Eagles Injury Report: DeVonta Smith and Zack Baun both in serious doubt against the Rams

The Eagles head into Sunday’s game against the Rams with DeVonta Smith and Zack Baun both stuck on the wrong side of the injury report.

Neither player practiced Wednesday or Thursday. Wednesday’s report was an estimate because the Eagles held a walkthrough, but Thursday was a real practice and both still sat out. Philadelphia is 2-1 after the loss to the Bears in Chicago, and Sunday is its first game back home after two weeks on the road. Kickoff is 1:00 PM.

Eagles WR DeVonta Smith’s hamstring is the biggest problem

There is not much optimism Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith will play Sunday against the Rams, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo.

Smith has been sidelined with a hamstring injury this week and the expectation is he won’t be able to go Sunday.

— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) October 1, 2026

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The early reporting on Smith’s hamstring is bad. NFL insider Mike Garafolo says his status is genuinely in question. Tim McManus reports there is little optimism Smith plays and that the expectation is he sits. Bo Wulf said on the PHLY Eagles podcast that he heard early in the week Smith likely misses this game and possibly the next one, which would make it a two or three week injury.

Smith dealt with the same hamstring last week. He sat out Thursday, was limited Friday, went full Saturday, and played against the Bears. That path only works this week if he practices Friday, and players who do not practice usually do not play.

Here is what the Eagles lose if he sits. Smith has 33% of the team’s targets this season. 34% of the receptions. 38% of the receiving yards. 36% of the receiving first downs. 20% of the receiving touchdowns.

The depth behind him is thin. Dallas Goedert (knee) is expected to miss multiple games, and Hollywood Brown (ankle) did not practice Thursday. If Smith and Brown are both out, the healthy receivers are Dontayvion Wicks, Makai Lemon, Darius Cooper, Elijah Moore, and Britain Covey. Xavier Gipson is on the practice squad. Zach Ertz is the obvious candidate for more snaps in his second game back with the Eagles.

Wicks, Lemon, Cooper, Moore, and Covey would have to replace the team’s leading receiver. That is a lot to ask of an Eagles offense already missing its top tight end.

Zack Baun in the concussion protocol leaves the Eagles defense without its green dot

Zack Baun is in concussion protocol and hasn't started practicing, making it unlikely he plays sunday.

We might get a direct head to head comparison between Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Jihaad Campbell playing next to each other 👀#Eagles

— Thomas R. Petersen (@thomasrp93) October 1, 2026

Baun showed up on the report Wednesday with a concussion and sat out again Thursday. He has to clear the protocol before he can play, and his status for Sunday is in serious doubt.

If he is out, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. steps in next to Jihaad Campbell. Trotter is a third-year linebacker with two career starts. Campbell (knee) was limited Wednesday and upgraded to full Thursday. He praised Trotter this week for his instincts, his communication, and his ability to get off blocks. Trotter says he is preparing the same way he does every week.

The bigger question is the green dot. Baun wears it, which means he relays the play call from the coaches to the rest of the defense. It is unclear who handles that job for the Eagles if he is out. Trotter said the team prepares for that situation in practice.

The timing is bad. The Rams are 1-2 and still first in the NFL in total yards per game, second in passing yards, and seventh in rushing yards. Sean McVay uses motion on 67.3% of plays and no huddle on 10.1%. That kind of offense puts pressure on communication, and the player who normally handles it is in the protocol. Puka Nacua is also expected back from his hip injury after missing two games.

Other Eagles injuries to track before Sunday

Here is the full Thursday report:

• Did not practice: LB Zack Baun (concussion), WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring), TE Dallas Goedert (knee), WR Hollywood Brown (ankle), OT Fred Johnson (knee)
• Limited: DT Jordan Davis (calf), S Marcus Epps (groin), DT Moro Ojomo (calf/elbow), RB Will Shipley (foot)
• Full: RB Tank Bigsby (abdomen), LB Jihaad Campbell (knee), DT Jalen Carter (wrist), WR Darius Cooper (knee), OLB Jonathan Greenard (pectoral), DT Byron Young (toe)

Epps is the one to watch. He is a starting safety who was added to the report Thursday with a groin injury, which can mean he got hurt in practice. Jonathan Greenard, who missed the first two games with a pectoral injury, was a full participant again after making his Eagles debut Monday.

Smith. Baun. Goedert. Brown. Johnson. Five names off the practice field with the Rams coming to town. The Eagles need Friday to go better than Thursday.