The Eagles announced on Saturday afternoon that rookie wide receiver Quez Watkins did not travel with the team to Green Bay due to an illness. He was downgraded to out for Sunday's game.
Watkins has been inactive in four of the past five games and did not play in the other. It is likely he would have been inactive on Sunday regardless of the illness. The sixth-round pick out of Southern Miss missed the first four games of the season on Injured Reserve. He played in the games against Pittsburgh and Baltimore and was on the field for 20 offensive snaps, but did not record a reception.
Some good news overall on the injury front for the Eagles heading into Sunday's matchup in Green Bay.
• DT Fletcher Cox (neck) – Cox returned to practice on Friday as a limited participant. He is good to go for Sunday.
• LB T.J. Edwards (hamstring) – Edwards was a full participant on Friday. He is good to go for Sunday.
• TE Zach Ertz (ankle) – Activated off Injured Reserve on Wednesday, Ertz was a full participant on Friday and will return to the lineup after missing five games with an ankle injury.
• S Rudy Ford (hamstring) – The special teams ace has missed six games with various injuries in 2020. Make it seven. He did not practice this week and was ruled out for Sunday.
• CB Darius Slay (calf) – Slay was added to the injury report on Thursday as a limited participant with a calf injury. He was limited on Friday and is questionable for the clash with Green Bay. This is the injury to watch on gameday going against the high-powered Packers offense.
Packers will not have starting center
The Packers will be without starting center Corey Linsley, who was injured his knee last Sunday night against the Bears. His streak of 68 regular-season starts, third among all NFL centers with Jason Kelce (100) leading the way, will come to an end. Elgton Jenkins is expected to start at center and rookie Jon Runyan would then make his first career start at left guard.
The gameday injury to watch is with edge rusher Za'Darius Smith, who did not practice on Friday due to an ankle injury. Smith leads the Packers with nine sacks. Running back Tyler Ervin is expected to return to action after missing two games with a ribs injury.
Two key players on defense missed practice Thursday for the Eagles. Head Coach Doug Pederson addresses the media Friday morning ahead of the game status update.
• DT Fletcher Cox (neck) – Cox missed practice for a second straight day due to a neck injury.
• LB T.J. Edwards (hamstring) – Edwards was limited in practice again on Thursday due to a hamstring injury.
• TE Zach Ertz (ankle) – Activated off Injured Reserve on Wednesday, Ertz was limited in practice both on Wednesday and Thursday with the ankle injury that's sidelined him for five games.
• S Rudy Ford (hamstring) – The special teams ace has missed six games with various injuries in 2020. He's missed the past two with a hamstring injury and has not practiced this week.
• CB Darius Slay (calf) – Slay was added to the injury report on Thursday as a limited participant with a calf injury.
In Green Bay, the key injury to watch is along the offensive line where center Corey Linsley has missed practice this week with a knee injury and is unlikely to play. Jon Runyan, the son of the former Eagles Pro Bowl tackle, is expected to make his first career start at left guard, while veteran Elgton Jenkins would start at center.
Tight end Marcedes Lewis was downgraded from limited on Wednesday to a non-participant on Thursday with a knee injury. Edge rusher Za'Darius Smith was added to the Packers' injury report Thursday as a limited participant with an ankle injury.
Wednesday's Injury Report
The Eagles have only four players on Wednesday's injury report ahead of Sunday's matchup in Green Bay:
• DT Fletcher Cox (neck) – Cox typically gets some sort of rest on Wednesdays, but this week he did not participate in practice because of a neck injury.
• LB T.J. Edwards (hamstring) – Edwards was limited in practice on Wednesday with a hamstring injury.
• TE Zach Ertz (ankle) – Activated off Injured Reserve on Wednesday, Ertz was limited in practice with the ankle injury that's sidelined him for five games.
• S Rudy Ford (hamstring) – The special teams ace has missed six games with various injuries in 2020. He's missed the past two with a hamstring injury and did not practice on Wednesday.
