DeVonta Smith finally hit the practice field again this week, and if you’re an Eagles fan, you’ve gotta be absolutely buzzing. After missing the last two games, Smitty was out there, albeit in a limited capacity. Still, NFL insider Mike Garafolo is hearing “optimism” that he’ll play on Sunday, which is massive. Backup QB Tanner McKee could seriously use his top receiver out there against the Carolina Panthers.
Philly’s Week 6 Injury Report: The Bad News Just Keeps Piling Up
Alright, let’s get real. While Smith’s return is a huge bright spot, the rest of this injury report reads like a horror novel for the Eagles faithful. Seven players were listed as DID NOT PARTICIPATE, and the biggest name on that list is Jalen Hurts. Our dude is out for Sunday’s game because of a “superficial blood clot,” and honestly, it sounds like he could miss even more time. That means Tanner McKee is getting his third career start, and with Cole Payton as the only other healthy QB on the roster, there’s even talk about bringing Andy Dalton back to the practice squad. What a wild turn, right?
But the hits don’t stop there. Saquon Barkley is tracking to miss his second straight game with a hamstring injury. Add that to Tank Bigsby already on injured reserve and Will Shipley also expected to sit out Sunday, and you’re looking at the Eagles rolling out Dameon Pierce and Carson Steele as their fourth and fifth running back options. They’ve also got Jaydon Blue and the newly signed Ian Wheeler on the practice squad. Seriously, that’s a wild depth chart. On top of that, Dontayvion Wicks was downgraded to DNP after being limited earlier in the week, so he might not suit up either. Jalyx Hunt is out after getting banged up in Week 5, and A.J. Epenesa was downgraded to DNP too. That leaves the edge rusher spot looking thin with Jonathan Greenard, Nolan Smith, and Arnold Ebiketie, and Greenard isn’t even a lock to play. Plus, Michael Carter II is on track to miss the game, with Marcus Epps potentially stepping in at safety next to Andrew Mukuba in nickel packages. It’s a M.A.S.H. unit out there.
A Glimmer of Hope Amidst the Chaos: Who Else Is On The Fence?
So yeah, Smitty being back, even limited, feels like a massive win considering everything else. His presence alone can open things up. Besides him, another nine players were listed as LIMITED. Drew Kendall is back at practice for the first time since his knee injury in Week 4, which is good to see, though he’s probably not suiting up this week. Landon Dickerson, Tyler Steen, Marquise Brown, and Jonathan Greenard were all limited for the second day in a row. My gut says Dickerson won’t be out there until he gets a full practice under his belt. Same goes for Grant Calcaterra, Eli Stowers, and Jakorian Bennett, who are all still on injured reserve anyway, plus E.J. Jenkins.
It’s clear the Eagles are going through it right now. Facing the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, they’re going to need every single player who *can* suit up to bring their A-game. It’s an absolute gut-check moment for the squad, and if they can pull off a win despite these injuries, it would be a huge statement. Let’s see if Tanner McKee and potentially Smitty can spark something special.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleeding Green Nation.
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