Eagels face Commanders with Jalen Hurts out and key receivers missing

The Philadelphia Eagles will field a roster without their starting quarterback and two primary wide receivers when they host the Washington Commanders on Sunday. Jalen Hurts is on injured reserve for the season after sustaining blood clots in his lungs, leaving backup Tanner McKee as the starting quarterback for Week 8. The team also listed wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks as inactives, leaving the passing attack without its two highest-profile targets against a Washington defense that has struggled to contain the ball.

The Eagles’ offensive line and running back room are also thin. Running back Tank Bigsby is eligible to return after Week 8 following core muscle surgery, while Will Shipley and Dameon Pierce remain on injured reserve. This leaves Elijah Mitchell, who was elevated for the game, as a key contributor alongside a backfield that has been depleted by injuries all season. The team has only listed 20 players on its initial injury report, a number the coaching staff views as a positive step toward health, though the absence of Smith and Wicks poses a direct challenge to the aerial game plan.

Washington enters the game with its own depth issues, particularly on the offensive line and at running back. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil is out for a significant portion of the season after tearing his triceps during training camp. The Commanders replaced him with Brandon Coleman, who had been competing with Chris Paul for the left guard spot. This move forced Paul into the starting left guard position, creating a less than ideal alignment for both players. So far this season, Pro Football Focus has credited Coleman with allowing four sacks.

The Commanders are also missing running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, their leading rusher, who is on injured reserve with a groin injury. Croskey-Merritt rushed for 239 yards on 67 carries this season before the injury. With him out, Rachaad White is set to take over as the lead back. The team also lost wide receiver Terry McLaurin for the season to a torn patellar tendon, a injury that caps a period of declining production for the veteran receiver.

Defensively, Washington will start DaRon Payne and Javon Kinlaw at defensive line, but the group is thin due to injuries. Linebacker Leo Chenal is out for the season with a neck fracture sustained in Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks. Interior defensive lineman Jer'Zhan Newton missed part of the offseason with a torn pectoral muscle and continues to miss time. The Commanders also lost return specialist Jaylin Lane to a fractured and dislocated ankle in Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts.

The Eagles will rely on linebacker Mason Reiger, who was elevated for the game, to start in place of Jihaad Campbell. Cornerback Jonathan Jones will also sit out the matchup against his former team. The game is scheduled for Sunday, with both teams looking to stabilize their rosters before the bye week.