Eagles-Bills Week 12 injury report, with analysis

The Philadelphia Eagles have some new names on their injury report, but no big surprises. Their Week 12 opponent, the Buffalo Bills, have major injury concerns at cornerback. Here's the Eagles-Bills injury report, with analysis.

Wednesday notes:

• Goedert is third on the team in receiving, behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. In nine games, he has 38 catches for 410 yards and 2 TDs. His season began slowly, as he had just 13 catches for 88 yards and no TDs in the Eagles' first four games. However, over his last five games, his production picked up, as he had 25 catches for 322 yards and 2 TDs. With Goedert out likely for a while, the Eagles' starting tight end is Jack Stoll, a good blocker, but a near nonfactor in the passing game.

• Williams had a good game against the Chiefs on Wednesday night (5 tackles in just 28 snaps), but he suffered a head injury and is in the concussion protocol. A return on a short week is perhaps unrealistic.

• Brown and Swift are the most notable names among the limited practice participants. It'll be worth monitoring their statuses as the week progresses.

Thursday notes: 

• Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃

Friday notes: 

• The only real noteworthy absence that we weren't sure of is Williams, who was not able to pass the concussion protocol in time for gameday.

• Watkins is listed as questionable.

Saturday notes:

• I should probably also note that DeVonta Smith popped up on the injury report on Friday and did not practice. He does not have a game status designation, so barring any major surprises he'll play.

• Watkins was elevated from IR to the 53-man roster, though it's still not a guarantee that he'll dress against the Bills.

Sunday notes: 

• Lane Johnson woke up with soreness (groin). He got treatment this morning, and will have an MRI before the game. He was a full participant in practice this week, but has been downgraded to questionable.

Since 2016, the Eagles are 10-22 when Lane Johnson is out of the lineup.

• 2016: 2-8
• 2017: 1-0
• 2018: 0-1
• 2019: 3-1 (0-1 in the playoffs)
• 2020: 2-7
• 2021: 1-3
• 2022: 1-1

Also, the Eagles' lone loss in 2023 was against the Jets, when Johnson only played 9 snaps.

Notable players on IR, PUP, suspension, etc.

• 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. 

Zach Cunningham has been the Eagles' best linebacker so far this season, as he has been a physical presence in the middle of the defense. Nicholas Morrow has also had his moments, notably in the Eagles' overtime win against the Commanders, when he had three sacks.

• 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. Slot corner is a position where the Eagles had already lost depth, as backup Zech McPhearson tore his Achilles during the Eagles' preseason game against the Browns. The Eagles have had a different plan in the slot pretty much every week since Maddox went down.

• 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 last week.

Wednesday notes: 

• As you can see, the Bills' injury report is littered with defensive backs. CB1 Tre'Davious White on IR with an Achilles tear, as is 2022 first-round corner Kaiir Elam. We got into much more detail on the Bills' secondary woes in our five matchups to watch.

Thursday notes: 

• Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃

Friday notes: 

• The Bills' secondary will officially be without Tre'Davious White, Dane Jackson, Kaiir Elam, and Taylor Rapp. The starting corners will likely be Rasul Douglas, Christian Benford, and Taron Johnson.