Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith out for Rams contest with hamstring injury, expected to miss multiple games
Zack Baun (concussion) and Marcus Epps (groin) were also ruled out against the Rams.
The Eagles will be without their top wide receiver for Sunday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, and potentially longer.
DeVonta Smith (hamstring) was ruled out of the contest on the final injury report on Friday. He is expected to miss more than Sunday’s game with the lingering right hamstring injury that initially caused him to miss time during camp. He could be out two to three games, two league sources said.
Zack Baun (concussion) and Marcus Epps (groin) were also ruled out against the Rams. Neither Smith nor Baun practiced all week in the aftermath of Monday night’s loss to the Chicago Bears.
Smith, 27, was also on the injury report last week with the hamstring issue. He did not participate in practice last Thursday, was upgraded to limited on Friday, then participated in full on Saturday before playing against the Bears. He played all 50 offensive snaps, finishing the game with six receptions on eight targets for 65 yards.
The Eagles will have to distribute his ample targets elsewhere. Through three games this season, Smith has received 32.9% of the team’s targets, which is the second-highest rate in the NFL behind the Seattle Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba (37.9%), according to Next Gen Stats. Extended through an entire season, that would be the highest single-season target share by an Eagles player since at least 2000.
Dontayvion Wicks, the second highest-targeted wide receiver on the Eagles offense, said Thursday that he was ready to step into an increased role if called upon in Smith’s absence.
“If so, I’ve got to step up and be there for [Jalen Hurts],” Wicks said. “Be there for the team, the offense. And capitalize on the plays, opportunities Coach gives me.”
This will be the first time Baun, 29, has missed an Eagles regular-season game due to injury. He played 91.7% of the defensive snaps against in Chicago, with Jeremiah Trotter Jr. taking his place late in the fourth quarter on the final Bears possession. Baun spoke to reporters after the game, so it is unclear exactly when he entered the concussion protocol.
With Baun out, Trotter Jr. is expected to start alongside Jihaad Campbell. Trotter Jr., the 2024 fifth-rounder out of Clemson, has yet to start in a non-preseason, non-Week 18 game for the Eagles.
Epps, the Eagles’ starter at safety alongside Andrew Mukuba, popped up on Thursday’s injury report with a groin injury and was a limited participant in practice. He did not participate in Friday’s practice.
Last week against the Bears, the Eagles rotated Epps with Michael Carter II at safety throughout the game. Vic Fangio said this week that the plan was for both players to continue to man the same position, but he may look to Carter to take it on full-time in the absence of Epps.
The Eagles also signed veteran defensive back Kenny Moore II to the active roster on Tuesday, less than a week after adding him to the practice squad. Moore, 31, had mostly been a nickel cornerback throughout his nine-year career with the Indianapolis Colts, so it is unlikely that he would step in at safety immediately. Fangio said that move could be a “down the line possibility.”
Fangio once again shot down the idea of moving Cooper DeJean to safety full-time.
Additionally, Hollywood Brown (ankle), Dallas Goedert (knee) and Fred Johnson (knee) have been ruled out. Each player was also inactive last week against the Bears.
The Rams have ruled out defensive tackle Aaron Donald, tight end Terrance Ferguson, and cornerback Jaylen Watson. Receiver Puka Nacua, who missed the Rams’ last two outings with a groin injury, is slated to make his return to game action.
Carter in cast for ‘a couple more weeks’
As he heals from a hairline fracture in his right wrist, Jalen Carter has been wearing a cast during games. But he doesn’t expect to continue to wear it for much longer.
Carter, the 25-year-old defensive tackle, said on Friday he will likely have to wear the cast for “a couple more weeks.” He acknowledged that wearing the cast has impacted his ability to use his hands, which can impact his technique. But he said his grip strength and mobility are beginning to improve.
“It’s affected me a little bit, but I try not to think about it at the time, in the game,” Carter said. “I can’t make no excuses while I’m in there, so I try not to think about it and just keep pushing. I might feel a little ding, whatever. I can either get out, let it calm down, or just keep playing. Most times, I just keep going.”
Carter has played 81% of the defensive snaps despite his injury. He has one of the team’s three sacks this season, which he registered in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans.
Staff writer Jeff McLane contributed to this report.
Just a few months ago, when Eagles training camp got underway, the defense drew rave reviews. The prevailing sentiment was that the unit was poised to dominate this year. So far through three games, Vic Fangio’s group has done anything but. From the lack of forced turnovers to missed coverage assignments, the Eagles have plenty of room for improvement. Can Fangio work his magic to get the defense on track in time for this week’s showdown with the high-powered LA Rams? The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane puts the defense under the microscope, and also answers listener questions in this week’s mailbag. Listen here.
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