December 01, 2023
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Fletcher Cox and Big Dom.
After a 70-minute slugfest against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday evening, the Philadelphia Eagles list 12 players on their injury report. They'll face a mostly healthy San Francisco 49ers team coming off a mini-bye.
Here's the Eagles-49ers injury report, with analysis.
| Player | Injury | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Status |
| TE Dallas Goedert | Forearm | DNP | DNP | Limited | Doubtful |
| DT Fletcher Cox | Groin | DNP | DNP | DNP | Questionable |
| LB Zach Cunningham | Hamstring | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| S Justin Evans | Knee | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| TE Grant Calcaterra | Ankle | DNP | DNP | Limited | Questionable |
| RT Lane Johnson | Groin | Limited | Full | Full | - |
| WR A.J. Brown | Thigh | Limited | Limited | Full | - |
| WR DeVonta Smith | Knee | Limited | Full | Full | - |
| RB D'Andre Swift | Knee | Limited | Full | Full | - |
| DT Jordan Davis | Hamstring | Limited | Limited | Full | - |
| DT Milton Williams | Concussion | Limited | Full | Full | - |
| WR Julio Jones | Knee | Limited | Limited | Limited | - |
Wednesday notes:
• We covered Goedert's status a little more in depth on Monday, but there's reporting that says that he has a chance to see to the field earlier than anticipated and play on Sunday.
• Cox left the Eagles' win over the Bills on Sunday, tried to come back and play, but only lasted one snap and sat out the rest of the game. Three DTs — Cox, Davis, and Williams — are on the injury report this week, which is less than ideal against a 49ers team that loves to pound the run.
• Cunningham could be out for a while, per Jeff McLane.
Zach Cunningham is expected to be out this week, possibly longer, with a hamstring strain, an NFL source said.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) November 29, 2023
The #Eagles LB was replaced by Christian Elliss in the second half of the Bills victory.
FA LB Shaq Leonard is visiting the Eagles today and will workout and get a…
The Eagles only have two healthy linebackers on the active 53-man roster. To be determined if they can get something done with former Colts LB Shaq Leonard.
• Johnson is expected to be good to go for Sunday.
• Brown's and Smith's appearances on the injury report aren't cause for concern, I'm told.
Thursday notes:
• Lane Johnson's full participation is huge against a loaded 49ers defensive front.
• It's not looking good for Goedert or Cox, who were non-participants both on Wednesday and Thursday.
• The Eagles added Ben VanSumeren to the active 53-man roster. He'll back up Nicholas Morrow and Christian Elliss with Cunningham likely out.
Friday notes:
• The rule of thumb for players listed as "doubtful" is that they have a 10% chance of playing, but in actuality it's probably less than that. Goedert could play on Sunday, but it's more likely he'll be held out until Week 14 against the Cowboys.
• Cox is surprisingly listed as questionable after not practicing all week. We'll see. If he plays, he almost certainly will not have his usual high snap count.
• The Eagles opened up the 21-day window for Evans on November 14, so time is running out for the Eagles to make a decision on whether to elevate him to the 53-man roster or have him revert to season-ending IR. The Eagles simply don't have the roster spots, so my guess is that it's the latter.
• LB Nakobe Dean: Entering the 2023 season, Dean was the clear No. 1 linebacker on the roster, as the team was counting on him to take on a much bigger role than what he had as a rookie in 2022. That has not gone to plan, as he landed on injured reserve after suffering a foot injury Week 1 against the Patriots. He returned Week 6 and played in four games before again suffering a foot injury that landed him on injured reserve for a second time this season. When he has played, Dean has been fine as a run defender and as a tackler (PFF has him down for 0 missed tackles), but he has struggled in coverage. PFF has him down for 13 completions on 14 targets for 120 yards.
• CB Avonte Maddox: Maddox had surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle. His season is likely over. The oft-injured Maddox missed games at three different junctures during the season in 2022, and was only able to play in two games in 2023. He also missed three games in 2018, four games in 2019, and six games in 2020. He is one of the best slot corners in the NFL when healthy, but it seems there will always be durability concerns. The Eagles had instability at slot corner for the bulk of the season with seemingly a different plan every week for a while, but Bradley Roby is beginning to settle in as competent answer in that role.
• S Justin Evans: Evans was the Eagles' choice to start opposite Reed Blankenship, as he beat out Terrell Edmunds and Sydney Brown during training camp for that opportunity. He started four games for the Eagles earlier this season, and when healthy, has been competent. However, he has a long history of injuries, missing 43 games from 2017-2022 (not including the 2021 season, when he was not on an NFL roster), and he lost his starting job when the Eagles traded for Kevin Byard. The Eagles opened Evans' 21-day practice window a couple weeks ago.
| Player | Injury | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Status |
| DE Arik Armstead | Foot | DNP | DNP | Limited | Questionable |
| WR Ray-Ray McCloud | Rib | DNP | DNP | Limited | Questionable |
| RB Jordan Mason | Hamstring | DNP | DNP | Limited | Questionable |
| RG Spencer Burford | Knee | Limited | Limited | Full | - |
| DE Nick Bosa | Toe | - | - | Limited | - |
Wednesday notes:
• Armstead is on fire of late, as he has 4.5 sacks and 7 QB hits in the last four games. His status will be worth monitoring closely as the week progresses.
• If I'm the Eagles, I'd prefer that Burford plays. He is a liability in pass pro.
Thursday notes:
• Armstead once again did not practice. If he can't go, that would mean a bigger role for Javon Kinlaw and Kevin Givens, both of whom can be moved in the run game.
Friday notes:
• Bosa is a semi-interesting addition to the Niners' injury report. He doesn't have an injury designation, so he'll play.
• Armstead practiced for the first time this week on Friday. We'll probably have to wait until 90 minutes before kickoff to learn if he'll play or not.
• S Talanoa Hufanga: Hufanga was a First-Team All-Pro in 2022, after collecting 97 tackles, 4 INTs (including a pick-six), 9 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 sacks. His season is over with a torn ACL. Rookie Ji'Ayir Brown (Penn State) has filled in for Hufanga, and has played well.
• S George Odom: Odom was a special teams First-Team All-Pro with the Colts in 2020, and a Second-Team All-Pro in 2022. He is also a backup safety, where the 49ers are already a little thin with the loss of Hufanga. His season is over with a torn biceps injury.
• DE Drake Jackson: Jackson was a Niners second-round pick in 2022. His season got out to a hot start in 2023, when he had 3 sacks Week 1 against the Steelers, but he has only played in four games this season. He's on IR with a knee injury (tendonitis).
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