The Philadelphia Eagles' bye week is approaching as the team focuses on getting healthier. Still, they face an interesting decision regarding two of their star players, DeVonta Smith and Saquon Barkley.
Smith has already missed half the season with his hamstring injury and has shown zero signs that he is close to returning to the field. Barkley has missed two games this season with his own hamstring injury, but has been battling through the last three weeks with that and a back injury, and it's pretty clear that he is not 100%.
In reality, Smith and Barkley will likely take the field and play once the bye week passes and they face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11. That would be a mistake for a team that needs them later.
No way DeVonta Smith and Saquon Barkley should be playing after Eagles' bye week
Smith has not proven that his hamstring is even close to being ready. He hasn't been at practice in almost a month, and it's becoming clear that he's not 100%. It's unclear whether he's already lost for the season or if the Eagles are being cautious.
He returned from his hamstring injury in the Carolina Panthers game, and he looked good, scoring a touchdown. Since then, though, he's been missing.
Barkley has battled hamstring and back injuries in a season that has felt cursed. He played well in the Week 7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, averaging 8.9 yards per carry. In Week 8 against the Washington Commanders and Week 9 against the New York Giants, he was inefficient, averaging just 2 yards per carry on 26 total rushing attempts.
At this point, the Eagles are 2-7 and have less than a 2% chance of making the playoffs, so what is the point in putting those two on the field? Philly fans appreciate Barkley wanting to play with his teammates and tough it out, but he isn't efficient on offense and will only make his injuries worse the more he plays without healing properly.
There are other players who need to join Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith
Many other Eagles probably fit the category of being shut down for the season due to injuries. Guys like Jalen Carter and Dontayvion Wicks, who are important to the franchise's future, shouldn't be on the field.
Wicks has missed the last three games with his ankle injury, and he's clearly in the same boat as Smith: he doesn't look close to returning to play. Carter has played through a wrist injury since hurting it in Week 1, and while he's been good, it has hindered him in some games throughout the year.
Carter is at least showing improvement with the wrist, as the cast has been getting smaller throughout the last month. Wicks hasn't even set foot on the practice field in almost a month, so who knows how much progress he's made.
With the season out of reach, though, if their injuries aren't 100% better after the bye week, they should be in the conversation with Barkley and Smith about shutting down for the season. The Eagles proved at the trade deadline how important the future is for the franchise.
Philly has two first-round picks in the 2027 NFL Draft after trading away Jordan Davis to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Eagles will need Smith, Barkley, Carter, and Wicks as key pieces for next year's squad in what already looks like a potential transition year.
Read more: Eagles free agent check-in: Moro Ojomo's future seems clear, Riq Woolen improves
That first practice after the bye week will be very telling of what the Eagles are thinking for the future. Regardless, they should seriously consider shutting down injured stars soon, since 2027 is far more important than the lost 2026 campaign.
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