Eagles-Rams Week 5 injury report, with analysis

[time2rock]

Eagles-Rams Week 5 injury report, with analysis

Which Eagles are banged up heading into Week 5 against the Rams?

BY JIMMY KEMPSKI
PhillyVoice Staff

KIRBY LEE/USA TODAY SPORTS

Rams star WR Cooper Kupp could return from injured reserve to face the Eagles this week.

The Philadelphia Eagles' Week 4 win over the Washington Commanders cost them another starter, as RG Cam Jurgens will be out for a while with a foot sprain. In Week 5, they'll face the Los Angeles Rams, who could be getting one of their best players back from injury.

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

Player	Injury	Wed	Thurs	Fri	Status
PR/WR Britain Covey	Concussion	DNP
DT Fletcher Cox	Back	DNP
RG Cam Jurgens	Foot	DNP
DT Marlon Tuipulotu	Triceps	DNP
S Sydney Brown	Hamstring	Limited
S Justin Evans	Neck	Full
WR Quez Watkins	Hamstring	Full

Wednesday notes:

• We already know that Jurgens will be out for a while, but if you're just catching up on that, here's more.

• It'll be tough — but not necessarily impossible — for Covey to be ready for Sunday, but if he isn't then Olamide Zaccheaus will likely assume punt return duties.

• Cox's back injury is new. He has had other ailments this season, but has usually at least been a limited participant, so his status will be worth monitoring as the week progresses. Cox has been really good this season, and he has played more snaps than the Eagles' other interior defensive linemen by a wide margin, so it would be a big loss if he can't go.

Update: An explanation on Cox's back injury:

• If Tuipulotu is going to miss this game we might see rookie Moro Ojomo dress for the first time.

• The Eagles are getting healthier at safety, with Brown and Evans poised to return this week after they were both out Week 4 against the Commanders. Terrell Edmunds struggled in a starting role with Evans out, and James Bradberry was forced to play a lot in the slot, whereas Brown took some of those snaps Week 3 against the Bucs.

• Watkins will likely return to the lineup, but Zaccheaus should probably be getting more snaps at this point. He is the more reliable player.

Notable players on IR, PUP, suspension, etc.

• LB Nakobe Dean: After 2022 starting linebackers T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White left in free agency, Dean became the team's top linebacker, with added responsibilities as the "green dot" helmet wearer, relaying the play calls from Sean Desai to the rest of the defense. Dean injured his foot in the Eagles' Week 1 win over the Patriots, and landed on injured reserve. Nicholas Morrow has since filled in, and has played surprisingly well.

• 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 don't have good depth, as backup Zech McPhearson tore his Achilles during the Eagles' preseason game against the Browns. In Maddox's absence against the Vikings, 2022 UDFA Mario Goodrich filled in and played 39 snaps. That was the first regular season action of Goodrich's career. In Week 3 against the Buccaneers, Goodrich was a healthy scratch, and slot duties were split between James Bradberry and Sydney Brown. In Week 4, with Brown sidelined with a hamstring injury, it was Bradberry in the slot once again.

The Eagles have since signed 31-year-old corner Bradley Roby, but it'll take some time for Roby to get acclimated both physically and mentally. To be determined if he can be ready by Sunday. He did practice on Wednesday.

 

Player	Injury	Wed	Thurs	Fri	Status
LT Alaric Jackson	Hamstring	DNP
RG Joe Noteboom	Groin	DNP
RB Kyren Williams	Hip	DNP
DE Desjuan Johnson	Thumb	DNP
LB Christian Rozeboom	Neck	DNP
WR Cooper Kupp	Hamstring	Limited
OLB Ochaun Mathis	Knee	Limited
WR Ben Skowronek	Achilles	Limited
Matthew Stafford	Hip	Full

Wednesday notes: 

• Kupp is one of the best receivers in the NFL. In 2021, he had 145 catches for 1947 and 16 TDs during the regular season, followed by 33 catches for 478 yards and 6 TDs in the playoffs on the way to a Super Bowl win. During a Rams injury-plagued 2022 season, Kupp had 75 catches for 812 yards and 6 TDs in 9 games.

Kupp is a route-running magician who mainly operates out of the slot, which, as noted above, is a major Eagles weakness at the moment. Kupp is on IR, but he is designated for return and is practicing. I'm not a doctor, but he seems fine.

It is likely that he will be activated and play on Sunday.

• Alaric Jackson is the Rams' starting LT. As we noted in our five matchups to watch, if Jackson can't play, Joe Noteboom would likely start at LT, and Kevin Dotson would play RG. However, Noteboom didn't practice on Wednesday. If he can't play, Zach Thomas, who got wrecked against the Bengals, would likely start at LT.

• Kyren Williams is the Rams' starting running back. 64 carries, 245 yards, 5 TDs on the ground this season. 11 catches for 101 yards and a TD through the air. The Rams' backup RBs are Ronnie Rivers and rookie Zach Evans.

• Rozeboom is a starting LB. Just a guy. He is not related to Noteboom.

Notable players on IR, PUP, suspension, etc.

• WR Cooper Kupp: See above.

• QB Stetson Bennett: Bennett, a rookie quarterback from Georgia's National Championship teams who will turn 26 later this month, entered the season as the No. 2 behind Matthew Stafford. However, he was placed on the non-football/illness list, and the team offered no details beyond that. The Rams' backup in the meantime is Brett Rypein, who has three career starts, all with the Broncos. Rypien has a 2-1 career record, but he has 4 TDs vs. 8 INTs for his career.

https://www.phillyvoice.com/eagles-rams-week-5-injury-report-analysis/

[UK_EaglesFan89]

Tuipuluto mission at the same time as Cox is not good! I know we have good depth at DT but he’s part of that so if he is out that’s bad news. I guess we shall see though.