After a week of uncertainty as far as the Eagles’ injury report goes, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport delivered some disappointing clarity on Friday. According to RapSheet, both Darius Slay and Jalen Carter are expected to be sidelined with minor injuries.
Eagles defense suffers more setbacks
This is obviously a big blow to a defense that is already missing Avonte Maddox, a reliable second safety, and their week 1 starting MIKE linebacker. The only silver lining here is that Fletcher Cox should be good to go, which will at least fill some of the void left by explosive rookie, Jalen Carter.
Carter has 3.5 sacks already this year and is showing no signs of slowing down. He’s been the most impactful member of the Eagles’ pass rush, and that’s saying something. He’s the heavy favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, and the fact that this is only a minor setback will come as a huge relief to teammates and fans alike.
The injury to Darius Slay is worth noting. The Eagles have only just been able to replace Avonte Maddox and will now be back to starting Josh Jobe/Eli Ricks outside. While the Jets are fairly one-dimensional when it comes to their receiving room (It’s Garrett Wilson versus the world), it’s still not ideal to have an undrafted free agent line up opposite proven NFL commodities. Hopefully, this will only be a one-time thing, with Ian Rapoport appearing optimistic about Slay’s status.
Quez Watkins is still dealing with a lingering injury and after a disappointing display against the Rams, it gives Olamide Zaccheaus a chance to solidify himself as a reliable WR3 candidate. He’s doing all the right things and has slowly been becoming a more prominent factor in the offense. Perhaps a big game here will increase his stock further.
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AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian
