Saquon Barkley is officially active for the Philadelphia Eagles’ Week 7 showdown against the Dallas Cowboys, but don’t let that fool you into thinking he’s 100%. The man is reportedly “good enough to give it a go tonight,” but plans to “try to be smart about his return” as per Sal Paolantonio reporting on NFL on ESPN. That’s code for “he ain’t right,” and it sets a tense stage for this huge NFC East clash.
Eagles Offense Is Rolling the Dice Without Key Weapons
Philly’s offense is going into this one seriously shorthanded, and it’s not just Barkley. Their top wide receivers, DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks, are both OUT with injuries. That’s a massive hit to their passing game, especially against a division rival. With those two sidelined, the Eagles are leaning hard on a group of active wideouts including Makai Lemon, their 2026 first-round pick, Darius Cooper, Elijah Moore, Hollywood Brown, and Britain Covey, who’s likely sticking to return duties. We’ll definitely be watching to see if Lemon steps up with this sudden increase in opportunity, and Cooper could absolutely flash more of what he’s shown so far. It’s worth noting that Moore was even ahead of Brown on the depth chart last week, with Brown being a healthy scratch.
Defense Takes Hits, Cowboys Inactives Have Fewer Surprises
It’s not just the offense feeling the pain. The Eagles defense is also missing some key pieces with edge rusher Nolan Smith and safety Michael Carter II both out due to injury. However, there’s a small win on that side of the ball, as edge rushers Jalyx Hunt and Jonathan Greenard are both ACTIVE despite being questionable heading into the game. To bolster their defensive depth, the Eagles temporarily elevated Keyshawn James-Newby. On the offensive line, Jake Majors is a healthy scratch, but that’s a good problem to have, as Landon Dickerson and Drew Kendall are back on the field. Cole Payton is the emergency third quarterback for this one, a different scenario from last week when Joe Milton III was newly added to the team.
Flipping over to the other side of the field, the Dallas Cowboys’ inactive list offers fewer surprises. They’re without their All-Pro return specialist KaVontae Turpin, starting linebacker Dee Winters, tackle Drew Shelton, outside linebacker Tyrus Wheat, and running back Emari Demercado. No unexpected scratches for the Boys, which is always a less dramatic lead-up to a big game.
This Eagles-Cowboys game is going to be a real test of Philly’s depth, especially with Barkley clearly playing less than 100%. What a way to start a Sunday! While all eyes are on that NFC East battle, let’s not forget some good news closer to home: the Seattle Seahawks absolutely crushed it yesterday, beating the Kansas City Chiefs 20-3! Go Hawks!
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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