The Philadelphia Eagles injury report for Week 4 is a total disaster. It is hard to stay positive when the stars are missing from the field. According to Yahoo Sports, DeVonta Smith is among six players who were estimated as non-participants Wednesday. This is a massive blow to the passing game. Smith is dealing with a hamstring injury right now. We saw him bounce back from not practicing last week, but this feels different.
The depth chart is looking thin
It is not just the receivers. The team is also missing key pieces on both sides of the ball. Yahoo Sports reported that Dallas Goedert is listed under the did not participate category due to a knee issue. He was already expected to miss several games. Now, the Eagles might be without their top tight end again. Zack Baun is also a new addition to the injury report with a concussion. If Baun stays out, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. will likely take his spot.
The list of names staying home is getting long. The report also includes Will Shipley with a foot injury. Hollywood Brown and Fred Johnson were late additions to the injusry report last week It is impossible to build any rhythm when the roster keeps changing. The offense needs stability, not a revolving door of players.
Saquon Barkley needs help upfront
The pressure on Saquon Barkley is going to be immense. We saw how much the offense struggled in the second half against Chicago. Barkley had a great start, running 11 times for 73 yards before the half. However, he only managed four carries for nine yards in the second half. That is a massive drop in production. Barkley himself said, “Got to do a better job on first down runs.”
The stats show a scary trend for the run game. Barkley is averaging 6.5 yards per carry in the first half of games this year. But in the second half, that number falls to just 2.9 yards per carry. He cannot do this alone. The offensive line needs to provide lanes, especially since the receiving corps is so banged up. Even the great plays are being erased by mistakes. According to reports, the o-line excelled at generating running lanes for him.
The Rams matchup looks daunting
The upcoming game against the Los Angeles Rams is looking tougher by the hour. On top of the Eagles’ injuries, the Rams are bringing back a huge threat. Yahoo Sports noted that Sean McVay expects Puka Nacua to return to the field for this game. Facing a healthy Nacua while missing Smith and Goedert is a recipe for a bad afternoon. The Eagles need players like Jalen Carter and Jonathan Greenard to stay healthy and handle the workload.
