The Philadelphia Eagles just dropped their second injury report of the week, and holy smokes, it’s a rough one for the offense. Saquon Barkley, their star running back, is tracking to miss Sunday’s Week 8 showdown against the Washington Commanders. This isn’t just a bump in the road; it’s a full-blown crisis in the backfield.
The “Did Not Participate” List Is a Nightmare
This is a nightmare scenario for the Eagles. If Barkley can’t suit up, the team is left with just one healthy running back on their active roster: Jaydon Blue. Yeah, *that* Jaydon Blue, who just got called up from the practice squad on Wednesday. As a rookie last season with the Dallas Cowboys, Blue logged 38 carries for 129 rushing yards, averaging a modest 3.4 yards per carry, plus one reception for five receiving yards. They do have Elijah Mitchell on the practice squad too, who they temporarily elevated for Week 7, but let’s be real, Jaydon Blue and Elijah Mitchell aren’t exactly an inspiring backfield tandem heading into a division game.
And it gets worse for the offense. DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks are both tracking to miss another game after being unavailable in Week 7. Britain Covey is also unlikely to play. That leaves Darius Cooper, Makai Lemon, Hollywood Brown, and Elijah Moore as the primary receivers, plus three practice squad guys: Erik Ezukanma, Xavier Gipson, and the newly signed Quentin Skinner. Man, that receiving corps is looking thin and inexperienced, putting a ton of pressure on the remaining guys.
It’s not just offense feeling the pain, either. Jihaad Campbell is tracking to miss Sunday’s game after getting banged up in Week 7, so look for Jeremiah Trotter Jr. to start alongside Zack Baun. Their top backup cornerback on the outside, Jonathan Jones, is also set to miss the game. That’s a lot of depth gone on both sides of the ball.
Some Glimmers of Hope, But New Concerns Emerge
On a slightly brighter note, six players were listed under limited participation. Nolan Smith, who missed Week 7 due to a concussion, actually has a chance to return after being limited for the second day in a row. Michael Carter II, who’s been out since getting injured in Week 5, also has a chance to play for the first time in a while. Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, and Moro Ojomo were also limited for a second consecutive day, so they’ll probably be able to play, even if they aren’t at 100 percent. You gotta hope those guys can power through.
The real head-scratcher here is Marcus Epps, a new addition to the report with his injury description listed as “jaw/concussion evaluation.” He apparently got banged up during Thursday’s practice. Remember, Epps began the season as the safety next to Andrew Mukuba in nickel packages but was then relegated to special teams duty only after struggling on defense. Losing him, even from special teams, is another blow.
On the genuinely good news front, eight players were full participants for the second day in a row: Zack Baun, Landon Dickerson, Dallas Goedert, Drew Kendall, Tyler Steen, Arnold Ebiketie, Smael Mondon, and Jakorian Bennett. Seeing key players like Dickerson and Goedert good to go is a massive relief given the offensive struggles elsewhere.
So, heading into Week 8 against the Commanders, this Eagles team is facing some serious challenges, especially on offense. They’re going to need their limited guys to step up big time, and the practice squad call-ups like Blue will be thrown right into the fire. It’s going to be a tough one, but you know these guys will fight. Let’s see if they can pull off a win despite all these setbacks!
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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