Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith is telling everyone his hamstring feels “good,” but the real story is far more complicated, especially with quarterback Jalen Hurts officially sidelined for Sunday’s game against the Panthers. Smith’s availability is still very much in question, leaving the Eagles’ offense in a tough spot heading into the weekend.
The Hamstring That Just Won’t Quit
Smith has been battling more than just a regular tweak, it seems. He’s listed with both toe and hamstring issues, but he made it clear Friday that the hamstring is the real culprit. “I tweaked it against Tennessee in Week 2,” Smith said, and get this, he played through it. He even played through it again against Chicago! But eventually, he realized it was a no-win situation. He felt like “it wasn’t smart to just keep going out there and just playing on it and making it worse,” which is exactly what you don’t want to hear from your star wideout. He’s already missed the past two games because of it.
A Doctor’s Call and a Rookie QB’s Nightmare
Now, Smith says he’s “good” and hopes to be back on the field this Sunday against the Panthers. But there’s a huge catch: “It’s up to the doctors.” That’s the kind of phrase that makes fans hold their breath, because it means it’s out of the player’s hands. And if that wasn’t enough drama, the Eagles are also going to be without their starting quarterback, Jalen Hurts, who’s battling a blood clot in his calf. That means Tanner McKee is stepping in for his first career non-Week 18 start. You’ve got your number one receiver iffy with a hamstring, and a rookie making his first real start without the benefit of a full offseason with the first-team offense. Talk about a tough draw!
The Eagles still haven’t posted their official injury designations for Sunday, but you just know everyone is glued to that news feed. All eyes are on that wide receiver spot, but with Hurts out, it feels like Tanner McKee has a massive mountain to climb in his first non-Week 18 start. Can the Eagles’ offense survive this gauntlet of injuries and still put up points against the Panthers? That’s the million-dollar question for Sunday.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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