Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has been lauded for his roster building skills , especially with the talent he’s assembled in 2024.
But what was one of the team’s most glaring weaknesses in the summer will be back under the microscope entering Week 4 of this NFL season.
The Eagles lost wide receiver DeVonta Smith in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 15-12 win over the New Orleans Saints . Smith caught a pass over the middle and was wrapped up by a pair of Saints defenders, when 320-pound defensive tackle Khristian Boyd entered the play late and delivered a brutal blow from behind.
Smith's helmet was dislodged at the end of the play:
Smith stayed down for a while before walking off the field and eventually jogging into the locker room. He was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game with a concussion.
The Eagles were already without No. 1 wideout A.J. Brown for this game. He was unable to log a single practice and missed his second consecutive game with a hamstring injury.
While the Eagles rallied in this game behind monster fourth quarters from running back Saquon Barkley and tight end Dallas Goedert, the Eagles passing game could be in serious trouble going forward should Brown and Smith miss additional time.
Hurts targeted wide receivers 18 times in Week 3, with 10 of those targets going Smith’s way. The combination of Parris Campbell (2-13), Jahan Dotson (2-8), Britain Covey (1-11) and Johnny Wilson (1-9) combined for 41 receiving yards. There’s a lack of trust and continuity with that group with quarterback Jalen Hurts that’s been glaring through the first three games.
Although he rightfully locked up Brown and Smith with long contract extensions this offseason, Roseman and the Eagles mismanaged the position from top to bottom. They brought in veterans DeVante Parker — who surprisingly retired — and John Ross, who came out of retirement for training camp but failed to make the 53-man roster. When it was clear Campbell, another NFL journeyman, wasn’t the answer, Roseman swung a trade with the Washington Commanders for Dotson at the end of training camp. But the former first-round pick has done next to nothing , even with the added opportunities due to Brown’s injury.
Britain Covey continues to develop, but he’s a core special teamer the Eagles are trying to utilize on short passes and bubble screens. The 2024 draft picks, Wilson and Ainias Smith, are unlikely to make an impact any time soon.
With Barkley dominating and Goedert healthy, the Eagles probably have enough to manage the passing game, as long as Brown or Smith are in the lineup. But the cupboard is bare, and that could prove costly for the Eagles entering the meat of this NFL season.
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