The Eagles are going to rest some key starters in their Week 18 game against the Commanders on Sunday, but they still have to prepare for the regular season finale.
The team released its first injury report of the week on Wednesday evening. The Eagles held a walkthrough on Wednesday, so this report is an estimation:
Did not participate: LB Nakobe Dean (hamstring), TE Dallas Goedert (knee), T Lane Johnson (foot), OLB Jaelan Phillips (ankle)
Limited: LB Jihaad Campbell (back/shoulder)
Full: T Cameron Williams (shoulder)
The Eagles held a walkthrough to start the week but are scheduled to practice on Thursday and Friday.
While the Eagles can’t rest everyone on Sunday, they probably won’t play anyone with an injury. So this is another hint at who won’t be playing against the Commanders.
Johnson has missed the last six games with a Lisfranc sprain and it wouldn’t make sense to rush him back for a game where the Eagles are resting a bunch of starters. And Dean missed last week with a hamstring injury; it also wouldn’t make sense to rush him back from that soft tissue injury.
Phillips injured his ankle against the Bills in Buffalo and was able to play through the injury to finish the game. He even had a pressure on that final game-sealing 2-point conversion. Phillips, who was traded during the season, has already played 17 games this season because he was traded before the Dolphins’ bye week and after the Eagles’ bye. So he could really use this week off.
And Goedert’s injury presumably happened during the game as well. He has managed to stay pretty healthy this season, playing 15 of 16 possible games. But if he’s nursing an injury, it would be wise to sit him for this one.
Campbell, 21, is a more interesting case. He had to start for Dean on Sunday and the rookie could probably still use the experience. But if he’s banged up, he might not play on Sunday. The Eagles’ other linebackers are Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Smael Mondon.