The Philadelphia Eagles have had their share of injuries so far in 2023, but they have gotten some players back in recent weeks, and should be getting even more reinforcements soon. Their Week 8 opponent, the Washington Commanders, have mostly had good injury luck so far this season, but listed eight players on their initial injury report.
Here's the Eagles-Commanders injury report, with analysis.
| Player | Injury | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Status |
| CB Bradley Roby | Shoulder | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| DT Milton Williams | Heel | Limited | Limited | Full | - |
| S Reed Blankenship | Ribs | Full | Full | Full | - |
| CB James Bradberry | Ankle | - | Limited | Limited | - |
| LB Zach Cunningham | Ankle | - | Limited | Limited | - |
| DT Jordan Davis | Hamstring | - | Limited | DNP | Questionable |
Wednesday notes:
• The Eagles listed just three players on their injury report this week after listing 11 players in advance of their Week 7 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. The most notable player, Reed Blankenship, was a full participant, which means that he'll very likely play on Sunday against the Commanders.
• Despite hurting against the Dolphins on Sunday night, Jalen Hurts did not appear on the Eagles' initial Week 8 injury report.
Thursday notes:
• Bradberry, Cunningham, and Davis are all surprise late additions to the injury report. Wednesday was a walkthrough, and injury reports during walkthroughs are estimates only.
Friday notes:
• Roby is out, #AsExpected.
• Davis is questionable, but his unavailability to practice on Friday is not a good sign. The Commanders have struggled running the ball this season.
Notable players on IR, PUP, suspension, etc.
• RG Cam Jurgens: Jurgens sprained his foot against the Commanders Week 4. He won't be eligible to play again until Week 9 against the Cowboys. The Eagles will be facing a whole lot of opponents with outstanding interior defensive linemen in October, as we have noted.
• Week 5: At Rams, Aaron Donald ✔️
• Week 6: At Jets, Quinnen Williams ✔️
• Week 7: Dolphins, Christian Wilkins ✔️
• Week 8: At Commanders, Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne
Sua Opeta has done a nice job in relief of Jurgens, last Sunday night against the Dolphins aside.
• 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.
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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 has started four games for the Eagles, and when healthy, has been competent. However, he already missed a game earlier this season with a neck injury and is now on IR with a knee injury. Evans has a long history of injuries since he entered the league in 2017, missing 43 games, not including the 2021 season, when he was not on an NFL roster. He will be eligible to come off IR after the Eagles' Week 9 game against the Cowboys. The Eagles traded for Titans safety Kevin Byard on Monday.
• WR Quez Watkins: Watkins has battled injuries this season, and only has 4 catches for 21 yards in 3 games played. In the Eagles' win over the Rams, Watkins had a chance to pick up a key first down but instead ran directly into a defender who easily rode Watkins out of bounds. That play continued a common theme of Watkins failing to make a play when an opportunity was there. The Eagles have since signed Julio Jones, and they also have Olamide Zaccheaus. Watkins will be eligible to come off IR after the Eagles' Week 9 game against the Cowboys.
| Player | Injury | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Status |
| LB Cody Barton | Ankle | DNP | DNP | Out | |
| LG Saahdiq Charles | Calf | DNP | DNP | Out | |
| WR Curtis Samuel | Foot | DNP | Limited | Questionable | |
| RG Sam Cosmi | Hip | Limited | Full | ||
| TE Cole Turner | Ankle | Limited | Full | ||
| DT Jonathan Allen | Knee | Full | Full | ||
| DE Montez Sweat | Finger | Full | Full | ||
| DT Phidarian Mathis | Calf | Full | Full | Questionable | |
| CB Benjamin St-Juste | Thigh | - | Limited |
Wednesday notes:
• As noted in our five matchups to watch, the Commanders' offensive line has mostly stayed healthy this season, and yet they have already allowed 40 (!) sacks. Both of their starting guards make the injury report this week.
• Samuel had 7 catches for 51 yards against the Eagles Week 4.
• Barton is a starting linebacker. He leads the team with 61 tackles.
Thursday notes:
• The Commanders acknowledged that Barton won't play.
• St-Juste was added to the report with a thigh injury. If somehow he can't go, the Commanders might have to rely on rookie Emmanuel Forbes, who got bodied by A.J. Brown Week 4.
Friday notes:
• The Commanders have not yet updated their practice report, so we don't know how if / how much each guy practiced, but we know that Barton and Charles are out, while Samuel and Mathis are questionable.
David Mayo will fill in for Barton, and Charles will likely be replaced either by Chris Paul or Ricky Stromberg.
Notable players on IR, PUP, suspension, etc.
• S Darrick Forest (IR): Forrest is a starting safety for the Commanders. He had 88 tackles, 4 INTs, and 9 PBUs in 2022. He had 29 tackles in 2023 before landing on IR with a fractured shoulder.
• S Jeremy Reaves (IR): Reaves has been a special teamer only this season for the Commanders, but he was a First-team All-Pro special teamer in 2022.
• DT Phidarian Mathis (IR): The Commanders selected Mathis in the second round of the 2022 draft. His tore his meniscus in his rookie Week 1 debut last season, and his 2023 season began on IR with a calf injury. He has only played 3 career snaps in the regular defense so far. The Commanders opened the 21-day practice window for Mathis this week, but he remains on IR for now.
• DE Shaka Toney (SUS): 8 tackles, 1.5 sacks as a rookie in 2021. 8 tackles, 0 sacks in 2022. Toney is suspended indefinitely for betting on NFL games.
• TE Armani Rogers (IR): Rogers is a former quarterback turned tight end who was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent last year. He made the team and made five catches on the season. With a shaky group at tight end, there was some thinking that Rogers could make a leap in Year 2 and become a factor in the Commanders' offense, but he tore his Achilles in OTAs, ending his season.
• iOL Braeden Daniels (IR): Versatile rookie fourth-round pick. I happened to notice reports this summer from the Commanders' beats that he was struggling in camp.
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