Saturday injury update
First, the good news.
Wide receiver/punt returner Britain Covey has cleared concussion protocol and will play Sunday against the Rams. He was originally listed as questionable on Friday.
Now, the not-so-good news.
Starting right guard Cam Jurgens was already ruled out for Sunday's game with a foot injury. Head Coach Nick Sirianni said last Monday that Jurgens would be week to week. The Eagles decided to place Jurgens on Injured Reserve, which means that the guard will miss the entire slate of October games and be eligible to return for the Week 9 game against Dallas.
Also, running back Rashaad Penny was added to the injury report with an illness. He's now doubtful to play against the Rams.
In Los Angeles, the Rams welcome back All-Pro receiver Cooper Kupp, who was activated off Injured Reserve along with linebacker Ochaun Mathis. Kupp missed the first four game of the season with a hamstring injury and will make his season debut against the Eagles. In 2021, Kupp led the league in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947), and touchdowns (16).
The Rams will be without starting left tackle Joe Noteboom on Sunday due to a groin injury. Alaric Jackson is expected to start at left tackle, despite being questionable with a hamstring injury. Defensive end Desjuan Johnson is doubtful after undergoing thumb surgery this week,.
Friday's Injury Report
First, the good news.
The Eagles will get back Quez Watkins, who missed the last two games with a hamstring injury. Watkins was a full participant on Friday and is good to go for Sunday.
Linebacker Nicholas Morrow did not practice on Friday for personal reasons, but will play Sunday. Same with starting safety Justin Evans, who was a full participant all week after missing last Sunday's win with a neck injury.
Now the not-so-good news ...
Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox is officially out with a back injury after not practicing all week. Same for right guard Cam Jurgens, who has a foot injury. Reserve defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu is also out with a triceps injury. Rookie safety Sydney Brown is working his way back to the field, but will miss a second-straight game with a hamstring injury.
Head Coach Nick Sirianni was asked on Friday what he wants to see from the reserves who will step up to replace the snaps lost by those players.
"That's what being a backup player in this league is about, is that you've got to take advantage of your opportunities and make them count when you get them," he said.
"So that's really what I want to see, and just play with that energy and that passion and that fire that they have been playing with at practice since they have gotten here."
Wide receiver/punt returner Britain Covey was a full participant with a concussion. He is listed as questionable as he still needs to clear concussion protocol.
Thursday's Injury Report
There was just one change from Wednesday's injury report for the Eagles as wide receiver/punt returner Britain Covey practiced in a limited capacity. He was sidelined on Wednesday as he recovers from a concussion. Covey would still need to be cleared by an independent neurologist in order to able to play Sunday in Los Angeles.
Three players did not participate again in practice on Thursday – defensive tackles Fletcher Cox (back) and Marlon Tuipulotu (triceps) and guard Cam Jurgens (foot). If Cox and/or Tuipulotu are unable to play, rookie Moro Ojomo is preparing to make his NFL debut.
"It is next-man-up mentality," Ojomo said. "Whatever opportunities I get, I am going to take them and give it everything I have got."
Covey and rookie safety Sydney Brown (hamstring) were limited in practice. Brown suffered the injury in the Week 3 win over Tampa Bay.
"The hamstring is impressing day by day," Brown said. "For me to help this team improve to 5-0, I have to get healthy. I am like a dog on a leash trying to get back out there."
Safety Justin Evans (neck) and wide receiver Quez Watkins (hamstring) were full participants again on Thursday, incurring no setbacks. – Written by Owen Boyle
Head Coach Nick Sirianni said on Monday that starting right guard Cam Jurgens is "week to week" with a foot injury, so to no one's surprise, he did not practice on Wednesday. Sua Opeta is the "next man up," according to Sirianni.
"I'm really confident in my own ability to play," Opeta said on Wednesday. "It's cool that I get to go out there against Aaron Donald now and prove that."
"Sua's been here a long time. Very physically gifted. He's come a long way," said center Jason Kelce.
However, three other Eagles were also sidelined.
Wide receiver/punt returner Britain Covey is in the concussion protocol, so he did not practice. Defensive tackles Fletcher Cox (back) and Marlon Tuipulotu (triceps) were sidelined as well.
Good news for the Eagles is that safety Justin Evans (neck) and wide receiver Quez Watkins (hamstring) were full participants. Evans missed the win over the Commanders and it was a second straight game without Watkins. Rookie safety Sydney Brown (hamstring) returned to practice on Wednesday in a limited capacity. He did not practice all last week and also missed the Washington game.
Cooper Kupp expected to be full-go for Rams
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Head Coach Sean McVay told reporters at a pre-practice press conference on Wednesday that wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who is on Injured Reserve and has not yet played this season due to a hamstring injury, would be limited in practice, but then joked that he pulled a Ron Burgundy from Anchorman by reading what was on his notecard. McVay then said he expected Kupp to do everything in practice. Kupp is eligible to be activated from Injured Reserve ahead of Sunday's game.
Following practice, Kupp was officially limited, according to the team's injury report.
McVay added that the following players were not expected to practice due to injury on Wednesday:
• Backup left tackle Alaric Jackson (hamstring)
• Reserve defensive end Desjuan Johnson (thumb)
• Starting left tackle Joe Noteboom (groin)
• Starting inside linebacker Christian Rozeboom (neck)
• Leading running back Kyren Williams (hip)
Quarterback Matthew Stafford (hip) was on the injury report, but was a full participant in practice.
