The Eagles’ chances of winning the NFC East were dealt a major blow on Sunday when they suffered an upset loss to the Cardinals. Philadelphia also has a notable injury situation to monitor ahead of Week 18 and the start of the postseason.
Wideout DeVonta Smith was in a walking boot when exiting Sunday’s game while dealing with what was initially determined as a high ankle sprain. While confirming the nature of the injury, head coach Nick Sirianni also said Smith is still wearing a walking boot and using crutches. No firm declarations have been made either way concerning his game status, but that development certainly does not bode well.
Unless the Cowboys fail to beat the Commanders during the final day of regular season play, the Eagles will be locked into the fifth seed in the NFC playoff bracket. As a result, Sirianni admitted decisions will need to be made regarding whether or not the team’s starters should be rested. Smith’s central nature to the Eagles’ passing attack qualifies him as a key player for their playoff matchup, so a cautious approach would come as little surprise.
Still, missing the former Heisman winner would deal a blow to Philadelphia’s offense in the event the team opted to play its starters against the Giants on Sunday. Smith has had another impressive season working in tandem with A.J. Brown, posting a strong stat line (81-1,066-7). New career highs in yards and touchdowns could be within reach if he were to play, but Sirianni said “we’ll see” when asked about the 25-year-old’s ability to suit up (h/t Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports).
A win over New York would keep Philadelphia in contention for the No. 2 seed in the conference; it would also help generate momentum heading into the postseason for a team that has lost four of its last five games. The defending NFC champions have experienced significant issues on the defensive side of the ball in recent weeks in particular, but their offense would be notably shorthanded in the postseason if Smith were unable to play. His status will be worth watching over the coming days.
