The Philadelphia Eagles are absolutely stuck right now, with two of their top wideouts, Devonta Smith and first-round pick Makai Lemon, still completely out of practice. This isn’t just a minor thing either, we’re talking about hamstring injuries that have kept them sidelined for the entire last week. It’s August 13th, the preseason is kicking off soon, and these guys are missing serious time.
Seven Straight Practice Misses: What Gives?
This Thursday is a big one, marking seven straight missed practices for both Smith and Lemon. Seven! Think about how many crucial reps, how much chemistry building, how much defensive scheming gets missed when your top two receivers are just watching from the sidelines. For a first-round rookie like Lemon, every single snap in these early sessions is gold. He needs to learn the playbook, build rapport with the quarterback, and show he belongs. Missing seven straight practices is a huge setback, no matter how talented you are. And for Smith, a veteran presence, it’s about keeping that rhythm and staying sharp. You can’t do that if you’re not on the field with your teammates in actual drills.
Small Steps, But The Clock Is Ticking
Now, it’s not all doom and gloom. Reporters at training camp shared some snippets that give us a tiny bit of hope. We saw photos and videos of Devonta Smith working with trainers before practice, which is better than nothing, right? And Makai Lemon was out there, catching passes from a JUGS machine, albeit while standing still. It’s progress, sure, but as Eliot Shorr-Parks of WIP reports, neither player is actually participating in the full, “actual session.” That’s the real kicker. They’re doing individual stuff, getting closer, but they aren’t practicing with the team.
The Eagles are slated to open their preseason against the Ravens this Saturday. The hope is that Smith and Lemon could return to practice sometime next week. If that happens, it would leave “a good chunk of time” for both players to ramp up and get ready for Week 1. But even then, can you really shake off seven missed practices and be 100% prepared for game speed right out of the gate? The clock is definitely ticking for these guys. The Eagles need their playmakers healthy and ready to roll, and right now, it’s a tense waiting game.
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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