The Philadelphia Eagles dropped their final injury report Friday, and man, it’s a gut punch for their Week 4 game against the Los Angeles Rams. Six players are officially OUT, including their top receiver DeVonta Smith and top tight end Dallas Goedert. This isn’t just a few guys missing; we’re talking about key playmakers sidelined, which means the Birds are going to look totally different on Sunday.
The Eagles’ Receiving Corps Is a New Look, Big Question Mark
Losing DeVonta Smith to a hamstring injury is rough. He didn’t practice all week, and reports are he could miss another game or two after this weekend. And it’s not just Smith; Hollywood Brown is also ruled out. So, Philly’s down their top wide receiver and another key guy. This leaves their receiving corps looking mighty thin with Dontayvion Wicks, Makai Lemon, Elijah Moore, Darius Cooper, and Britain Covey. Wicks is now the presumed No. 1 target, which is a huge step up for him. Lemon could see more chances, hopefully not just those predictable screen receptions. Moore actually played more snaps than Cooper last week despite being a healthy scratch in their first two games, so the Eagles might be trusting him more on offense. Cooper’s got potential and can contribute on special teams, so he should get extra looks. Covey, of course, is their punt returner. But seriously, missing Smith and Brown means this offense is going to have to get creative.
Key Defensive and Tight End Losses Stack Up
It doesn’t stop with the receivers. Dallas Goedert is out for his second straight game with a knee injury, so now they’re missing both their top wide receiver *and* top tight end. That’s a brutal combo. Zach Ertz, who just rejoined the team, Johnny Mundt, and E.J. Jenkins are the tight ends for Sunday. Mundt actually played the most snaps at the position in Week 3. It’ll be interesting to see if Ertz’s workload increases and if they lean more into 12 personnel with Smith out. On the defensive side, Zack Baun is missing a game for non-rest reasons for the first time since joining the Eagles, thanks to a concussion that kept him from practicing. His absence means Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is getting his first career start in a non-rest game. Trotter Jr. has some athletic limitations, but he’s savvy and plays with great anticipation, so let’s see what he can do. Smael Mondon is the top backup, and newcomer Anfernee Orji might get temporarily elevated for emergency depth and special teams. And don’t forget, Marcus Epps was unexpectedly added to the injury report on Thursday as limited, then didn’t practice Friday. Is it a real injury, or are they soft benching him? The source isn’t clear, but he’s out along with Fred Johnson. This is a nightmare scenario for their depth.
It’s going to be a wild Week 4 for the Eagles against the Rams. With this many key guys sidelined, everyone will be watching how the Birds’ new-look offense and defense holds up. Can the new guys seize their chance and prove their worth? This game is going to be a true test of their depth and coaching when they face off against the Rams.
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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