Eagles' Saquon Barkley ruled out, DeVonta Smith likely to return
Philadelphia will be without Saquon Barkley on Sunday against Carolina, while DeVonta Smith is set to play after missing two games with a hamstring injury.
Why Barkley is out again
Saquon Barkley has been ruled out for Sunday's home game against the Carolina Panthers with a hamstring injury. He exited early in the first quarter of the Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams and has been sidelined ever since. The game has not been played yet, so this is about who suits up, not what happened on the field.
For a backfield that leans on him as much as this one does, losing Barkley again changes the math before the ball is even snapped.
The backfield left behind
It is not just Barkley. Will Shipley was placed on injured reserve Friday with a foot injury, joining Tank Bigsby, who is out with an abdomen issue. That clears a path for Dameon Pierce to handle the bulk of the carries Sunday.
Three backs down to one tells its own story about how thin this room has gotten in a hurry.
Smith is back, Hurts is not
DeVonta Smith does not carry an injury designation after missing the previous two games with a hamstring injury. Asked about it after Friday's practice, Smith said, "I'm good," and added that whether he actually plays is "up to the doctors."
Smith returning is the one clean piece of news in an otherwise banged-up injury report. Less clean: Jalen Hurts was ruled out Thursday with a superficial blood clot in his calf, which means Tanner McKee is slated to start at quarterback in his place.
The rest of the injury list
Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard carries no designation but said he plans to test his ankle pregame, the same approach he took in London before being ruled out against the Jaguars. Fellow edge rushers Jalyx Hunt (knee/ankle) and AJ Epenesa (back), along with safety Michael Carter (abdomen), have all been ruled out.
Up front, linemen Landon Dickerson and Drew Kendall are both questionable with knee injuries. Add it up and this is a defense and offensive line dealing with real holes heading into Sunday, on top of the backfield and quarterback situation already in motion.
Facts per ESPN. Opinion is the taproom's.