December 31, 2023
The Philadelphia Eagles are getting healthier as the regular season winds down. They only listed five players on their initial injury report this week. Here's the Eagles-Cardinals injury report, with analysis.
| Player | Injury | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Status |
| CB Darius Slay | Knee | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| LB Zach Cunningham | Knee | Limited | Limited | Limited | Doubtful |
| LB Nicholas Morrow | Abdomen | Limited | Limited | Limited | - |
| LG Landon Dickerson | Thumb | Full | Full | Full | - |
| CB Avonte Maddox (IR) | Pectoral | Full | Full | Full | - |
| TE Albert Okwuegbunam | Hamstring | Limited | Out |
Wednesday notes:
• The Eagles' linebackers are getting healthier, as Cunningham and Morrow practiced on Wednesday, even if they were limited.
• Maddox had a big wrap on his left pec/shoulder in the locker room prior to practice. He was unsure if he will play on Sunday.
• Dickerson's full participation is a good sign that the Eagles will have their full starting offensive line intact.
• Slay remains out. Will Kelee Ringo playing well in his absence, it's maybe best if the Eagles just save Slay for the postseason.
Thursday notes:
• No changes.
Friday notes:
• It feels like the next time Slay plays will be in the playoffs.
• If the Eagles activate Maddox from IR, Okwuegbunam feels like a candidate to go on IR.
Saturday notes:
• The Eagles downgraded Cunningham to doubtful, which means that the starting linebackers will likely be Nicholas Morow and Shaq Leonard.
• Okwuegbunam was downgraded to out. Oh yeah, you can bet he's going on IR.
Update: Okwuegbunam was indeed placed on IR, and Maddox was added to the 53-man roster from IR.
• LB Nakobe Dean: Entering the 2023 season, Dean was the clear No. 1 linebacker on the roster, as the team was counting on him to take on a much bigger role than what he had as a rookie in 2022. That has not gone to plan, as he landed on injured reserve after suffering a foot injury Week 1 against the Patriots. He returned Week 6 and played in four games before again suffering a foot injury that landed him on injured reserve for a second time this season. When he has played, Dean has been fine as a run defender and as a tackler (PFF has him down for 0 missed tackles), but he has struggled in coverage. PFF has him down for 13 completions on 14 targets for 120 yards.
Dean was seen on a Roll-A-Bout in the locker room last week. This week he graduated to crutches and a walking boot. He's likely done for the season.
• S Justin Evans: Evans was the Eagles' choice to start opposite Reed Blankenship to begin the 2023 season, as he beat out Terrell Edmunds and Sydney Brown during training camp for that opportunity. He started four games for the Eagles, and when healthy, was a competent player. He landed on IR with a knee injury, lost his starting job when the Eagles traded for Kevin Byard, and reverted to season-ending IR when he was unable to make progress toward a return.
| Player | Injury | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Status |
| QB Kyler Murray | Illness | DNP | DNP | Limited | Questionable |
| WR Marquise Brown | Heel | DNP | DNP | Placed on IR | Out |
| LB Zaven Collins | Ankle | DNP | Limited | Full | - |
| DE Jonathan Ledbetter | Knee | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| LB Owen Pappoe | Ankle | Limited | Limited | Limited | Questionable |
| LB Victor Dimukeje | Foot | Limited | Limited | Full | - |
| CB Garrett Williams | Knee | Limited | Limited | Limited | Questionable |
| DT Kevin Strong | Knee | Limited | Limited | Full | - |
| S Andre Chachere | Shoulder | Limited | Limited | Full | - |
| DT Leki Fetu (IR) | Hand | Limited | Limited | Limited | Out |
| DB Bobby Price (IR) | Quad | Limited | Limited | Full | Questionable |
Wednesday notes:
• Brown is second on the team with 574 receiving yards, and he leads the team with 4 receiving TDs. Deep threat.
• Collins is a starter. 37 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 INT.
• Ledbetter is also a starter. 46 tackles, 1.5 sacks.
• Murray did not practice, but it's only an illness. He should still be good to go for Sunday.
• In addition to a bunch of LBs and iDLs on their injured reserve (shown below), the Cardinals have some linebackers and linemen on their injury report. They're really banged up in the heart of their defense.
Thursday notes:
• The only change was that Collins practiced.
Friday notes:
• Brown was placed on injured reserve. His season is over.
• Murray's questionable status is interesting. He'll likely play, but he has barely practiced with the team all week. That's not ideal for preparation purposes.
Sunday notes:
• Murray is expected to play, per the national guys.
• WR Marquise Brown: Brown is second on the team with 574 receiving yards behind TE Trey McBride, and he leads the team with 4 receiving TDs. He is their best receiver, as their most dangerous deep threat.
• LB Kyzir White: White's season is over, after he suffered a biceps injury. He had 90 tackles, an INT, a sack, a 3 PBUs in 11 games (all starts).
• LB Josh Woods: Woods has played in 11 games this season for the Cardinals, starting 7. He has 61 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and 1 FF.
• DT Leki Fotu: Fotu is a mammoth 6'5, 334-pound space eater. He had 25 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 10 games (9 starts) before being being placed on IR with a broken hand.
• DT Carlos Watkins: Watkins played for the Cowboys the last two seasons, and signed with the Cardinals this offseason. He played in 2 games (1 start), before being lost for the season with a biceps injury. His season was off to a good start (7 tackles, 1 sack, 1 batted pass) before he went down.
• DT L.J. Collier: Collier was a Seahawks first-round bust who signed with the Cardinals this offseason. He started Week 1, but suffered a biceps injury and hasn't played since. Lots of biceps injuries for this team.
• TE Geoff Swaim: With Zach Ertz no longer on the team, Swaim is the No. 2 tight end. 10 catches, 94 yards in 2023.
Follow Jimmy & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @JimmyKempski | thePhillyVoice
Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Sports
Add Jimmy's RSS feed to your feed reader
