The Eagles had several key players back for Thursday’s practice, but several others sat out as the team began preparing for its Christmas matchup against the Giants.
There is definitely good news and bad news to start the week.
The full text of Thursday’s injury report is below.
Did not participate: LB Zach Cunningham (knee), LG Landon Dickerson (thumb), LB Nicholas Morrow (abdominal), CB Darius Slay (knee), CB DeVonta Smith (knee)
full: RG Cam Jurgens (pectoral muscle), CB Avonte Maddox (pectoral muscle)
The Eagles activated Maddox’s 21-day practice window before Thursday’s practice, and his full participation was a pleasant surprise. Maddox has been on injured reserve since Week 2 when he suffered a pectoral muscle injury that required surgery. A full appearance earlier in the week would seem to indicate Maddox could return to the field Monday afternoon.
If Maddox is available for the game, the Eagles will need to put him on the 53-man roster to make room for him.
And it’s definitely good news that Jurgens was a full participant in Thursday’s practice. Jurgens missed last week’s game due to his chest injury and was replaced by Sua Opeta. However, the Eagles will be without Landon Dickerson on Monday after he underwent thumb surgery on Wednesday. It remains to be seen whether Opeta or rookie Tyler Steen will replace Dickerson at left guard.
The Eagles’ projected offensive line against the Giants is (from left to right): Jordan Mailata, Opeta/Steen, Jason Kelce, Cam Jurgens, Lane Johnson.
The Eagles have been without two starting pitchers for most of the season, making things tough at linebacker. Morrow was a spectator early in Thursday’s practice, but Cunningham was nowhere to be seen. Cunningham also missed the game against the Seahawks. Shaq Leonard and Ben VanSmelen are the only healthy off-ball linebackers on the 53-man roster.
Smith, 25, injured his knee Monday in Seattle. Despite his small stature, Smith was incredibly durable. Smith has played in 48 of 48 career games.
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