Zack Baun was cleared from the NFL concussion protocol on Friday, giving the Philadelphia Eagles a healthier defensive picture before they traveled to London for Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Barring any setbacks, he is expected to play.
The timing matters because Baun has been one of the most productive players on the Eagles’ defense this season. He appeared in the first three games and posted 25 tackles, four tackles for loss and three passes defensed, production that helps explain why his status drew attention as the team left for London.
Baun’s availability comes after a mixed week for the defense. He was listed as limited on Thursday’s practice report, even as Tim McManus reported that he was expected to be ready. Marcus Epps and Jonathan Greenard did not practice that day, while Quinyon Mitchell was a full participant after injuring his knee against the Los Angeles Rams.
That sequence leaves one odd wrinkle: Baun was limited on Thursday, then released from the concussion protocol on Friday and expected to play. The change points to how close the Eagles came to being without a player who has been a critical piece of the defense over the past two seasons, and it gives the unit a needed boost before an international game that already asks plenty of a roster.
For now, the clean read is simple. Unless something changes between now and kickoff, the Eagles should have Baun on the field in London, and that may matter as much as any roster update they have made this week.
