Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith officially ruled out for Eagles’ London meeting with Jaguars
Barkley and Smith are both dealing with hamstring injuries heading into Week 5. Zack Baun will return after missing a game with a concussion.
The Eagles will face the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Sunday without their top two offensive weapons — Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith.
Barkley and Smith, who are both dealing with hamstring injuries, were ruled out on Friday’s final injury report. This is the second straight absence for Smith, who has had a lingering right hamstring issue dating back to training camp. Barkley sustained his injury against the Los Angeles Rams, limiting him to just four snaps last week.
With Barkley out and backup Tank Bigsby on injured reserve, the Eagles will turn to Will Shipley and Dameon Pierce to carry the load on the ground. The Eagles also signed running back Carson Steele to the active roster Friday.
While the Eagles receiving corps is taking a hit again without Smith, tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) is available after missing the last two games. Dontayvion Wicks, who sustained a hamstring injury in Thursday’s practice and was listed as a limited participant, is available, too. Wicks was a limited participant again Friday.
Not only did the Eagles offensive line lose Lane Johnson to retirement and Cam Jurgens in a trade this week, but the group will also be without projected starting center Drew Kendall against the Jaguars. Kendall started the last three games at center when Jurgens moved to left guard in place of the injured Landon Dickerson. The 2025 fifth-round pick out of Boston College did not practice all week with a knee injury and was ruled out Friday.
Jake Majors, the 2025 undrafted free agent out of Texas who has spent the last two seasons on the Eagles’ practice squad, could be in line to start at center after being signed to the active roster Friday. The 6-foot-3, 315-pound interior offensive lineman has never played in an NFL regular-season game. Willie Lampkin, the 2025 undrafted free agent out of North Carolina, could make his first NFL start at left guard.
On defense, the Eagles are listing Jonathan Greenard (ankle) as questionable and Marcus Epps (groin) as out. Greenard, the Eagles’ $100 million offseason addition at outside linebacker, exited the Week 4 loss to the Rams with the injury and did not return. He did not participate in practice this week.
If he can’t go, Greenard will have played in just two of the Eagles’ five games, as he missed the start of the season with a pectoral injury.
Epps has now missed two straight games with the groin injury. Michael Carter II started in his place at safety last week, and Vic Fangio is likely to turn to him again.
The Eagles defense is set to welcome the return of Zack Baun, the All-Pro inside linebacker who missed last week’s game with a concussion. Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (knee) and linebacker Jihaad Campbell (knee) are also available.
Wide receiver Hollywood Brown (ankle) has been ruled out for a third straight week. Backup tackle Fred Johnson (knee) is available after missing the last two games.
Jalen Hurts popped up on the injury report Friday with a calf injury, but he was a full participant in practice and is available.
For over two decades, one of the guiding personnel principles of the Philadelphia Eagles organization has been to prioritize the offensive line. Through four games, and this past week in particular, the group has undergone dramatic turnover. Hall of Fame-caliber tackle Lane Johnson retired. Cam Jurgens was shipped to Baltimore in a trade. Their respective replacements have potential, but, compared to how general manager Howie Roseman has stockpiled talent on the line in the past, the options now seem less optimal. Did Roseman and the Eagles stray from a long-held philosophy? The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane retraces key decisions that brought the team to this point. Listen here.
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