The Philadelphia Eagles just faced their Week 18 opponent, the New York Giants, in Week 16, but both teams have new injuries and the Eagles will be without WR DeVonta Smith and CB Darius Slay.
Here are the Eagles and Giants inactives with analysisTanner McKee is the emergency quarterback. S Tristin McCollum will be recalled from the practice squad for game day.•
WR DeVonta Smith: This will be Smith’s first missed game of his career.
My understanding is that even though the Eagles are trying to win this game – so no rest (besides Fletcher Cox) – they are trying to make sure Smith and Slay are as healthy as possible for the playoffs. • CB Darius Slay:
Kelee Ringo will make his fourth straight start in place of Slay. As expected, he showed good and bad.RB D’Andre Swift:
Swift was a late addition to the injured list due to illness, opening the door for Boston Scott to increase his touchdown total against the Giants.
DT Fletcher Cox: Cox was not listed on the injury report, but he is taking time off before the playoffs.
OL Tyler Steen: Backup linemen will be Sua Opeta, Jack Driscoll and Fred Johnson.Notable actors on IR, PUP, Ban, etc.
LB Nakobe Dean: Entering the 2023 season, Dean was the clear No. 1 linebacker on the roster, as the team expected him to take on a much larger role than he had as as a rookie in 2022.
That’s not going to go away, as he landed on injured reserve after injuring his foot in Week 1 against the Patriots.
He returned in Week 6 and played in four games before suffering another foot injury, which placed him on the injured list for the second time this season. When he played, Dean was good as a run defender and as a tackler (PFF let him down with 0 missed tackles), but he struggled in coverage.
PFF allowed him to record 13 completions on 14 targets for 120 yards. Dean was spotted taking a look around the locker room a few weeks ago. Last week he switched to crutches and walking shoes.
He’s probably done for the season. S Justin Evans: Evans was selected by the Eagles to start alongside Reed Blankenship at the start of the 2023 season, as he beat out Terrell Edmunds and Sydney Brown for the opportunity in training camp.
He started four games for the Eagles and was a competent player when healthy. He landed on IR with a knee injury, lost his starting job when the Eagles traded for Kevin Byard and returned to IR late in the season when he couldn’t progress toward a return.
