Eagles get positive injury news with wide receiver DeVonta Smith, edge rusher Jonathan Greenard set to return Sunday
Smith should help make life easier for starting quarterback Tanner McKee on Sunday against the Panthers.
Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith is set to make his return to action against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday after missing the last two weeks with a hamstring injury.
Smith, 27, was a full participant in practice on Friday and does not have a game status on the final injury report, indicating that he is available to play for the first time since Week 3 against the Chicago Bears.
After practice, Smith said he was feeling “good.” He acknowledged that he tweaked the hamstring in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans, played through it against Chicago, then decided it wasn’t smart to continue to play on the injury and make it worse.
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Over the last two weeks while sidelined, Smith said he embraced taking on a different role among the receiving corps.
“Being able to help the guys in the room,” Smith said. “When you’re not playing, you see things a lot differently. So I just feel like I was out there being a coach, seeing the things that defenses have been doing against us, giving suggestions and things like that. [Stinks] not being out there playing. But it was also good just for me as a leader to be out there just to lead in a different way.”
Jonathan Greenard, who missed last week’s game with an ankle injury, does not have a game status, either. He was a full participant in Friday’s practice.
The 29-year-old outside linebacker has missed three games this season, including the first two weeks of the year while recovering from a pectoral strain that kept him out during training camp. Despite his injuries, Greenard said he hasn’t lost confidence in himself.
“I know the impact I can have on this game,” Greenard said. “I still feel like I’m one of the best at my position. I like myself against anybody. So it’s a matter of me getting out there and actually showing it and putting it on tape because I know it’s there.”
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While Smith and Greenard are eyeing returns, Saquon Barkley won’t join them. The 29-year-old running back was officially ruled out for a second consecutive week after suffering a hamstring injury early in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Rams. He did not practice this week.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts (calf), defensive back Michael Carter II (abdomen), outside linebacker Jalyx Hunt (knee/ankle), and running back Will Shipley (foot) were also ruled out. Shipley was placed on injured reserve on Friday afternoon, clearing a spot on the 53-man roster that quarterback Joe Milton is set to fill.
Outside linebacker A.J. Epenesa is listed as doubtful with a back injury.
All four of the Eagles players on injured reserve whose practice windows were opened on Wednesday, including cornerback Jakorian Bennett (knee), tight end Grant Calcaterra (back), left guard Landon Dickerson (knee), and tight end Eli Stowers (quad), are listed as questionable to play. If they are not activated this week, the Eagles have two more weeks before they must do so or place them on season-ending injured reserve.
Dickerson was a limited participant in Friday’s practice, while Bennett, Calcaterra, and Stowers were full participants.
New starting center Drew Kendall (knee) is also questionable to play against the Panthers. He was a limited participant during Friday’s practice.
The Eagles are back from London, looking to leave the disappointment of a last-second defeat behind while choosing instead to focus on lessons they can learn from a third straight loss. And you know what? The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane actually thinks there were encouraging takeaways from the game, outcome aside. He and Mike Sielski discussed why the Eagles’ sky, despite being gray, isn’t falling just yet, and what the team can build on to if it hopes to reverse its fortunes during a key stretch of the schedule that begins Sunday. Listen here.
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