Saquon Barkley is reportedly “in line” to play for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 4, a potential game-changer for the Eagles as they gear up for their Week 7 Monday Night Football showdown against the Dallas Cowboys. This is huge news, especially with the state of their offense right now, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.
The ‘Did Not Participate’ Headache Is Real
Look, getting Barkley back would be massive, but don’t let that distract you from the DNP list. The Eagles dropped their first injury report of the week on Thursday, and six players were flat-out listed as “Did Not Participate.” This isn’t just about a few backups, either. We are talking major offensive weapons here.
Wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who battled a hamstring issue last week too, is still nursing that same injury. And Dontayvion Wicks, after dealing with his own hamstring drama, is now rocking a new ankle injury. If those two can’t get ramped up like Smith did last week, this receiver room is going to be short-handed. Seriously short-handed. That’s a huge problem.
Then there’s Dallas Goedert. The tight end missed practice with a knee injury. We don’t know if it’s the same one that kept him out before, but the bigger issue? With E.J. Jenkins waived, Johnny Mundt is the ONLY healthy tight end on the active roster right now. That’s wild. They might have to pull Zach Ertz from the practice squad, or maybe even activate Grant Calcaterra or rookie Eli Stowers from injured reserve. Talk about scrambling!
The DNP list doesn’t stop there. Nolan Smith is out with a concussion he suffered in Week 6, putting him in danger of missing at least one game. Willie Lampkin missed with an illness, hopefully nothing serious there, so he can suit up. And Michael Carter II, or MC2, was doing rehab on a side field, which is an upgrade from last week, but still not practicing. Maybe we see him next week, but not for Monday Night.
Limited Returns and Lingering Questions
While the DNP list is brutal, there’s a glimmer of hope among the “Limited Participation” guys. Eight players were listed there, and yeah, Barkley is the big name. He’s reportedly “in line” to play for the first time in weeks, which is massive. But here’s the thing: how he progresses over the next two days is key. He’s probably going to try to suit up, but can he hold up for a full game? That’s the million-dollar question for Monday night.
Then you’ve got Landon Dickerson. He’s been limited since his 21-day practice window opened from injured reserve. And now? He’s listed with both “knee/pectoral” injuries. Remember, it was just the knee last week. That’s a double whammy. It feels pretty unlikely he plays until he gets in a full practice, right?
Jalyx Hunt, after a scary Week 5 injury, is back at practice sooner than expected, which is super encouraging. He wouldn’t tell reporters if he’s a go for Monday, but there’s a definite chance. If not this week, then maybe Week 8. That’s progress!
Jonathan Greenard was on a pitch count last week, still battling a nagging ankle injury. It’s a grind for these guys.
So, heading into that Monday Night Football showdown against the Cowboys, the Eagles are a team with some serious question marks, especially on offense. Getting Saquon Barkley back could be a spark, but they’re dealing with a banged-up receiver corps and a tight end room that’s stretched thinner than a pizza crust. Every rep in the next couple of days, every medical update, is going to matter. Let’s see if they can pull it together and make a statement against Dallas, or if these injuries will be too much to overcome.
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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