Nothing like a Philadelphia Eagles injury report to just ruin a nice day for any of the fan base, huh?
This team has been plagued by injuries all season, and while there was finally some progress with news that running back Saquon Barkley was tracking to play in Week 7 against the Dallas Cowboys, it somehow got worse. That's because literally the Eagles' top three pass catchers didn't practice on Thursday.
Yep, that's right. The first Week 7 injury report revealed that the Eagles didn't have DeVonta Smith (hamstring), Dontayvion Wicks (ankle), or Dallas Goedert (knee) practicing. Perfect timing to have all these injuries, huh?
Eagles have a new problem growing on offense entering Week 7
This was the last thing the Eagles needed: to have Smith, Wicks, and Goedert all out of practice. They are all key pieces of the passing attack that the team desperately needs, with Tanner McKee filling in as the starting quarterback for now.
Smith leads the team with 26 receptions for 310 yards and two touchdowns in four games played. Wicks is second with 19 receptions for 284 yards and one touchdown. Third is Goedert with 17 receptions for 180 yards and two touchdowns.
In the Eagles' Week 6 loss to the Carolina Panthers, McKee showed he is more comfortable getting the ball to Smith and Goedert. Smith and Goedert combined for 22 targets, 13 receptions, 136 yards, and one fourth-quarter touchdown to Smith.
The hamstring injury will bother Smith all season so that he may play through it for a while. Wicks got hurt in the Panthers game, and his ankle may not be 100%. Goedert also missed time this season, so his knee injury might linger.
What happens if they all can't play for the Eagles in Week 7 against the Cowboys?
Will all three guys miss the game? It seems unlikely, but one or two might not play in the contest. The good news is that they have an extra day to rest and heal up since they don't play until Monday night.
If all else fails and multiple guys are out, Darius Cooper and Makai Lemon will have to step up big time. Cooper has already shown that by being fourth on the team with eight receptions for 139 yards and four finishing team-leading touchdowns. Lemon needs to be better, though, with 18 receptions for 127 yards, averaging just 7.1 yards per reception.
Cooper has already proven he's the guy the Eagles can rely on, but they refuse to give him more looks in the passing game. Lemon is the opposite: Philly has kept looking his way, but he hasn't been able to turn it into big plays.
At tight end, Zach Ertz is most likely the next man up in the passing game. Johnny Mundt isn't much of a receiver...or a blocker, for that matter, since he's there because he knows Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion well.
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The Eagles need to have their top pass catchers there if they have any remote shot at beating the Cowboys. Without Smith, Goedert, and Wicks, Eagles fans can pretty much book a fifth straight loss and the season being officially over for them.
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