CBS Sports: A variety of injuries surface as the Eagles kick up Panthers Week.
Darius Slay and DeVonta Smith resumed practice on Wednesday, but other important Eagles were absent.
The Eagles conducted their first practice on Wednesday before their Week 14 game at the Linc on Sunday, and both DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and Darius Slay (concussion) were working out.
Despite missing Sunday’s game in Baltimore, Smith and Slay’s attendance at practice this week suggests that they may make a comeback against the Panthers.
Alongside those two, receiver Johnny Wilson, who missed the Ravens game due to a hamstring injury, resumed practice on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, a number of important Eagles were not practicing, even though those three were back. During practice, Reed Blankenship (concussion) was on a separate field, while Dallas Goedert (knee) and Britain Covey (neck) were absent.
Against the Ravens, all three of those players sustained injuries. Neither Goedert nor Blankenship are expected to play for the Eagles against the Panthers. We’ll check on Covey.
This is the complete Wednesday injury report:
Sydney Brown (knee), Dallas Goedert (knee), Britain Covey (neck), and Reed Blankenship (concussion) did not practice.
Restricted: Johnny Wilson (hamstring), Josh Sweat (rest), Saquon Barkley (rest), Mekhi Becton (knee/rest), Darius Slay (concussion), and Jalen Carter (rest)
DeVonta Smith (hamstring) in full
Smith, 26, has had a hamstring ailment that has kept him out of action for the past two weeks. He was held back against the Ravens despite being labeled as doubtful going into Week 13. For good reason, the Eagles tend to be cautious when it comes to soft tissue injuries. A clear sign that the Eagles are improving at wide receiver was the dismissal of veteran Parris Campbell off the 53-man roster on Tuesday.
Grant Calcaterra and C.J. Uzomah will be the Eagles’ tight ends if Goedert is unable to play on Sunday. On Wednesday, Uzomah was added to the 53-man roster to fill a slot that was left available.
Players seldom pass the NFL’s concussion protocol in a week, though it is conceivable. Tristin McCollum, a backup, is expected to make his NFL debut if Blankenship is unable to play against the Panthers.
Additionally, the Eagles would use Cooper DeJean as their punt returner if Covey is unable to participate. When Covey lost time due to a shoulder injury earlier in the season, DeJean performed excellently in handling those responsibilities.
Khari Blasingame, a fullback in the Eagles’ new practice squad, attended practice on Wednesday. He is sporting the Birds’ No. 48.
