Eagles will face depleted Rams secondary in Week 3, perfect timing for struggling passing attack

As the Eagles gear up for a Week 3 showdown with the Rams, there’s a development out West that could swing the matchup — and it’s one the Birds absolutely need to exploit.

Witherspoon on IR: What’s Changed for the Rams’ Secondary

Rams placed CB Ahkello Witherspoon on injured reserve due to a broken clavicle.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 15, 2025

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Los Angeles has officially placed CB Ahkello Witherspoon on injured reserve. He suffered a broken clavicle in the second quarter of their Week 2 win over Tennessee, and the recovery is expected to keep him out for at least four games, likely stretching to 6-12 weeks. He won’t require surgery, but the healing process means he’ll be absent for a stretch that includes their trip to Philadelphia this Sunday.

Witherspoon had been playing like a bona fide CB1 — excellent on early downs, red zone, and high-leverage coverage spots. Without him, the Rams must lean heavily on Darious Williams, Cobie Durant, and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. across their outside/slot roles. Depth is decent, but the ID of replacements doesn’t erase the gap in experience, physicality, and matchup-neutralizing skill.

What This Means for the Eagles

The Eagles have to see this as a chance to stress those backup corners. Witherspoon’s absence means one fewer shutdown corner to worry about. Philly should aim to:

• Test them early with deep actions and vertical threats, especially when coverages hint at man-to-man.
• Use route combos, crossers, double moves, and play-action to put those corners in difficult spots.
• Attack the perimeter, red zone, and boundary throws — areas Witherspoon helped limit explosive plays.

Leaning More on the Run + Play-Action

If Witherspoon is gone, the Rams are likelier to offer more safety help over the top. That could shrink space for big vertical strikes, but it also can open up lanes underneath, especially in play-action and run with stretch/sweep/zone schemes.

The Eagles should lean heavily on Saquon Barkley and whatever creative looks they’ve got off design runs and misdirections to force the Rams defense to stay honest.

We all know the Eagles passing offense has struggled through two games. This is a perfect opportunity to get creative, drive the ball downfield, and utilize the play action game — something they’ve done very little of through two games.

This is more than just another matchup for Philadelphia. With Witherspoon out, the Eagles have a real opportunity to exploit a weakened part of the Rams’ defense and make a game plan that could tilt more than a few momentum swings.

If Philly executes smartly, balanced offense and targeting matchups without Witherspoon, they not only win, but could set the tone for the rest of their season.