PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles have no time to lick their wounds.
As home underdogs attempting to bounce back from last week’s ugly loss in Chicago, they will be shorthanded against the dynamic Los Angeles Rams today at the Linc. Just a month into the season, the Eagles have already been bitten by the injury bug.
Wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring), linebacker Zack Baun (concussion), safety Marcus Epps (groin), wide receiver Hollywood Brown (ankle) and tackle Fred Johnson (knee) are all out.
That means Jalen Hurts loses his top receiver while Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is expected to replace All-Pro Baun in the middle of a defense that has yet to force a turnover.
“Every opportunity he’s gotten a chance to play, whether it’s in preseason or in games, he’s done a really nice job,” coach Nick Sirianni said of Trotter, who would be a weekly starter for most teams. “I have faith in him.”
The injury hits come when the Birds are already beaten-up on the offensive line and at tight end. Zach Ertz’ role may expand.
Los Angeles is without defensive end Aaron Donald and is still missing Myles Garrett — obviously a pair of game-changers — but enters with the NFL’s No. 1 offense in yards per game despite a 1-2 record. The Rams rank second in passing and seventh in rushing, and reigning MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford should get Puka Nacua back after the receiver missed two games with hip and groin injuries.
“They’re really good,” Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said of the Rams. “They run it very well. They stay committed to the run and they’ve got a really good play-action game off of it.”
L.A. features a rejuvenated running game with Kyren Williams and Blake Corum along with coach Sean McVay’s multiple tight-end looks, which can create headaches without changing much of what the Rams do.
“That’s the beauty of their offense,” Fangio said. “No matter what personnel they have out there, they basically run it the same way. It’s just different people.”
The Eagles’ offense under Sean Mannion is hoping for more continuity this week against the Rams, where Mannion served as backup QB under McVay.
Injury report
Eagles: Game status: OUT – LB Zack Baun (concussion), WR Hollywood Brown (ankle), S Marcus Epps (groin), TE Dallas Goedert (knee), T Fred Johnson (knee), WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring).
Friday practice report: DNP – LB Zack Baun (concussion), WR Hollywood Brown (ankle), S Marcus Epps (groin), TE Dallas Goedert (knee), T Fred Johnson (knee), WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring). LIMITED – LB Jihaad Campbell (knee/rest). FULL – RB Tank Bigsby (abdomen), DT Jalen Carter (wrist), WR Darius Cooper (knee), DT Jordan Davis (calf), OLB Jonathan Greenard (pectoral), CB Jonathan Jones (quadriceps), DT Moro Ojomo (calf/elbow), RB Will Shipley (foot), DT Byron Young (toe).
LG Landon Dickerson and TEs Dallas Goedert, Eli Stowers and Grant Calcaterra are among the Eagles on IR.
Rams: Game status: OUT – DE Aaron Donald (back), TE Terrance Ferguson (ankle), CB Jaylen Watson (shoulder). QUESTIONABLE – TE Colby Parkinson (knee/shoulder), OLB Josaiah Stewart (groin).
Friday practice report: DNP – DE Aaron Donald (back), TE Terrance Ferguson (ankle), TE Colby Parkinson (knee/shoulder), OLB Josaiah Stewart (groin), CB Jaylen Watson (shoulder), TE Tyler Higbee (rest), OL Alaric Jackson (rest), OLB Byron Young (rest). FULL – WR Davante Adams (rest), NT Poona Ford (rest), S Kamren Kinchens (hamstring), ILB Nate Landman (shoulder), WR Puka Nacua (hip), CB Josh Wallace (shoulder).
DE Myles Garrett (knee) remains on IR.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay looks on during the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Denver. (Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)
Pregame position grades
Here’s how the teams match up by position group in Week 4, accounting for health. Performances will be evaluated postgame.
QB: Eagles B, Rams A-
RB: Eagles B+, Rams A-
TE: Eagles C, Rams A-
WR: Eagles B-, Rams B+
OL: Eagles C+, Rams B+
DL: Eagles B-, Rams B-
LB: Eagles B, Rams B
CB/S: Eagles B, Rams B
K/P: Eagles A-, Rams C+
Coaching: Eagles A, Rams A
On the air
Eagles (2-1) vs. Rams (1-2), Today, 1 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
TV: FOX: Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi.
Radio/streaming: 94.1-FM WIP: Merrill Reese and Mike Quick (no official sideline reporter). Tico: Rickie Ricardo, Oscar Budejen and David Gerhardt. Sports USA: Josh Appel and Brandon Noble.
Last week: Eagles lost to the Bears 27-7. Rams lost to the Broncos 30-26.
Betting odds
Spread: Rams -3.5
Over/under: 42.5
Money line: Rams -185; Eagles +154
Notes
• The Eagles are 4-0 against the Rams under Sirianni. Overall, they’ve won 10 of the last 11 in the series.
• Hurts has 1,057 total yards and eight touchdowns in four games against the Rams. He has completed 67.9 percent of his passes for 836 yards and five TDs.
• The Eagles’ offense has a 46.3-percent conversion rate on third down, which is tied with Cincinnati for seventh in the league. But it’s significantly behind top-ranked San Francisco’s 63 percent.
• Nacua had 11 catches for 112 yards the last time he faced the Eagles.
• The Rams reached the red zone four times against Denver last week but scored only one touchdown.
• Stafford has thrown three interceptions in three games.
• The Eagles are the only NFL team that hasn’t scored a point in the first quarter this season.
• The Eagles’ Braden Mann ranks second in punts inside the 20-yard line (eight), behind Green Bay’s Daniel Whelan and Pittsburgh’s Cameron Johnston (nine). Also, he’s tied with the Las Vegas Raiders’ A.J. Cole for second in punts of 50-plus yards (seven), behind Corey Bojorquez of the Cleveland Browns (nine).
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Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X and Threads at @the_defranc.