Eagles-Dolphins Week 7 injury report, with analysis

The Philadelphia Eagles listed 11 players on their injury report, and they continue to juggle their roster as they have not had the same injury luck they had the last two seasons. Their Week 7 opponent, the Miami Dolphins, will be without starting LT Terron Armstead and star CB Jalen Ramsey.

Here's the Eagles-Dolphins injury report, with analysis.

Wednesday notes:

• Brian Baldinger said he was working out at Lane Johnson's barn, and that Johnson will be ready to go for Sunday. 

• This is the second time that Blankenship has suffered a ribs injury this season. He was injured against the Patriots and re-entered that game, but was unavailable the following week against the Vikings. In Week 6 against the Jets, he had to leave the field and did not return.

• Roby could reportedly miss "a game or two," per Jordan Schultz, but his injury is not serious enough to land him on IR. The Eagles signed Josiah Scott off of the Steelers' practice squad.

• DeVonta Smith has had hamstring issues in the past. He is the only non-participant in practice where there is no further info, for now.

• Carter and Slay being limited participants is a step up from where they were a week ago. Slay is of particular importance against the Dolphins' blazing fast receivers.

• Goedert did not play on the Eagles' final series on Sunday against the Jets.

• Milton Williams had to leave the field for a bit during the loss to the Jets, but he did return.

Thursday notes: 

• Slay was a full participant, so he will likely play on Sunday night. That is huge against this Dolphins offense.

• Blankenship feels unlikely for Sunday night, and if indeed he cannot go then Sydney Brown will probably make his first NFL start.

• Smith said that he will play.

Friday notes: 

• Blankenship is out, as expected. Sydney Brown will very likely get his first ever NFL start, opposite Terrell Edmunds, who has struggled at times this season. That's not an ideal safety pairing against the Dolphins' explosive offense.

• Roby is also out, which could mean that it'll be a mix of Josiah Scott and Eli Ricks in the slot. 😬

• Everyone else is a go.

Saturday notes: 

• They Eagles activated WR Julio Jones and DB Mekhi Garner from the practice squad to the gameday roster.

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

In other words, it's not an ideal time to lose an interior offensive lineman, though Sua Opeta has done a nice job in relief of Jurgens.

• 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 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 of IR after the Eagles' Week 9 game against the Cowboys.

• 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 of IR after the Eagles' Week 9 game against the Cowboys.

Wednesday notes:

• The Dolphins traded for Jalen Ramsey this offseason, pairing him with another star corner in Xavien Howard. Ramsey suffered a meniscus injury in training camp, and had surgery to repair it. He was originally expected to return to the field sometime in December, however, he is way ahead of schedule, as the Dolphins' opened up his 21-day practice window and he practiced on Wednesday. Head coach Mike McDaniel said this week that Ramsey would not play on Sunday against the Eagles. Eli Apple has filled in on the outside for the Dolphins. That is a massive downgrade, obviously, as Ramsey is arguably the best cornerback in the NFL.

• Howard is another stellar corner. If he can't go, the Dolphins' corners would likely be Eli Apple, Kader Kohou, and Parry Nickerson. That would be another huge loss.

• You may remember Connor Williams from his days as the Cowboys' starting LG. He is now the Dolphins' starting center. He missed Miami's Week 4 loss in Buffalo, he played Week 5 against the Giants, and then missed Week 6 against the Panthers. In the two games he missed, Liam Eichenberg filled in at center. Against Buffalo, Eichenberg had a brutal performance, allowing 2 sacks, a QB hit, 5 pressures, and he had a penalty. It was the first time Eichenberg had ever played center in an NFL game. He did play better Week 6 against the Panthers.

Thursday notes: 

• Howard practiced on Thursday, but was a limited participant. Still, that is a good sign for his availability for Sunday night.

Friday notes: 

• We'll have to wait a little while longer for the statuses of Xavien Howard and Connor Williams, who were both listed as questionable.

Notable players on IR, PUP, suspension, etc.

• CB Jalen Ramsey: As noted above.

• LT Terron Armstead: Armstead is one of the NFL's best left tackles, and an athletic specimen. Ninth-year journeyman Kendall Lamm has filled in at LT in Armstead's absence.

• RB De'Von Achane: Achane is a speed freak who ran a 4.32 at the NFL Combine. He only has 38 carries this season, but he has 460 yards (an insane 12.1 YPC), and 5 TDs on the ground, with 9 catches for 67 yards and 2 TDs through the air. The Eagles are fortunate to not have to gameplan for this guy.

• WR River Cracraft: Cracraft is a former Eagles great who has gotten some playing time for the Dolphins this season. He has 6 catches for 87 yards and a TD.

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