Philadelphia Eagles DeVonta Smith Out with Hamstring Injury Ahead of Rams Game

Philadelphia Eagles‘ Head Coach Nick Sirianni confirmed on Friday that wide receiver DeVonta Smith will not play in Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams due to a hamstring injury. This marks the second game Smith will miss this season after previously absenting himself from the Week 4 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to a concussion.

«We’ll see how he’s feeling by the end of the day,» Sirianni commented during his press conference while discussing Smith’s injury. «We got a little bit more time to figure it out.» However, team officials later confirmed Smith’s unavailability for the game, reporting that he had not participated in practices throughout the week.

Smith has been a key player for the Eagles, leading the team with 41 receptions and four receiving touchdowns for the season. His absence opens up opportunities for other players, including Jahan Dotson and rookie Johnny Wilson, to step into more prominent roles. Sirianni expressed confidence in these players, mentioning, «These guys come to work hard every single day. We’ve had some good experiences with guys this year that have stepped in and contributed and that’s the awesome part of a team.»

Furthermore, Britain Covey, another wide receiver, is eligible to come off the Injured Reserve list. Covey has been practicing fully after recovering from a shoulder injury and is listed as questionable for the game. «Nice to get him back out there. Can’t stress enough how good of a teammate Britain Covey is,» Sirianni stated.

In addition to Smith’s injury, Rams’ starting right tackle Rob Havenstein is doubtful for Sunday’s game. Havenstein has been dealing with an ankle injury and has missed the last two games. Rams’ Head Coach Sean McVay indicated Havenstein’s progress has been slower than anticipated.

The injury list for the Eagles also includes Bryce Huff, who is scheduled for a wrist procedure, Jalyx Hunt with an ankle issue, and Milton Williams dealing with a foot injury. The team will be looking at utilizing their depth in the face of these challenges, hoping players like Nolan Smith, who has shown significant improvement, can fill in the gaps. «We feel good about the depth that we have here and some of the young guys,» remarked Sirianni post-practice.

With the Eagles preparing to face the Rams, they will need to leverage their team’s depth and adaptability. The Eagles are on a six-game winning streak, looking to extend their momentum despite the injuries hampering key players.