October 07, 2023
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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 | Limited | Full | |
| DT Fletcher Cox | Back | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| RG Cam Jurgens | Foot | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| DT Marlon Tuipulotu | Triceps | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| S Sydney Brown | Hamstring | Limited | Limited | Limited | Out |
| S Justin Evans | Neck | Full | Full | Full | - |
| WR Quez Watkins | Hamstring | Full | Full | Full | |
| RB Rashaad Penny | Illness | Doubtful |
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:
#Eagles DL Fletcher Cox underwent an epidural injection procedure this week to alleviate discomfort he'd been experiencing in his back over the past couple weeks, source said. If he has to miss any time, the expectation is it's not more than one game.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 4, 2023
• 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.
Thursday notes:
• Cox was ruled out, per Derrick Gunn.
Fletcher Cox ruled OUT for Sunday’s game against the Rams due to back discomfort, per @RealDGunn.
— JAKIB Sports (@JAKIBSports) October 5, 2023
The #Eagles are hopeful Cox can return the following week against the Jets. pic.twitter.com/hTaeNRad5F
• Covey practiced. That's obviously a good sign for his availability on Sunday.
Friday notes:
• Cox and Jurgens are out, as expected.
• There was some legitimate hope that Brown would play, but he is out. It feels likely that Bradley Roby will play in this game, if only for a low number of snaps.
• Tuipulotu's absence leaves the Eagles thinner than usual at DT. They like to have a six-man rotation, but will only have five with Cox out, too. Rookie Moro Ojomo will almost certainly make his professional debut.
Saturday notes:
• Jurgens was moved to injured reserve.
• Rashaad Penny was added to the injury report with an illness, and is listed as doubtful. He might have been a healthy scratch anyway.
• Covey's "questionable" designation was removed, which means he will play.
• RG Cam Jurgens: Jurgens sprained his foot against the Commanders Week 4. He won't be eligible to play again until Week 9 against the Cowboys. The Eagles will be facing a whole lot of opponents with outstanding interior defensive linemen in October.
• Week 5: At Rams, Aaron Donald
• Week 6: At Jets, Quinnen Williams
• Week 7: Dolphins, Christian Wilkins
• Week 8: At Commanders, Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne
In other words, it's not an ideal time to lose an interior offensive lineman. #Analysis.
• 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 | DNP | Limited | Questionable |
| RG Joe Noteboom | Groin | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| RB Kyren Williams | Hip | DNP | Limited | Full | - |
| DE Desjuan Johnson | Thumb | DNP | DNP | Limited | Doubtful |
| LB Christian Rozeboom | Neck | DNP | Limited | Full | - |
| WR Cooper Kupp | Hamstring | Limited | Full | Full | - |
| OLB Ochaun Mathis | Knee | Limited | Full | Full | - |
| WR Ben Skowronek | Achilles | Limited | Full | Full | - |
| Matthew Stafford | Hip | Full | Full | 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.
1️⃣0️⃣x1️⃣7️⃣ pic.twitter.com/AgIEDonhYX
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 4, 2023
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.
Thursday notes:
• Two straight missed practices by Jackson and Noteboom is a bad sign for the Rams' offensive line. Even if one or both of them play, they will not be 100 percent.
Friday notes:
• Noteboom is out. Kevin Dotson, a solid enough backup, should fill in at RG.
• Jackson is questionable, but he is expected to play, per the Rams. If Jackson can't go, fifth-round rookie Warren McClendon Jr. reportedly would likely start.
• 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.
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