Eagles rule out four starters for Week 6 matchup vs. Jets
The Eagles will be without Jalen Carter (ankle), Darius Slay (knee), Quez Watkins (hamstring), and Justin Evans (knee) for Sunday’s matchup against the New York Jets.
Friday injury report#PHIvsNYJ pic.twitter.com/vxvTIblpl8
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 13, 2023
Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, who missed last week’s win over the Rams with a back injury, returned to practice on Wednesday in a limited capacity and was a full participant on Thursday.
Second-year linebacker Nakobe Dean practiced for the second third since injuring his foot in the Week 1 win over the Patriots. The Eagles opened Dean’s 21-day practice window to return from Injured Reserve on Tuesday.
Philadelphia would need to release or waive a player before adding Dean to the 53-man roster.
Jalen Carter (ankle)
Sirianni stated that Carter’s injury isn’t serious, but he’s in jeopardy of missing the matchup against the Jets.
Nick Sirianni said Jalen Carter got injured in practice on Wednesday. He doesn’t think it’ll “keep him out very long.” Sirianni said “We’ll see” about Carter’s availability on Sunday. Injury report will be out late afternoon today.
— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) October 13, 2023
Carter already has 3.5 sacks, and the Eagles have the NFL’s No. 1 rushing defense through five weeks. Philadelphia allows just 61.2 rushing yards per game. The Eagles have allowed only two rushing touchdowns all season.
Carter is Pro Football Focus’s highest-graded interior defender in the NFL after five games. Carter recorded two sacks and finished with four tackles in the Eagles’ 23-14 against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5.
Carter’s 91.8 season-long grade leads all defensive tackles.
Darius Slay (knee)
Slay hasn’t practiced at all this week and had a key matchup with Garrett Wilson.
Nick Sirianni on #Eagles CB Darius Slay’s knee injury. He hasn’t practiced all week yet:
If he has to miss this week, we don’t anticipate it being a long-term thing.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) October 13, 2023
Josh Jobe will likely start in his place, with Bradley Roby in the slot.
Quez Watkins
Watkins has four catches for 21 yards in 3 games this season, and if he can’t play, Olamide Zaccheaus would start in the slot as the third wideout.
DB Justin Evans
Evans suffered a knee injury against the Rams and will miss four games after being placed on injured reserve.
