Black Friday Blues: DeVonta Smith Headlines Lengthy Eagles Injury Report

Black Friday Blues: DeVonta Smith Headlines Lengthy Eagles Injury Report

 

The Philadelphia Eagles are facing a critical Week 13 Black Friday matchup against the Chicago Bears with one of their longest and most concerning injury reports of the season.¹ Following a physically demanding game and operating on a short recovery week, the estimated injury report released after Tuesday’s walkthrough is headlined by star wide receiver DeVonta Smith, whose status is now highly questionable.²

 

The sheer volume of key players dealing with injuries, spanning the offensive and defensive lines, the secondary, and major playmakers, poses a significant threat to the Eagles’ ability to maintain their standing in the NFC playoff race.

---

I. The Primary Concern: DeVonta Smith (Shoulder/Chest)

 

The most alarming development for the Eagles’ offense is the injury to wide receiver DeVonta Smith.

• Injury Status: Did Not Participate (DNP) in Tuesday’s estimated practice (walkthrough) due to Shoulder and Chest injuries.³

   

• Significance: Smith is an essential component of the Eagles’ passing attack, providing the speed and route-running precision necessary to pull coverage away from A.J. Brown. The combined shoulder and chest issues are highly concerning for a receiver, as they directly impact his ability to extend, catch, and absorb contact after the catch.

• Short Week Factor: Given the DNP status on a short week, Smith faces an uphill battle to be cleared for Friday’s game, forcing the Eagles to prepare for a passing game heavily reliant on A.J. Brown and Dallas Goedert.

II. Critical Offensive Line and Backfield Concerns

 

Injuries are challenging the core strength of the Eagles: their offensive line and running game.

• Lane Johnson (Foot): Did Not Participate (DNP).⁴ Johnson is dealing with a Lisfranc injury and is expected to miss significant time, though he has not been placed on Injured Reserve.⁵ His absence forces Fred Johnson to step in at Right Tackle, a crucial position that the Bears’ defense will certainly look to exploit.

   

• Saquon Barkley (Groin): Limited Participant (LP).⁶ Barkley’s recurring groin issue resurfaced, limiting him in the walkthrough.⁷ While he has consistently played through the injury this season, his limited status on a short week raises concerns about his explosiveness and ability to handle a full workload against a tough Bears front.

   

• Landon Dickerson (Knee): Limited Participant (LP).⁸ The starting Left Guard continues to battle a knee injury that has hampered him throughout the season, though he remains a tough player who typically plays through the pain.⁹

   

III. Defensive Depth Challenges

 

The defense, led by coordinator Vic Fangio, is also dealing with significant attrition, particularly in the secondary and defensive line rotation.

• Andrew Mukuba (Ankle): Did Not Participate (DNP).¹⁰ Mukuba is dealing with a fractured ankle and is expected to be out long-term, likely necessitating a move to Injured Reserve.¹¹ His absence thins out the safety depth considerably.

   

• Reed Blankenship (Thigh): Limited Participant (LP).¹² The starting safety suffered a thigh injury in the loss to the Cowboys.¹³ While Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio has publicly stated he expects Blankenship to play, any limitation on him forces Sydney Brown into a starting role, exposing the backend of the secondary.¹⁴

   

• Brandon Graham (Groin): Did Not Participate (DNP).¹⁵ The veteran defensive end’s groin injury impacts the Eagles’ pass-rush rotation.¹⁶ Even in a rotational role, his absence is notable for depth against the run and pass.

   

• Xavier Gipson (Shoulder): Did Not Participate (DNP).¹⁷ The wide receiver and key punt returner was held out, further impacting the receiver depth and special teams.¹⁸

   

IV. Summary of the Estimated Tuesday Injury Report

 

The following is a breakdown of the key players on the Eagles’ estimated injury report for the short week matchup:

Player	Position	Injury	Participation (Tuesday Walkthrough)	Notes
DeVonta Smith	WR	Shoulder/Chest	Did Not Participate (DNP)	Status highly questionable for Friday.
Lane Johnson	RT	Foot (Lisfranc)	Did Not Participate (DNP)	Expected to miss significant time.
Andrew Mukuba	S	Ankle (Fracture)	Did Not Participate (DNP)	Long-term injury, likely IR candidate.
Brandon Graham	DE	Groin	Did Not Participate (DNP)	Affects pass-rush and run defense depth.
Xavier Gipson	WR/RS	Shoulder	Did Not Participate (DNP)	Impacts receiver depth and return game.
Saquon Barkley	RB	Groin	Limited Participant (LP)	Recurring injury, short week limits recovery.
Reed Blankenship	S	Thigh	Limited Participant (LP)	Expected to play, but effectiveness is key.
Landon Dickerson	LG	Knee	Limited Participant (LP)	Playing through season-long knee issues.