DeVonta Smith misses practice again, will miss 1st game in career
DeVonta Smith misses practice again, will miss 1st game in career originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith has officially been ruled out for Sunday's regular season finale in North Jersey.
This will be the first missed game in Smith's three-year NFL career.
Smith (ankle) and Darius Slay (knee) have both been ruled out for Sunday. Here's the full injury report:
Out: DeVonta Smith (ankle), Darius Slay (knee)
Questionable: D’Andre Swift (illness)
In his three years in the league, Smith has played 54 of 54 possible games in the regular season and playoffs. But he missed practice all week leading into the regular season finale.
Smith, 25, got his ankle rolled up on late in the loss to the Cardinals on New Year’s Eve. The good news is that the Eagles avoided a major injury. As he strolled through the locker room on Wednesday, Smith was already out of his walking boot and off the crutches he had after the game. That makes it seem like Smith will be good for the playoffs.
Even if Smith was physically able to play against the Giants, MetLife Stadium has a notoriously bad playing surface, there’s bad weather in the forecast and it seems unlikely the Eagles will be able to improve their seed in the NFC. It would take a win and a Cowboys loss to the Commanders to win the division. So it's wise to sit him.
Slay also missed practice on Friday. He was a spectator as the Eagles used their indoor practice facility. It makes sense to shut Slay down until the playoffs too, especially given the field conditions at MetLife.
Slay has missed the last three games after having arthroscopic surgery on his knee. The Eagles will definitely need him the following week in the playoffs, whether they’re at home as the No. 2 seed or on the road as the 5.
While Smith and Slay weren’t practicing on Friday, the rest of the players who have been on the injury report were.
That includes Jordan Davis (ankle), Zach Cunningham (knee), Avonte Maddox (elbow) and Haason Reddick (illness).
Davis was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice, while the other three were full participants. Davis was full on Friday. All of those players are without game statuses and are expected to play.
Subscribe to Eagle Eye anywhere you get your podcasts:
Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music | Spotify | Stitcher | Art19 | RSS | Watch on YouTube
