The Philadelphia Eagles released their third and final official injury report of the week on Friday before their Week 4 game against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Eagles ruled six players OUT: DeVonta Smith, Zack Baun, Dallas Goedert, Marcus Epps, Hollywood Brown, and Fred Johnson.
Smith is dealing with a hamstring injury that has kept him out of practice this week. Reports indicate he could miss a game or two after this weekend. It’s not good for the Eagles to be missing their top receiver, let alone against some tough opponents. With Smith and Brown out, the Eagles will go with the following five receivers: Dontayvion Wicks, Makai Lemon, Elijah Moore, Darius Cooper, and Britain Covey. Wicks as No. 1 Eagles target without Smith. Lemon may also see more opportunities … hopefully not in completely predictable different screen reception. Moore played more snaps than Cooper last week despite being a healthy scratch in either of the first two games. The Eagles can trust Moore to play more on offense, though Cooper has shown potential there. Cooper may still get more opportunities than usual while also playing on special teams. Covey is the Eagles’ punt returner.
Baun missed a game due to not resting for the first time since joining the Eagles. He was unable 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 didn’t rest starters. It will be interesting to see how Trot Jr. He has some athletic limitations but he is very smart and plays with great passion. Smael Mondon will be the top backup. The Eagles could look to temporarily bring up 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 with a knee injury. 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 be stuck with Zach Ertz, Johnny Mundt, and EJ 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 a few days earlier. We’ll see if Ertz’s workload increases. It will also be interesting to see if the team relies more on 12 man without DeVonta.
Epps was unexpectedly added to the injury report Thursday as a limited participant. Then he didn’t practice on Friday. Maybe he has a legitimate injury. But maybe the Eagles are soft on benching him? Maybe not, though, as they only have one full-time safety on the roster: Andrew Mukuba. Michael Carter II will start in place of Epps but he is a converted nickel cornerback. Ditto for Kenny Moore, who is set to make his Eagles debut this weekend. Of course, Cooper DeJean will play safety when the Eagles use their base defense, which they may often against the Rams, who use 13 men at a very high rate. If the Eagles want more safety, they could look to temporarily elevate Cole Wisniewski from the practice squad for this game.
Brown was apparently injured in practice last week. He is set to miss his second straight game. Brown was previously active for Week 1 but played zero snaps. He took some designed touches in Week 2.
Johnson also appeared to be injured in practice last week. He is also set to miss his second straight game. Rookie blocker Markel Bell will be the swing tackle in his absence. He could be the swing tackle when Johnson is healthy; a lot is unclear. The Eagles ran one game last week with Bell as the sixth offensive lineman.
Players with no game status are prominently listed: Jihaad Campbell, Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Jonathan Greenard, Byron Young, Will Shipley, Tank Bigsby, Darius Cooper, and Jonathan Jones.
Campbell was limited Friday with a “knee/rest” injury designation. He was previously limited on Wednesday before being upgraded to full go on Thursday. And then back to limited on Friday. That’s a little weird. But he will play. The Eagles definitely need him to go with Baun.
Carter spoke to reporters in the locker room on Friday and revealed that his cast will be coming out in the near future. I’m no medical expert, obviously, but does it sound like he shouldn’t be playing right now? It would be good to heal him with the bigger picture in mind. But that will not be the case.
Davis and Ojomo were limited on Wednesday and Thursday before being upgraded to full go on Friday. They are ready to play.
Greenard has been busy in practice this week. That was an upgrade from last week, when he was limited for two days and all day for one day. He seems to have played a bigger role than the Bears, taking just 25% of the Eagles’ defensive snaps.
Shipley has been ramped up slowly this week. He was listed under DNP on Wednesday before being upgraded to limited on Thursday. He went full on Friday.
Young, Cooper, and Bigsby were all healthy at 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)
LB Zack Baun (concussion)
WR Hollywood Brown (ankle)
S Marcus Epps (groin)
TE Dallas Goedert (knee)
OT Fred Johnson (knee)
WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring)
CB Jakorian Bennett
TE Grant Calcaterra
AND 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
LOS ANGELES RAMS INJURY REPORT (FRIDAY)
The Rams waived three players: starting defensive tackle Aaron Donald, starting cornerback Jaylen Watson, and the No. 2 tight end Terrance Ferguson.
The Eagles moving away from Donald and Myles Garrett is a nice break for their offensive line. But we will see if they really benefit.
Watson’s absence puts Emmanuel Forbes in line to start against the Eagles.
Ferguson ranks second on the Rams in targets, receptions and yards.
The Rams field two players QUESTIONABLE: Colby Parkinson and Josiah Stewart.
Parkinson, who leads all Rams tight ends in snaps played, did not practice this week. Players who don’t practice usually don’t play and the Rams already have plenty of tight end depth. But we will see.
Stewart is a new addition to the report. He did not practice on Friday with a groin injury. Stewart is starting in place of Garrett.
DT Aaron Donald (back)
TE Terrance Ferguson (ankle)
CB Jaylen Watson (shoulder)
TE Colby Parkinson (knee/shoulder)
EDGE Josaiah Stewart (groin)
QB Matthew Caldwell
BY Justin Dedich
EDGE Myles Garrett
RB Ronnie Rivers
EDGE Keir Thomas
OL Keagen Trost
EDGE Eddie Walls III