At 8-2, the Eagles are in a tight race for the top seed in the NFC. They will have to take on their next opponent without a key weapon.
Receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) was ruled out for Philadelphia’s Sunday night game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Smith did not participate in Wednesday and Thursday practice sessions due to the injury, and Eagles coach Nick Sirianni told reporters earlier Friday he was still waiting to see how Smith was feeling before determining the receiver’s status for the prime-time affair. Smith didn’t practice Friday, either, and was the only Eagles player ruled out for Sunday.
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Smith has been dealing with the injury over the last few weeks and appeared to aggravate it in the Eagles’ Week 11 win over the Commanders. He hasn’t missed a game due to the injury yet, but did sit out of one game earlier this season while in concussion protocol.
Understandably, the Eagles offense has looked very different when Smith and A.J. Brown are available versus when they’re out. Their returns have coincided with a six-game winning streak that has propelled the Eagles to the top of the NFC East and restored them as one of the conference’s top contenders.
With Smith out, the Eagles will have to rely on the likes of Jahan Dotson, rookie Johnny Wilson and Britain Covey to fill in the gaps opposite Brown.