3 Key Injury Updates Impacting the Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles will be without their most accomplished defensive back when they face the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football. Darius Slay, who has battled a knee injury in…
The Philadelphia Eagles will be without their most accomplished defensive back when they face the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football. Darius Slay, who has battled a knee injury in recent weeks, underwent arthroscopic surgery this week, per Adam Schefter.
Additional updates on the status of quarterback Geno Smith and Eagles cornerback Avonte Maddox also surfaced on Saturday.
Darius Slay Injury
Slay has no definite timetable for his return. The earliest date the Eagles could play a playoff game is Jan. 13, just about a month after the surgery took place.
The Eagles have struggled to defend the pass in recent weeks. Nick Sirianni said on Saturday he believes the right reserve players are in place. However, he did not commit to a replacement in the starting lineup. Josh Jobe has started three games in 2023 as the primary backup option as an outside cornerback. Kelee Ringo played more snaps than Jobe last week, however.
Return of Avonte Maddox
The Eagles will activate the 21-day practice window for Maddox, per Tim McManus. The former Pitt Panther has missed the last 11 games with a torn pec.
He has been somewhat of an unsung hero in the slot in recent seasons. The Eagles have struggled to defend the middle of the field without him in the lineup. Bradley Roby, James Bradberry, and Eli Ricks have taken the majority of the snaps as the slot corner in his absence.
Maddox played 16 of 17 regular-season games in 2021, the only one of his six NFL seasons when an injury didn’t hold him out of the lineup for a significant amount of time.
A healthy Avonte Maddox could be a huge boost in the playoffs for an Eagles secondary that desperately needs it.
Geno Smith Update
Adam Schefter spoke on The John Kincade Show during his weekly Wednesday appearance about Smith’s status. The Seahawks will list their veteran quarterback as questionable.
Drew Lock has completed 26 of 43 passes in limited action this season. Seattle lost 28-16 to the San Francisco 49ers in his only start of the season in Week 14.
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The Philadelphia Eagles now face the heaviest adversity of the 2023 NFL season. The San Francisco 49ers dominated in a 42-19 blowout on Dec. 3. The Dallas Cowboys followed it up with a 33-13 blowout on Sunday Night Football on Dec. 10. The Eagles have been more worried about how to rest starters than win games in the fourth quarter of their past two, and they desperately need to rebound in Week 15.
Eagles Suffer Losses Against 49ers, Cowboys
The two-game losing streak has sent shockwaves of panic throughout the fan base, and the defense can't seem to stop anyone. How will the Eagles respond against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football?
It looked bad at Lincoln Financial Field against the 49ers. However, it got a lot worse in Dallas.
The Eagles have struggled with the same weaknesses throughout the 2023 season, and their last two opponents have exposed their flaws brutally. There will be no rest in this brutal stretch of strong opponents.
Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia offense finished with three turnovers in Dallas. Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith were all guilty of costly fumbles that helped sink the Eagles to 10-3.
Nick Sirianni has begun his NFL head coaching career with a 33-14 record in regular-season games. However, he now faces the greatest challenge of his tenure with the Eagles.
Projected Philadelphia Eagles Week 15 Starters
Dallas Goedert and Zach Cunnigham returned to the starting lineup against the Cowboys. The reinforcements came at a much-needed time.
Shaq Leonard played his first game with the Eagles. He didn't immediately jump into the starting lineup, but he could get the call in Seattle. Nicholas Morrow played 78% of the defensive snaps at linebacker in Dallas while Leonard only played 17%.
Reed Blankenship left the game early, and he will have to clear concussion protocol to dress against the Seahawks. Sydney Brown filled in at safety after the injury, and he figures to get the start if Blankenship can't go.
With the need for a bounce-back effort, Sirianni hopes to have his roster at full strength.
Offense
Jalen Hurts
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesQuarterback, #1
Oklahoma University/University of Alabama
4th NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (53rd overall) in 2020
D'Andre Swift
Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty ImagesRunning Back, #0
University of Georgia
4th NFL season- Acquired in a trade from Detroit Lions (April 2023)
A.J. Brown
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesWide Receiver, #11
Ole Miss
5th NFL season- Acquired in a trade from Tennessee Titans (April 2022)
DeVonta Smith
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty ImagesWide Receiver, #6
University of Alabama
3rd NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (10th overall) in 2021
Quez Watkins
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty ImagesWide Receiver, #16
Southern Miss
4th NFL Season- Drafted in 6th Round (200th overall) in 2020
Dallas Goedert
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesTight End, #88
South Dakota St.
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (48th overall) in 2018
Jordan Mailata
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesLeft Tackle, #68
Jeff Stoutland University
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 7th Round (233rd overall) in 2018
Landon Dickerson
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesLeft Guard, #69
University of Alabama
3rd NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (37th overall) in 2021
Jason Kelce
Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty ImagesCenter, #62
University of Cincinnati
13th NFL Season- Drafted in 6th Round (191st overall) in 2011
Sua Opeta
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty ImagesRight Guard, #78
Weber State University
4th NFL Season, Signed Signed as Undrafted Free Agent (November 2019)
Lane Johnson
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesLeft Tackle, #69
Oklahoma University
11th NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (4th overall) in 2013
Defense
Josh Sweat
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesDefensive End, #94
Florida State
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 4th Round (130th overall) in 2018
Fletcher Cox
Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty ImagesDefensive Tackle, #91
Mississippi State
12th NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (12th overall) in 2012
Jordan Davis
Photo by Norm Hall/Getty ImagesDefensive Tackle, #90
University of Georgia
2nd NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (13th overall) in 2022
Haason Reddick
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesEdge Rusher/Linebacker, #7
Temple University
7th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (March 2022)
Nicolas Morrow
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesLinebacker, #41
Greensville University
6th NFL Season, Signed in Free Agency (March 2023)
Shaquille Leonard
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty ImagesLinebacker, #50
South Carolina St.
6th NFL Season, Signed in Free Agency (December 2023)
Kelee Ringo
Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty ImagesCornerback, #22
University of Georgia
1st NFL Season, Drafted in 4th Round (105th Overall) in 2023
James Bradberry
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesCornerback, #24
University of Arkansas/Samford University
8th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (May 2022)
Bradley Roby
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesCornerback, #33
Ohio State University
10th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (October 2023)
Kevin Byard
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesSafety, #31
Middle Tennessee State
8th NFL Season, Acquired in trade from Tennessee Titans (October 2023)
Reed Blankenship
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesSafety, #32
Middle Tennessee State
2nd NFL Season- Signed as Undrafted Free Agent (May 2022)
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