Dallas Goedert missed practice again on Friday, his second straight absence with a knee injury, leaving the Eagles with a real question at tight end less than three days before their Monday night game against the Cowboys.
That matters because Goedert is the Eagles’ No. 1 tight end, and the team could turn to Zach Ertz from the practice squad if he is ruled out. The Eagles have three open roster spots, so the move would be available if they need it.
The timing only sharpened the concern. DeVonta Smith also missed Thursday and Friday with a hamstring injury, and Dontayvion Wicks sat out both practices with an ankle injury, even as the Eagles were getting closer to positive news on Saquon Barkley and Landon Dickerson. Smith had returned in Week 6 from a two-game absence and caught seven passes on 14 targets for 75 yards and one touchdown, which underscored how thin the passing-game margin has become.
That is the backdrop for a week in which the Eagles were trying to steady a 2-4 record and build around whatever healthy targets they have left. If Smith and Wicks cannot go, the receiver group would be forced to lean on Makai Lemon, Darius Cooper, Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore and Britain Covey, a group that has not had much time to settle together.
Lemon, 22, has 127 receiving yards through his first six NFL games and said Monday was a big opportunity. He put the situation plainly: a couple of guys are out, so it is really next man up. He added that he has a lot of trust in the players around him and in the coaches and game plan, and said he is excited for the matchup while treating the constant changes as part of the learning experience. Sean Mannion called the offense’s problems “totally fixable,” but the Eagles still have to answer the simpler question first: whether Goedert can make it back in time, or whether they need to fill that spot before Monday night.
