The good news first: WR A.J. Brown (hamstring), RB Saquon Barkley (groin), OLB Nolan Smith (triceps) and CB Adoree’ Jackson (concussion) were practicing on Thursday as the Eagles began their week of prep ahead of Monday Night Football against the Packers in Green Bay.
The bad news: C Cam Jurgens (knee) was not seen at the portion of practice open to reporters and could be in danger of missing his second straight game.
The first official injury report of the week will be released later in the day.
Brown (hamstring) missed the Eagles’ Week 8 game against the Giants before the bye week so it’s a positive sign to see him back on the field after the bye.
Brown was the subject of a lot of trade speculation but was not moved and it seems like the Eagles never even contemplated trading away one of their best players in a season where they’re fighting to win another Super Bowl title.
“I think that when you’re trying to be a great team, it’s hard to trade great players and A.J. Brown’s a great player,” Eagles GM Howie Roseman said after the trade deadline pass. “He wears the ‘C’ for a reason. He’s an important part of this team, of this organization. He cares about winning, he cares about his teammates, and I think that when you’re a team like ours that is looking forward to an opportunity to compete for a championship, you just don’t get rid of guys like that. We feel very lucky to have him on our team and excited about the second half of the season with him.”
Jurgens also missed the Giants game before the bye week with a knee injury. While backup Brett Toth played well in that Week 8 win, the Eagles would obviously like to get their Pro Bowl center back on the field. If Jurgens can’t play against the Packers, Toth would be in line to start his second straight game.
Even before the knee injury, Jurgens hadn’t played up to his usual standard this season. It likely had something to do with the offseason back surgery he had after toughing it out through the Eagles’ playoff run through the Super Bowl.
Barkley left that win over the Giants before the bye with a groin injury. He was initially listed as questionable to return but didn’t play again late in that blowout. After the game, Barkley didn’t seem concerned about the injury and, sure enough, he was back on the practice field to start this week.
Jackson (concussion) missed the Eagles’ Week 8 game. Kelee Ringo started at cornerback and played fairly well. The Eagles have many options at CB2.
Smith (triceps) returned to practice on Thursday after the Eagles opened his practice window on Tuesday. The Eagles put Smith on IR in late September with the hope that he would return for this game against the Packers. Getting him back for the second half of the season should be a big boost.
Before practice began on Thursday, the Eagles opened the 21-day practice window for OL Willie Lampkin, who was claimed by the Eagles after cut-down day from the Rams but placed on IR a couple days later. The UDFA from UNC will have to be either activated to the roster, shut down for the season or released before the end of these 21 days.
CB Jakorian Bennett (pectoral) was at practice again on Thursday. The Eagles did not activate him to the roster last week but could soon.
The three new additions to the Eagles’ roster, all acquired by trade over the last week or so, were participating in their first practice as Eagles on Thursday. They were wearing the following jersey numbers:
CB Jaire Alexander: 18
DB Michael Carter II: 35
OLB Jaelan Phillips: 50
Before practice, head coach Nick Sirianni said he would spend a little bit more time than he normally would watching the cornerbacks and edge rushers to see the newcomers in action.