The Philadelphia Eagles feel battered during their 2-3 start to the 2026 season. Including offensive stars Saquon Barkley plus DeVonta Smith dealing with early ailments. The latter looks like he's trending in the wrong direction health wise before facing the Carolina Panthers.
Barkley never ran or participated in Wednesday practice. But the Eagles also revealed that Smith was listed as a “did not practice” participant too amid his hamstring injury.
Both Super Bowl winning performers have witnessed a rare slow start in the era of coach Nick Sirianni. There are analysts and even fans immediately writing off the Eagles. Sunday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars became the latest excruciating moment for the '26 team.
Jacksonville claimed the overseas win in London through a walk off 57-yard field goal booted by Cam Little. So Philly struggled to put the now 4-1 Jaguars away that afternoon. But that's not the only blemish on the Eagles' schedule.
Philadelphia fell in the final minutes against a Los Angeles Rams team the Eagles previously dominated. That 24-20 defeat at Lincoln Financial Field snapped a four-game winning streak Philly had on the Rams. Running back Kyren Williams scored the last two touchdowns in under four minutes during the fourth quarter.
Article Continues BelowSmith leads Philly with 19 receptions while placing second behind Dontayvion Wicks in receiving yardage (Wicks has 260). Darius Cooper leads the Eagles' wideout room with four touchdown receptions, through seven catches.
Yet the Eagles immediately face a make-or-break game against the surging Panthers this Sunday. A loss certainly will spark the “fire Sirianni” rhetoric among fans. And looks like he and the Eagles may need to roll without Smith in this one.