friday's final injury report especially important.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles missing Saquon Barkley, 2 starting WRs at Thursday's practice
