The Philadelphia Eagles are facing a significant challenge in their secondary as they prepare to take on the Chicago Bears this week. While Lane Johnson is ruled out due to a Lisfranc injury, the team has managed to keep the impact of his absence minimal, thanks in part to Fred Johnson stepping up as the starter.
However, concerns have been raised about the health of WR DeVonta Smith, who appeared on the injury report despite not exiting the Dallas game. The Eagles will likely get more information on him on Wednesday, but for now, it's unclear what impact he may have on the team.
Injuries to key players, such as RB Saquon Barkley and OT Myles Hinton, are also being monitored closely by the Eagles. Barkley has been limited in practice, while Hinton is out with a back injury that has kept him off the active roster all season.
The Chicago Bears, on the other hand, are facing significant challenges of their own at linebacker. Tremaine Edmunds leads the team with 89 tackles and has four interceptions and nine pass breakups to his name. However, he suffered a groin injury against the Vikings Week 11 and is out for the game.
T.J. Edwards, another starting linebacker, missed six games this season, including the last three against the Giants, Vikings, and Steelers. Noah Sewell, the team's LB3, did not play Week 12 against the Steelers, and his snaps were limited to just 72.
The Bears are also dealing with injuries at cornerback, particularly Jaylon Johnson, who has been on IR since Week 11. However, Kyler Gordon was activated from IR this week, and both players are expected to be available for Friday's practice.
Overall, the Eagles will need to keep a close eye on their secondary as they face the Bears' challenges at linebacker. While the team is fortunate that Lane Johnson can step up in his absence, the impact of DeVonta Smith's injury and other key injuries will need to be carefully managed.
As for the Bears, the loss of Edmunds and Edwards has left them with a significant void at linebacker. The team may need to start D'Marco Jackson and Amen Ogbongbemiga, who have played limited snaps in recent weeks. However, their decision-making may need to adapt quickly as they try to find ways to replace their two top linebackers.
The Bears' cornerback situation is also being closely watched, particularly with the activation of Kyler Gordon from IR. While Johnson's injury has been a major blow, Gordon's return could provide some much-needed stability at the position. However, it remains to be seen how quickly he can get back up to speed and contribute to the team's secondary.
Overall, both teams face significant challenges as they prepare for their Week 13 matchup. The Eagles will need to navigate their own injuries while finding ways to manage their secondary, while the Bears will need to overcome their injuries at linebacker and find a way to replace their two top defenders.
However, concerns have been raised about the health of WR DeVonta Smith, who appeared on the injury report despite not exiting the Dallas game. The Eagles will likely get more information on him on Wednesday, but for now, it's unclear what impact he may have on the team.
Injuries to key players, such as RB Saquon Barkley and OT Myles Hinton, are also being monitored closely by the Eagles. Barkley has been limited in practice, while Hinton is out with a back injury that has kept him off the active roster all season.
The Chicago Bears, on the other hand, are facing significant challenges of their own at linebacker. Tremaine Edmunds leads the team with 89 tackles and has four interceptions and nine pass breakups to his name. However, he suffered a groin injury against the Vikings Week 11 and is out for the game.
T.J. Edwards, another starting linebacker, missed six games this season, including the last three against the Giants, Vikings, and Steelers. Noah Sewell, the team's LB3, did not play Week 12 against the Steelers, and his snaps were limited to just 72.
The Bears are also dealing with injuries at cornerback, particularly Jaylon Johnson, who has been on IR since Week 11. However, Kyler Gordon was activated from IR this week, and both players are expected to be available for Friday's practice.
Overall, the Eagles will need to keep a close eye on their secondary as they face the Bears' challenges at linebacker. While the team is fortunate that Lane Johnson can step up in his absence, the impact of DeVonta Smith's injury and other key injuries will need to be carefully managed.
As for the Bears, the loss of Edmunds and Edwards has left them with a significant void at linebacker. The team may need to start D'Marco Jackson and Amen Ogbongbemiga, who have played limited snaps in recent weeks. However, their decision-making may need to adapt quickly as they try to find ways to replace their two top linebackers.
The Bears' cornerback situation is also being closely watched, particularly with the activation of Kyler Gordon from IR. While Johnson's injury has been a major blow, Gordon's return could provide some much-needed stability at the position. However, it remains to be seen how quickly he can get back up to speed and contribute to the team's secondary.
Overall, both teams face significant challenges as they prepare for their Week 13 matchup. The Eagles will need to navigate their own injuries while finding ways to manage their secondary, while the Bears will need to overcome their injuries at linebacker and find a way to replace their two top defenders.