DeVonta Smith is back on the field doing work, and Makai Lemon is finally running routes again. This is the first real good news for the Eagles in weeks. According to Bleeding Green Nation, Smith returned to practice with a helmet on after missing time with a hamstring issue. He didn’t take part in full team drills yet, but he’s ramping up with position work. Lemon, the first-round pick, didn’t practice but got rehab work in on a side field. He ran routes and took part in the catch circuit. This means both players are moving closer to playing in the preseason game against New England.
The injury list is still long, but the movement on it is the only thing that matters right now. You can’t fix a broken body overnight, but you can see the steps forward. Smith isn’t cleared for full team drills, yet he’s back in the mix. Lemon is doing the “catch circuit” where almost everyone on the team practices catching the ball after drills end. This specific work shows the staff trusts them to handle the ball again. The team has a walkthrough and travel day coming up before heading to Massachusetts for joint practices. They need these receivers healthy for that trip.
The Injury Report Reality Check
While Smith and Lemon show promise, the rest of the roster is dealing with a lot of bumps. According to Bleeding Green Nation, many players got banged up in Saturday’s preseason game. Johnny Wilson missed practice again after a knee setback. Grant Calcaterra, Mac McWilliams, and Jakorian Bennett all missed time due to injuries from that same game. John Ojukwu, Dameon Pierce, and Jose Ramirez are also out with various issues. The team isn’t in perfect shape. Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean were notably taken off the injury report after missing time last week, despite this. Saquon Barkley was full go despite a brief scare. This shows the team can manage minor knocks and get stars back.
The schedule is tight, and the margin for error is small. The Eagles have limited open practices, so fans have to trust the reports from inside the Jefferson Health Training Complex. Bleeding Green Nation reporter Brandon Gowton has covered camp for 14 years and tracks these updates daily. Before heading out for joint practices against the New England Patriots on Wednesday and Thursday, he noted the team will get work in today. The pressure is on to get healthy before those games start. If Smith and Lemon can play against the Patriots, it changes the entire feel of the upcoming season.
The offense needs these two players to get the ball moving again. The team has been testing other options while waiting for the starters to return. Jake Majors took all 34 snaps at center in the last game. Cooper led the Eagles in receiving with 21 yards in that game. But those numbers are just placeholders until the real weapons are back. The Eagles utilized John Ojukwu at left guard, where he lacks experience, taking 10 snaps there and 13 at left tackle. He’s on the roster bubble. The team is trying to figure out the line while the receivers heal. Once Smith and Lemon are fully active, the offense will look much more dangerous.
The path forward is clear but narrow. The team needs to avoid more setbacks before the joint practices. Vic Fangio previously noted that Jonathan Jones is going to miss “some time” with his shoulder injury. The coaching staff has to balance rest with the need to get reps in. The catch circuit work Lemon did is a good sign because it mimics game speed without the full contact. Smith’s ramp-up suggests he will be ready for the Patriots game. This is the best possible news the Eagles could ask for this week. The fans need to stay calm and trust the process. The players are working, and the results are starting to show.
