Eagles Face Cowboys Without Hurts, Smith, and Wicks

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will not play in Monday night's game against the Dallas Cowboys due to blood clots in his calf and lungs. The Eagles, who started the season with two wins, have now lost four straight games. They enter the matchup at Lincoln Financial Field with a roster depleted by multiple injuries. Wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks are also out, along with linebacker Nolan Smith.

Several other key players are listed as questionable for the game. Running back Saquon Barkley, who fully practiced on Friday for the first time since a hamstring injury, remains a game-time decision. Offensive linemen Landon Dickerson, Jonathan Greenard, and Jalyx Hunt are also listed as questionable. If Barkley plays, it will be his first action since the injury, though the team may limit his touches.

The Cowboys arrive in Philadelphia after dropping their previous two games. Dallas combined for only 29 points against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers in Weeks 5 and 6. This is a sharp drop from the 30-plus points they scored in each of their first three games of the season. The offense has struggled to handle pressure, with quarterback Dak Prescott completing just 20 of 38 passes for 194 yards and no touchdowns when facing extra rushers in those two games.

The Eagles' defensive strategy presents a different challenge for Dallas. According to Tru Media, the Eagles have blitzed on only 24.1% of opponent dropbacks this season. That is the fourth-lowest rate in the NFL. In contrast, the Buccaneers and Packers blitzed Prescott on 38.8% of his dropbacks in Weeks 5 and 6. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has rarely used such a high blitz rate, having done so on at least 38% of dropbacks only once since taking the job.

Dallas has also struggled to run the ball effectively. The team managed just 98 combined rushing yards in its last two games. Running back Javonte Williams is averaging 3.7 yards per carry this season, down from his 4.8 average last year. The offensive line has not cleared lanes, and Williams has not made plays to compensate. Philadelphia allows only 4.0 yards per carry on the ground.

The Eagles' offense will likely rely heavily on the pass if they lack a healthy running game. Backup quarterback Tanner McKee threw the ball 48 times in the previous game. He has started two games in his career and averaged 44 passes per game in those appearances. McKee is 16 of 45 for 179 yards and no touchdowns when under duress. His top targets will be tight end Dallas Goedert, wide receivers Makai Lemon, and Darius Cooper.

The Cowboys' defense has allowed opponents to gain at least 165 rushing yards in each of their five games this season. Opponents are averaging 4.7 yards per carry against Dallas. The Eagles' secondary, featuring Quinyon Mitchell, Riq Woolen, and Cooper DeJean, has been effective, but the team has generated pressure on only 32.9% of opponent dropbacks. This has often given quarterbacks enough time to throw, despite the presence of elite corners.

DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Cowboys as 4.5-point favorites with an over/under of 43.5 points. The game is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET on Monday, October 26, at Lincoln Financial Field. It will be broadcast on ESPN and ABC and streamed on Fubo.