A banged-up Eagles team got some good injury news Thursday.
DeVonta Smith, who missed team workouts on Tuesday and Wednesday with chest and shoulder injuries, plus an illness that was noted on Wednesday, was listed as a full participant in Thursday’s walk-through. Smith does not have a game designation entering the team’s Black Friday game vs. the Chicago Bears and is available to play.
The Eagles ruled out three players: Xavier Gipson (shoulder), Myles Hinton (back), and Lane Johnson (foot). Drew Mukuba also is out, but since he was placed on injured reserve Wednesday after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured right ankle, he’s no longer on the 53-man roster and is not listed on injury reports.
With Gipson out, Britain Covey was signed to the active roster Wednesday to take Mukuba’s place. Covey may be back in his role as a return specialist. The Eagles also elevated edge rusher Patrick Johnson and safety Andre’ Sam from the practice squad for Friday’s game. Johnson is a core special teamer and Sam will be active for safety depth.
Saquon Barkley (groin), Reed Blankenship (thigh), Landon Dickerson (knee), and Brandon Graham (groin), all of whom were listed as limited on Wednesday, were full participants Thursday.
Smith likely suffered his shoulder and chest injuries after his acrobatic sideline catch vs. Dallas.
“It was just this spectacular play,” Nick Sirianni said Wednesday. “It looked so easy … the way he just adjusted to it effortlessly and caught it.”
Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith warms up before a Nov. 17 game against the Lions.
While the Eagles’ offense has been maligned for its inconsistency, Smith is having a strong 2025 season. He has 55 catches on 78 targets for 754 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games.
Smith and the Eagles’ offense should have an opportunity to get rolling against a Bears team that is missing multiple starters on defense.
The Bears ruled out linebackers T.J. Edwards (hand/hamstring), Ruben Hyppolite II (shoulder), and Noah Sewell (elbow), as well as defensive end Dominique Robinson (concussion) and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (hip). The corner opposite Stevenson, Jaylon Johnson, is questionable with a groin injury.
Backup guard Luke Newman also is out.
While the Eagles ruled Hinton, a rookie tackle, out for Friday’s game, he was a full participant with his back injury. The Eagles opened his 21-day practice window on Nov. 19 after the sixth-round pick started the season on injured reserve. They would not have to add him to the active roster until after they play their Week 14 game at the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 8.
Entering the final stretch of the season, the Eagles still haven’t found their footing in the running game. The lack of production from a unit that produced a 2,000 yard rusher and the NFL’s offensive player of the year has been a big part of the offense’s inconsistency this season.
Saquon Barkley is averaging his lowest yards per carry (3.7) since 2021, when he played 13 games for the New York Giants. His 62.2 yards per game are the second-lowest of his career, and his 16.8 carries per game represent his third-lowest full season total. Barkley’s struggles this season came to a head with a 10-carry, 22-yard performance against Dallas.
Barkley was dominant last season, when he had 11 games of 100 or more rushing yards. This year, he has one. What is causing Barkley’s down season — and can it be rectified before the Eagles embark on another playoff run?
Here’s a look at why the Eagles’ running game has suffered this season and how it could get back on track Friday against the Bears:
Shotgun struggles
Last season, Barkley had 1,050 of his 2,005 rushing yards out of shotgun, averaging 5.8 yards per carry out of the gun with a plus-18.8 expected points added per rush, according to Next Gen Stats. This season, 302 of his 684 rushing yards have come from shotgun runs, and Barkley is averaging 3.6 yards per carry with a minus-13.1 rush EPA.
What stands out most comparing Barkley’s film in 2024 vs. 2025 is how much more dominant the offensive line was at the line of scrimmage. Though Barkley saw far fewer stacked boxes last year (20.6%) than this year (32.4%), according to Next Gen, the loss of Mekhi Becton at right guard has been felt particularly in the running game, coupled with Cam Jurgens, Landon Dickerson, and Lane Johnson all being banged up this year.
Last season, Saquon Barkley had 1,050 of his 2,005 rushing yards come from shotgun, and a good portion of his long runs were just inside zone attempts. Offensive line did a better job last year working double teams to the second level and getting displacement. pic.twitter.com/N6W60Rum9L
Barkley is set to outpace his carries against stacked boxes (eight or more defenders) this season compared to 2024. This year, he already has 60 rushing attempts against stacked boxes, averaging 2.4 yards per carry and managing just 142 yards, per Next Gen. Last season, he averaged 4.5 yards per carry against defenses that loaded the box, on 71 attempts (319 yards).
But back to the shotgun runs. There was far more variety in the scheme last year, along with more movement from the offensive linemen, too. Jurgens was a focal point of that movement, utilizing his athleticism to get out in space for Barkley last season, and it helped pop some big runs downfield. The Eagles would also bring Johnson and Jordan Mailata across the formation to run power and pin-and-pull runs to help create some daylight for Barkley.
The #Eagles had Cam Jurgens pulling out in space more frequently last year out of shotgun than this year, along with Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson. pic.twitter.com/V4TP5Nan3X
Teams are matching the uptick in heavy personnel from the Eagles offense on running downs with eight-man boxes and aligning five and even six players at the line of scrimmage. They’re also slanting defensive linemen to disrupt and shut off cutback lanes for Barkley.
The success the Eagles have had in shotgun this year has come in 11 personnel (one back, one tight end), where teams can’t stack the box because of the threat A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith pose for opposing secondaries.
This year, Saquon Barkley has had 302 of his 684 rushing yards come from shotgun runs, and most of his positive runs have come out of 11 personnel. pic.twitter.com/qY7cC1RrSS
Because of the lack of success the Eagles have had running the ball on gap scheme runs out of pistol, which we will explain more in the next section, the offense has attempted to run counter out of shotgun, with varying levels of success since the second Giants game on Oct. 26.
In recent weeks, the #Eagles have been utilizing more gap scheme runs (power/counter) out of shotgun in an attempt to get Saquon Barkley going. pic.twitter.com/5Kkt6BVEkf
When the monster runs began to come for Barkley down the stretch of the 2024 season, they were typically from the pistol formation, when the running back aligned behind Jalen Hurts. The Eagles’ offensive line specifically thrived on the counter run, which pulls two backside offensive linemen or one backside offensive lineman and a tight end across the formation to kick out edge rushers and linebackers.
Out of pistol formations last season, Barkley had 529 yards, four touchdowns, and averaged 5.7 yards per carry, according to Next Gen. This season those numbers are down drastically to 84 yards on 32 carries (2.4 yards per carry).
One of the keys to unlocking the #Eagles running game last year vs. the struggles this year was the effectiveness of the run game out of pistol. Running counter/power for Saquon Barkley worked well last year because of how the O-line controlled the LOS and got up to the second… pic.twitter.com/buKNE18Cgr
The linemen pulling across the line of scrimmage last season typically included Becton, whose size and physicality would naturally knock defenders out of the play, with Johnson, or tight ends Grant Calcaterra and C.J. Uzomah, following the action and wrapping up to block a linebacker or safety filling the run gap.
On those same runs this season out of pistol, the Eagles have been largely unsuccessful. The offensive line has struggled with maintaining blocks and working their double teams up to the second level, the kick out blocks haven’t been as effective, and teams are slanting in an attempt to change the aim points for the Eagles O-line, post-snap.
This season, the blocking hasn't been as clean for Barkley and the O-line hasn't been generating the same type of movement on double teams/kick out blocks. The #Lions game was the only game Barkley was able to get a sizable gain on so far this year out of pistol. pic.twitter.com/siZpvJIn3O
The Eagles have only utilized Barkley out of pistol formations seven times since the bye week, and he’sonly popped two runs of five or more yards, both attempts against the Detroit Lions.
The offense had more success earlier in the season when Barkley ran outside zone out of pistol in Week 1 against Dallas, against Kansas City, and in the first meeting with New York. Giving Barkley natural cutback lanes on such runs seemed to yield more success than trying to recreate what worked last season against far less stacked boxes.
If the #Eagles decide to go back to pistol runs for Barkley, they could opt to run outside zone or duo out of the alignment. They've only attempted 7 runs with Barkley out of pistol since the bye week. pic.twitter.com/ga85iYG6Tp
Under-center runs have come into focus more as the Eagles deploy more heavy personnel, such as 12 personnel (one back, two tight ends) and 13 personnel (one back and three tight ends), along with having a sixth offensive linemen on the field.
In 2024, Barkley had just 72 attempts but averaged 5.9 yards per carry on under-center runs, according to Next Gen, and Barkley is already set to outpace last year’s rushing attempts from under center. He’s up to 70 attempts, averaging 4.3 yards per carry, his highest of any alignment formation this season, on under-center runs, with three of his four rushing touchdowns coming on those types of runs.
#Eagles RB Saquon Barkley's highest YPC (4.3) formationally this year are on under center runs this season and he particularly has found success on duo and outside zone runs, where he can find cutback lanes pic.twitter.com/UFPiaZf7Pn
The same outside zone runs that are working out of pistol seem to be working on under center runs, too, for Barkley.
The lone long touchdown run of the season from Barkley, which came on Oct. 26 against the Giants and went for 65 yards, was on a duo run, which includes two double teams on the front side of the running play and a solo block on the backside. Employing more of those runs, especially with a sixth linemen on the field, can create one-on-one opportunities for Barkley against linebackers and safeties.
Barkley's longest run of the season, his 65-yarder vs. the Giants, came on under-center duo. His longest run since the bye week, against Green Bay a few weeks ago, also came on an UC duo run. pic.twitter.com/I4fOzCsqjq
The effectiveness of the under-center runs from Barkley opened up the play-action passing game against the Vikings on Oct. 19, though it hasn’t had quite the same effectiveness in recent weeks. Still, it’s worth noting the two runs Barkley has had for 10-plus yards were from under center, on pitch plays that went the opposite way of the formation’s strength (against Dallas on Sept. 4 and the Lions on Nov. 16).
Last season, Saquon Barkley had six runs of 10 or more yards against stacked boxes, and this year, he just has two, both of which came on under-center pitches opposite the formation's strength. Can see the #Eagles coming back to this play on Friday and down the stretch of the… pic.twitter.com/aGNGAAL0Qf
The most telling sign of his struggles though are Barkley’s stats while the Eagles are leading, last year vs. this year. In 2024, Barkley rushed for 1,100 yards on 173 attempts, seven touchdowns, and a plus-16 EPA while the Eagles were leading, according to Next Gen. Those stats this year are much different: 327 yards on 110 attempts (3 yards per carry), one touchdown, and a minus-27.8 EPA.
One other stat to store away: the Eagles are calling designed runs for Hurts at the lowest-rate this season since 2022. According to TruMedia, Hurts has a designed run rate of 62.5%, down from his career-high of 74% last season. And according to Pro Football Focus, he has 106 yards on designed rushing attempts this year, on track to be his lowest as a starter. Hurts has just 298 rushing yards this season, which is also on track to be the lowest of his career.
With the offensive line’s struggles and Hurts’ decrease in designed rushing attempts, defenses are keying in on Barkley even more this season. The Bears’ defense offers a potential course-correction game for the Eagles on Friday. We’ll see if they take advantage.
Six NFL teams will take the field Thursday in the league’s latest incarnation of an annual Thanksgiving ritual, but for the 10th straight year the Eagles won’t be among them.
The last time the Birds played on Thanksgiving was in 2015, when they were blown out by the Lions in Chip Kelly’s final season as head coach.
The NFL decided to go big this year, pitting the Dallas Cowboys against the Kansas City Chiefs on CBS in a matchup likely to become the most-watched NFL regular-season game in league history. The current high mark is a 2022 Thanksgiving game between the Cowboys and New York Giants, which drew 42.1 million viewers.
With the Cowboys and Chiefs both coming off comeback wins and fighting for playoff spots, that bet paid off. But the league seriously considered scheduling Eagles-Cowboys in Dallas for Thanksgiving, which would’ve been just the third time the NFC East rivals faced off on the holiday — they previously played one another in 1989 and 2014.
Maybe the league got sick of the Eagles’ holiday dominance. The Birds are 6-1 in games played on Thanksgiving, the highest win percentage (.857) in NFL history among teams that played at least five games.
NFL makes some Thanksgiving changes
This year’s NFL slate reveals a major shift for the league. Instead of dumping mediocre matchups on Thanksgiving knowing they’ll get good TV ratings — think of all those bad Cowboys-Washington games — the league turned to marquee teams in an attempt to maximize viewership.
“We decided that based on last year, and the numbers, and the audience, and how many people were watching, to really see how high Thanksgiving can get,” Hans Schroeder, the NFL’s executive vice president of media distribution, told Front Office Sports.
The NFL also pushed the start of the first Thanksgiving game back 30 minutes, from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. Schroeder told the Detroit Free Press the earlier kickoff time was potentially lowering viewership numbers slightly.
“We look at the data where we can be informed,” Schroeder said. “It told us there’s a lot more fans that are home, that are back from wherever they are Thanksgiving morning to be on their couches and being able to watch. So that felt like a really obvious thing from a media perspective.”
2025 NFL Thanksgiving TV schedule
Green Bay Packers (7-3-1) at Detroit Lions (7-4)
Jared Goff and the Lions will take on the Packers in a NFC North battle.
Where: Ford Field, Detroit, Mich.
Kickoff time: 1 p.m. Eastern
TV: Fox (Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews, Tom Rinaldi)
Radio: 94.1 WIP via Westwood One
Stream: Fox One
This game will only have playoff implications for the Eagles if the Birds lose a few more games.
While both the Packers and Lions are among a cluster of teams atop the NFC, the Eagles hold tiebreakers against both thanks to head-to-head wins against the Packers and Lions in back-to-back weeks earlier this month.
The game does have big ramifications in the NFC North, which the Packers are looking to win for the first time since 2021. Green Bay defeated Detroit way back in Week 1 and could sweep the season series with a win on Thanksgiving.
This is the 29th time the Packers and Lions have faced off on Thanksgiving, with Detroit holding a 12-9-1 edge overall.
Kansas City Chiefs (6-5) at Dallas Cowboys (5-5-1)
Dak Prescott hopes to keep the Cowboys’ slim playoff hopes alive.
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas.
Kickoff time: 4:30 p.m. Eastern
TV: CBS (Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson)
Radio: 94.1 WIP via Westwood One
Stream: Paramount+
The Cowboys have new life after their 21-point comeback win against the Eagles Sunday.
While the NFC East is likely out of reach for the Cowboys (barring an epic collapse by the Eagles), Dak Prescott and company are still alive in the wild-card hunt. A win on Thanksgiving would improve the Cowboys’ chances of making the postseason to 22%, according to the New York Times playoff simulator. A loss drops their already poor odds down to just 6%.
The Chiefs are in a similar situation, though things aren’t as dire. Despite entering Week 13 in 10th place in the AFC, Kansas City is right in the middle of the wild-card hunt with important divisional games against the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers coming up.
Cincinnati Bengals (3-8) at Baltimore Ravens (6-5)
Joe Burrow is back just in time for a big national game.
Outside of Joe Burrow’s return to the Bengals, the Thanksgiving nightcap has limited interest to Eagles fans.
The Bengals would need to pull off a remarkable streak of wins to sneak into the playoffs. They head into Thanksgiving looking to end a four-game losing streak, and over the next three weeks they’ll play the Ravens twice and face Josh Allen and the Bills in Buffalo.
The Ravens enter the game back in first place in the AFC North, though they’re tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers at 6-5. The Ravens’ offense has sputtered this season along with Lamar Jackson, who is playing despite ankle, knee, and toe issues. But the Bengals have the second-worst run defense in the league, which Derrick Henry and the Ravens could end up feasting on.
Fubo subscribers won’t be able to watch one Thanksgiving game
Mike Tirico (left) and Cris Collinsworth will call the evening Thanksgiving game on NBC.
All three games will stream on their network’s respective subscription streaming services — Fox One for Fox, Paramount+ for CBS, and Peacock for NBC.
The games also will stream on any so-called skinny bundle that carries the three broadcast networks, including YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and DirecTV Stream. Most offer a free trial.
The one exception this year is Disney-owned Fubo, whose more than 1.3 million subscribers won’t be able to stream Thursday’s Bengals-Ravens on NBC due to a carriage dispute with NBCUniversal, which is owned by Comcast.
As a result, all of NBC’s TV networks — including Bravo, CNBC, MS NOW, and NBC Sports Philadelphia here in the city — are dark on Fubo, with no sign of a deal on the horizon.
If you live in the Philadelphia TV market, you can stream all three games on NFL+, the league’s subscription streaming service, which runs $6.99 a month. But that only includes tablets and mobile devices.
If you’re looking to stream the games for free and you live in or around Philadelphia, your best option is using a digital antenna, since all three will air on broadcast television.
What NFL teams have never played on Thanksgiving?
Jacksonville is still looking to play in their first Thanksgiving game.
The Jacksonville Jaguars remain the only NFL team to never play a Thanksgiving game.
There are a lot of reasons for this, but it’s mostly because the Jaguars just haven’t been that good or compelling, and there are less opportunities for AFC teams than NFC teams.
It doesn’t help Jacksonville has only played a total of nine road games against the Lions and Cowboys in 30 seasons since entering the league in 1995, and isn’t scheduled to face either team this season.
The NFL’s old TV rules didn’t help, either. Prior to 2022, any Jaguars-Lions or Jaguars-Cowboys game would have had to air on CBS, which had the rights to broadcast AFC teams when they were on the road facing NFC teams.
Maybe they’ll get their shot next season, since the Jaguars appear to be on the upswing and will face the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in 2026. Then again, if the NFL is focusing on big matchups, Jacksonville may be out of luck.
Like any seasoned holiday shopper, the Eagles know exactly what they’re looking for on Black Friday — a win.
After squandering a 21-0 first-half lead to the Cowboys in Dallas last week, the Birds will host the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears at Lincoln Financial Field on Friday.
Here’s everything you need to know about the team’s Week 13 matchup…
How to watch Eagles vs. Bears
The Birds’ game against the Bears will stream live for free on Amazon Prime Video at 3 p.m., with Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit on the call and Kaylee Hartung on the sidelines. The game will be shown for free, meaning fans do not need an Amazon Prime subscription to access the broadcast. Fox 29 will also carry the Prime broadcast over the air to viewers in the Philadelphia area.
If you want to listen to Merrill Reese and Mike Quick on the call, the radio broadcast can be found on WIP-FM (94.1). And if you want to watch the game with fellow Birds fans, these are the spots to check out.
Eagles-Bears injury report
The Eagles are expecting to be without Lane Johnson for a second week after the veteran offensive lineman suffered a foot injury in the team’s Week 11 win over the Lions. Johnson did not move to the injured reserve list, indicating he may come back sooner than initially expected, but he did not participate in practice on Tuesday or Wednesday. The Birds will also be without Drew Mukuba, as the rookie safety suffered a right leg fracture in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against Dallas.
DeVonta Smith’s status for Friday is also uncertain, as the receiver was a non-participant in practice on Tuesday and Wednesday. Brandon Graham’s status is uncertain, after being a limited participant in practice on Wednesday after sitting out for Tuesday’s practice.
The final injury report will come out on Thursday, but here is what the two teams’ reports looked like as of Wednesday afternoon …
As of Wednesday afternoon, the Eagles were 7-point favorites at DraftKings and 6.5-point favorites at FanDuel. Both sportsbooks have set the projected point total at 44.5.
The Eagles quarterback will be looking to rebound from a collapse against the Cowboys last Sunday in Friday’s game against the Bears.
Storylines to watch
The Eagles’ season-long offensive struggles were amplified in the second half of their loss to Dallas last Sunday. The Cowboys held the Birds scoreless in the second half and scored 24 unanswered to storm back from a 21-point second-quarter deficit.
The Birds’ second-half collapse has intensified the public scrutiny of Kevin Patullo’s play-calling in his first season as offensive coordinator. Patullo’s offense is averaging 23.2 points per game, which ranks 17th among all NFL teams. Nick Sirianni said the Eagles are “searching for answers” on offense but that he was not considering demoting Patullo from his play-calling responsibilities.
Defensively, the depth of the Eagles’ secondary will be tested against the Bears. Mukuba, a rookie who has made 10 starts alongside Reed Blankenship at safety, suffered a right leg fracture during the team’s loss to Dallas that required surgery and may sideline him for the rest of the season.
Blankenship also exited the Dallas game with a thigh injury and was a limited participant in Tuesday’s practice, but Vic Fangio expects the safety to play on Friday. Sydney Brown will start in place of the injured Mukuba.
Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis (90) and linebacker Jaelan Phillips will be relied upon again in Friday’s game against Chicago.
One number to know
9: The total number of games the Eagles have played on a Friday since the franchise was founded in 1933. The Eagles opened the 2024 season with a Friday night win over the Green Bay Packers in Brazil, but prior to that, the Birds had not taken the field on a Friday since 1960.
Our writers aren’t in agreement when it comes to their predictions for Black Friday …
Jeff McLane: I think the Eagles match up well against the Bears. I like Vic Fangio vs. most young quarterbacks, but Ben Johnson will offer a challenge. As far as the offense goes, I think that as long as the Eagles don’t turn the ball over, they should put up points. Chicago’s defense lives off the turnover, but the Birds are still among the best at protecting the ball, despite last week’s two giveaways. For the first time in weeks, I feel relatively confident about my pick. But we know how that usually pans out. | Prediction: Eagles 30, Bears 20
Olivia Reiner: If the Eagles can’t run the ball on the Bears, it’s officially time to sound the alarm (if the red flags haven’t already been there). … I had this game as a win for the Eagles before the season started. But given the state of the Eagles’ offense over the last few games, I’m picking a narrow upset. | Prediction: Bears 30, Eagles 27
Jeff Neiburg: Sure, the Bears are 8-3 after winning four consecutive games. But they’re doing the thing that teams do sometimes when they’re turning a corner after some down seasons: taking advantage of an easy schedule. Their win Sunday vs. the Steelers, 31-28, was their first against a team with a winning record. | Prediction: Eagles 27, Bears 17
National media picks
Here’s how the national media is leaning for Friday …
Here’s what our columnists are saying about the Eagles this week, starting with Mike Sielski, who argues that last Sunday’s collapse might put the Birds’ coaching staff under team owner Jeffrey Lurie’s microscope:
Mike Sielski: “It is, of course, true that the offensive line’s decline is a huge factor in the Eagles’ overall regression, maybe the biggest factor, and that reality, one could argue, should absolve Nick Sirianni, Kevin Patullo, Jalen Hurts, and anyone else for an 8-3 team that feels like it’s 3-8. But it’s naive to think, given the nature of Sunday’s loss and the arc of this season, that Lurie isn’t taking a long, hard look at the coaching staff, Sirianni included.” Read more.
David Murphy: “In order for Sirianni to make a change, he would need to be reasonably confident that things would get better. If not, things would get appreciably worse. Sirianni and the Eagles would be operating from a position of weakness for the duration of the season. The worst thing they can do right now is panic. We’ve seen how that sort of thing ends.” Read more.
Former Eagles safety Kevin Byard signed with the Bears in 2024 after being released by the Birds.
What the Bears are saying
With the Packers and Lions close behind, the 8-3 Bears are looking to stay on top of a hotly contested NFC North with a win over the NFC East-leading Eagles. Bears safety Kevin Byard, a Philly native and former Eagle, called Friday’s game a “heavyweight matchup.”
“This is a team that was just in the Super Bowl,” Byard said. “They have a winning culture, they have a winning mentality. We preach 60 minutes. We know they’re going to be a 60-minute team as well. … This is a heavyweight matchup for sure and obviously, we’re going into a hostile environment in a stadium that I played in, played against.”
Here’s what else the Bears had to say …
Byard on the Eagles’ success despite offensive struggles: “Stats for the entire offense have been down, but they’re finding ways to win. I mean, look at us, our stats haven’t been great on defense but we’re finding ways to win. … Stats is something we can all look at and judge. But at the end of the day, they’re finding ways to win. I think that’s just a testament of their culture and our culture. So, it’s definitely going to be a challenge for us. Just culture against culture, whose culture is better?”
Quarterback Caleb Williams on Jalen Hurts: “[We talked about how] there’s not many like us in our position — who we are, skin tone, and all these different things — there’s not many like us. So, just being able to understand the opportunity that we have and I have to maximize that and put myself in the best opportunity possible. It was kind of that type of talk. Jalen, you’ve heard all his bits. He’s pretty motivational when he speaks up here.”
Head coach Ben Johnson on Vic Fangio: “He’s like the Godfather in a lot of ways. He’s kind of taken the lead over in terms of that scheme. … He’s influenced the game significantly. I never worked with Vic but a lot of respect from afar, obviously. The people that have worked with him speak so highly of how he calls a game. He’s usually a step ahead of the opposing play-callers. So, it’ll be a challenge here just to make sure that we’re trying to keep him as off-balance as we possibly can.”
ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky says the Eagles are “one-dimensional,” and suggested that Saquon Barkley isn’t the Barkley that wowed fans last season.
What the national media is saying
Former Eagles quarterback and Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles raised concerns about the Birds’ offense before their loss to Dallas on his podcast. Foles criticized the Eagles’ “simplistic” route designs and disjointed play-calling, which he thinks have contributed to the team’s offensive decline this season.
“So the creativity is key as a play-caller, and calling the plays at the right time,” Foles said to The SZN co-host Evan Moore. “There’s just an art. And I don’t see that this year. I don’t think anyone sees it. Fans that are passionate Eagles fans — because I’ve been to Philly several times — and you hear, every time I run across Philly fans, ’Man, what do you think is going to happen with the offense? What’s going on? Is this Jalen [Hurts]?’ I’m like, ‘Listen, it’s a team thing. Kevin Patullo is probably a great dude, a great coach, but there’s an art to play-calling that not everyone has and it’s not showing up this year.”
Here’s what else the national media is saying about the Birds …
Dan Orlovsky on the offense: “They’re one-dimensional. They’re pass-only success when it comes to the offense’s ability. Their offensive line loses one-on-ones, they’re predictable in the run game, Saquon [Barkley] has not made people miss in space nearly as much as he was last year, and their routes — you can be predictable on offense if you’re creative with your route concepts. They’re not.”
Cam Newton on their struggles: “A team of that caliber, we don’t expect those things to happen to them. The thing that’s alarming is, the first three drives you score, you come out with a bang, we impose our will. The last eight drives, nothing. The frustration stems from, when are the Philadelphia Eagles are going to put it together, all together? You’re starting to say, is it the offensive coordinator? Is it the quarterback? The players? That’s where my frustration comes in. When you have that much talent, and to not have one game — here we are in [Game] 11 — to not be able to say, they figured it out.”
Jason Kelce on the offensive line: “[Lane Johnson] has meant so much to the Philadelphia Eagles … but it’s not just him this year, the whole offensive line has been banged up. They’ve been a top 10 rushing unit, as an offense, the Eagles have, every year since Jalen Hurts has been the starter. This year is the first year they have really struggled to run the football. A lot of it comes down to being banged up and not being the cohesive unit they have been, and healthy, in the past, but it is crippling this offense right now.”
The Eagles host the Chicago Bears in a Week 13 matchup at Lincoln Financial Field on Friday at 3 p.m. Here’s what you need to know about the game:
When the Eagles have the ball: If the rushing offense can’t get going against this Bears defense, it may never. I wrote the same ahead of the Cowboys game, and Saquon Barkley and Co. ended up doing very little on the ground. But Dallas leaned into its five-man front — to the Eagles’ surprise — and that’s been a scheme they’ve struggled with most of the season. The Bears don’t stray much from their four-man front in run situations, although they will bring a linebacker down to match heavy personnel. Could defensive coordinator Dennis Allen throw another curveball at the Eagles? I guess it’s possible. But Chicago’s personnel is suited to a 4-3 front and it stays in nickel personnel (72%) more than most defenses.
The Bears’ run defense has allowed 5.2 yards per carry, ranks 25th in expected points added (EPA) per rush, and 26th in rush success rate. They’ve been shorthanded at off-ball linebacker with Tremaine Edmunds placed on injured reserve last week and T.J. Edwards out after hand surgery. The Eagles should run at linebacker Noah Sewell (elbow) if he’s healthy — he’s missed eight tackle attempts vs. the run. They might want to dip further into the quarterback-run game. Jalen Hurts has been noticeably silent in that regard. He’s averaging 2.4 fewer carries per game than he did in his previous four seasons. Another solution could be a little more of Tank Bigsby (9.1-yard average per carry) at the expense of the dinged-up Barkley (groin).
The Bears aren’t much better in pass defense, at least efficiency-wise. But they force turnovers at a high rate — an NFL-best 20.9% — with safety Kevin Byard and cornerback Nahshon Wright tied atop the league with five interceptions apiece. Chicago added another ballhawk to the mix last month — former Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson — who’s back at his original slot cornerback spot. Allen blitzes at a relatively high rate (27.5%) and no offense has faced more blitzes than the Eagles (34%). Gardner-Johnson has three sacks already in blitzes from the slot. Montez Sweat is the Bears’ best rusher, and leads the team with 7½ sacks and 30 pressures. Eagles right tackle Fred Johnson will start in place of Lane Johnson for a second straight game and will see a lot of Sweat.
Allen will mix up his zones, with Cover 3 his most predominant in single-high safety looks and Cover 2 in split-safety looks. Hurts has thrown only one pick all season. DeVonta Smith (shoulder/chest) should play, but he won’t be at full strength. That could be additional reason to feature tight end Dallas Goedert in the middle of the field. The Bears have allowed 6.5 catches per game to tight ends. Goedert has been the Eagles’ best red zone threat this season (seven touchdowns), and Gardner-Johnson has historically been undisciplined inside the 20.
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has been pressured a lot, but his elusiveness has helped Chicago contend.
When the Bears have the ball: Ben Johnson is one of more innovative offensive minds in the NFL. The former Lions offensive coordinator has elevated Caleb Williams’ game, although the second-year quarterback has left meat on the bone by not playing within structure. He makes plays out of the pocket and on scrambles. But he holds the ball longer than any other quarterback at 3.23 seconds and has faced a decent amount of pressure (32%). To his credit, Williams has been sacked only 4.2% of the time, partly because he’s good at wriggling out of would-be tackles.
Williams has adapted to being more under center, which has added play-action to his tool belt. He ranks in the middle of the pack in play-action efficiency, but he also has avoided turnovers and ranks sixth in interception percentage (1.1). Rome Odunze is Williams’ favorite deep target. The second-year receiver has caught 8 of 23 targets of 20-plus yards for 218 yards and two touchdowns. The Eagles dodged some bullets in the secondary with safety Reed Blankenship (thigh) and cornerback Adoree’ Jackson (head injury) expected to be ready. But Drew Mukuba (ankle) was placed on injured reserve and Sydney Brown is slated to fill the void. Dallas went at Brown on Sunday and the Bears are likely to follow suit.
The Eagles’ back seven has mostly done a solid job of tackling after the catch, but Williams throws his receivers into space as well as any quarterback. He averages 5.98 yards after the catch on his throws. The Bears have a potent ground game — sixth in EPA per rush — with good blocking up the middle behind center Drew Dalman and left guard Joe Thuney. Running backs D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai average 4.6 and 4.7 yards a carry, respectively. Neither is especially adept in blitz pickup. I’d expect Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean to test both.
In terms of the Eagles’ pass rush, the Bears may need to help left tackle Theo Benedet vs. edge rushers Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith. Forced into the lineup two months ago, Benedet has allowed a team-high 20 pressures. Jaelan Phillips has a tougher matchup on the other side against right tackle Darnell Wright.
Are the Bears capable of stopping a Jalen Hurts Tush Push?
Extra point: The Bears stopped a Steelers Tush Push attempt last week. They didn’t appear to do anything exotic. But Pittsburgh pulled off a fake the next time it ran the play, with former Eagle Kenny Gainwell scoring a touchdown after a 54-yard run. Chicago later allowed two conversions on third-and-1 off more traditional quarterback sneaks. Center Cam Jurgens is clearly less than 100%, but the Eagles are unlikely to ditch their version of the Tush Push.
After losing their first two games, the Bears have won eight of nine. They have one victory against a team with a winning record — beating the 6-5 Steelers on Sunday, 31-28. The Eagles, obviously, shouldn’t sleep on Chicago. They’ve beaten some of the best teams in the league, but there could be a hangover after getting banged up in Texas. It may be too early to look ahead to playoff seeding, but a loss to the 8-3 Bears would drop the Eagles into third place in the conference.
I think the Eagles match up well against the Bears. I like Vic Fangio vs. most young quarterbacks, but Ben Johnson will offer a challenge. As far as the offense goes, I think that as long as the Eagles don’t turn the ball over, they should put up points. Chicago’s defense lives off the turnover, but the Birds are still among the best at protecting the ball, despite last week’s two giveaways. For the first time in weeks, I feel relatively confident about my pick. But we know how that usually pans out.
By the end of Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, it seemed possible that the Eagles — on a short week — could be missing three starters in the secondary for Friday’s contest against the Chicago Bears.
Reed Blankenship, Adoree’ Jackson, and Drew Mukuba were hurt in the second half of the loss and did not return to action. But only Mukuba, who will require surgery to repair a right leg fracture, sources told The Inquirer, is expected to miss the Week 13 game against the Bears.
That’s good news for Jackson, who was evaluated for a concussion Sunday just five weeks after he suffered one against the Minnesota Vikings. The 30-year-old cornerback did not enter concussion protocol, though, and decided not to return to the game as a precaution.
The concussion scare occurred halfway through the third quarter when Jackson said he hit his head on the turf while tackling Cowboys receiver George Pickens. Jackson immediately popped up and threw his helmet down out of frustration, he said, because he knew he had to come out of the game.
Ultimately, the decision not to go back in after he checked out OK was mutually made between Jackson and his evaluators, he said.
Adoree’ Jackson leaving the field after he suffered concussion against the Vikings on Oct. 19.
“I had one, literally, [five] weeks ago,” Jackson said Wednesday. “So if I know I hit my head and playing fast and throwing my body around, I ain’t about to go and do it again, you know what I mean? It could have been worse. I go back out there and I do some [stuff], and now it’s something else, and now I’m out. Like, out out. You know what I mean? So it’s one of those situations where we were both being precautious of the situation at hand.”
Jackson was a full participant Wednesday in practice, the lone session of the short week. That made practice all the more important, Jackson said, because he could marry the mental side of his preparation so far this week (film study and walk-through) with his physical movements on the field.
With Jackson healthy, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has the option to start the same trio at cornerback — Jackson, outside cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, and nickel cornerback Cooper DeJean — that started against the Cowboys. When Jackson came out in the third quarter, DeJean moved to the outside, and Michael Carter took over in the slot.
But Fangio will have a different starting duo at safety with Sydney Brown set to take over for Mukuba. Blankenship, who exited Sunday’s game with a thigh injury, said Tuesday that he’s still a “little sore” with just a brief respite to recover.
Blankenship was a limited participant in practice and expects to be available to play. While he’ll have a new partner alongside him on Friday, he won’t change who he is as a player and a leader in the secondary.
Eagles safety Reed Blankenship (32) says his thigh injury remains “a little sore.”
“I don’t like to change who I am as a person, regardless if you played with me a lot or not,” Blankenship said. “I want to give them the exact same thing I would if they played 1,000 snaps next to me because I feel like I’m not doing my job if I change for them. But I’m going to try and do my best to be more vocal, communicate a little bit more, little bit better, kind of say stuff and let [Brown] anticipate stuff that’s coming if he [doesn’t] really realize it at times. But I guess just be a shoulder to lean on.”
Friday will mark Brown’s first start at safety since Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs, when he was rotating with Mukuba. By Week 4 against the Los Angeles Rams, Mukuba was the full-time starter.
Brown is eager for his opportunity to start, especially considering his NFL journey so far. Brown, the Eagles’ third-rounder out of Illinois in 2023, suffered a season-ending ACL tear in his rookie year that set him back in his second season, too.
“It’s going to be amazing,” Brown said Tuesday about starting. “That’s what I came here to do, and just embracing the opportunity for what it is. I feel horrible for Drew. He’s been having a great season so far, doing a really good job in the secondary as a safety. I hate to see that as a young player. I can relate to him, ’cause I went through it. I know what he’s going through is a tough process, but he’s going to get through it. He’s going to be better on the back end of it.”
Sydney Brown (right) is set to start at safety in place of the injured Drew Mukuba.
The strength of the secondary will be all the more important against Caleb Williams and the Bears’ passing offense, which ranks 12th in the league at 227 yards per game. Williams, the Bears’ first overall pick in the 2024 draft out of Southern California, can test defenses deep and has completed 23 passes of 25-plus yards this season (fifth among NFL quarterbacks).
The Bears beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday as Williams had his fourth career game in which he passed for at least three touchdowns with no interceptions.
While Williams & Co. will provide yet another test for Fangio’s secondary, Jackson is optimistic that the unit will find stability after the way the game against the Cowboys ended.
“Everybody wants to be out there and to play and have yourself accessible and ready to go, but at the end of the day, the final judgment comes from above,” Jackson said. “But to have all hands on deck is always glass half full.”
Injury report
DeVonta Smith (shoulder/chest/illness) did not participate in practice. The illness was a new addition to the injury report for the 27-year-old wide receiver, who was listed with the shoulder and chest injuries on Tuesday’s estimated injury report. (The Eagles held a walk-through that day.)
In addition to Smith and Mukuba, Xavier Gipson (shoulder) and Lane Johnson (foot) did not participate. Meanwhile, Blankenship, Saquon Barkley (groin), Landon Dickerson (knee), and Brandon Graham (groin) were limited participants.
The Eagles’ final injury report will be released on Thursday.
On Black Friday, the Eagles will try to bounce back from a loss to the Dallas Cowboys when they host the Chicago Bears for a Week 13 matchup. The last time the teams met was during the 2022 season, a 25-20 road win for the Birds.
Despite a loss that saw the Eagles (8-3) squander a 21-0 lead to their division rivals, they enter Friday’s game as seven-point favorites. The Bears, who are also 8-3, are heading into the game riding a four-game winning streak, with their latest coming over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Will the Eagles bounce back from a loss? Or will the team fall to an NFC North opponent for the first time this season? As both teams prepare, here’s what the Bears are saying about the Birds …
‘This is a heavyweight matchup’
At this time last year, the Bears were on a five-game losing streak heading into a Thanksgiving matchup with the Detroit Lions. This year, Bears fans have more to be excited about, with Chicago winning eight of its last nine games.
Bears safety and Philadelphia native Kevin Byard has history with both sides. After getting released by the Eagles in March 2024, following half a season with the Birds, he signed a two-year deal with the Bears. The 32-year-old defensive back is excited to make his return to one of the most “hostile” environments.
“This is a team that was just in the Super Bowl,” Byard told reporters. “They have a winning culture, they have a winning mentality. We preach 60 minutes. We know they’re going to be a 60-minute team as well. … This is a heavyweight matchup for sure, and obviously we’re going into a hostile environment in a stadium that I played in, played against.
“For example, if their offense goes three-and-out starting the game, they’re going to start booing them. It’s one of those environments where it’s going to be very hostile. So, hopefully we can start fast and kind of get the crowd against their own team.”
Kevin Byard spent the second half of the 2023 season with the Eagles.
‘They’re finding ways to win’
Although the Eagles have struggled to find an identity on offense, Byard isn’t underestimating the defending Super Bowl champs.
“Stats for the entire offense have been down, but they’re finding ways to win,” Byard said. “I mean, look at us, our stats haven’t been great on defense but we’re finding ways to win. … Stats is something we can all look at and judge. But at the end of the day, they’re finding ways to win. I think that’s just a testament of their culture and our culture. So, it’s definitely going to be a challenge for us. Just culture against culture — whose culture is better?”
The Eagles skill positions are full of big names, including Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith. Although Barkley and Brown are not putting up the same productive numbers as last season, Byard knows the threat posed by both Barkley and his former Tennessee Titans teammate Brown.
“It’s a huge challenge,” Byard said. “First and foremost, you talk about Saquon Barkley, like you said, he hasn’t had the year that he had last year. But I mean, he’s still a threat every time he touches the ball. He’s a guy that we’re going to have to corral, and I think when you talk about game plan against a team like that, I think he’s definitely priority No. 1, to stop him.
“And then you talk about A.J. and [DeVonta Smith], A.J. is still that guy. You know, I spent four years with him, just watching him on film, he’s very, very talented. But, honestly, if you watch the film, Smitty has been the guy that I think Jalen Hurts has the most chemistry with, receiver-wise. … If we can eliminate those big plays down the field, that would be good.”
Caleb Williams has the Bears playing much better than they were during his rookie season a year ago.
Hurts’ advice to Caleb Williams
The Bears’ second-year quarterback, Caleb Williams, is prepared to compete against a familiar foe on Friday: Hurts. The two have met in the past, including when Williams was getting recruited to Oklahoma as Hurts was on his way out.
Williams reflected on the “wisdom” Hurts shared with him years ago.
“[We talked about how] there’s not many like us in our position — who we are, skin tone, and all these different things — there’s not many like us,” Williams told reporters. “So, just being able to understand the opportunity that we have and I have to maximize that and put myself in the best opportunity possible. It was kind of that type of talk. Jalen, you’ve heard all his bits. He’s pretty motivational when he speaks up here.”
The Bears also say they’ve been planning a way to stop the Eagles’ signature Tush Push. And they already had some practice with the play a week early in their 31-28 win over the Steelers.
The Steelers went into their own Tush Push formation before running the ball to the outside with Kenneth Gainwell, who broke a 55-yard run against the Bears. Now Chicago is preparing to face the original Tush Push.
“Obviously, we saw it twice last week,” said Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. “The thing that makes it more challenging is that they’ve got several plays off of it. It’s a tough play to stop. I think this team runs it better than anybody else in the league. I think the best way to defend it is to not get in those situations — trying to create more third-and-long or fourth-and-long situations. Keeps them out of those situations. It’s certainly a difficult play to stop.
“We do have a plan in place. We feel like it’s a good, solid plan in terms of not only trying to stop that play but all of the plays that come off of it. And that’s what makes it even more difficult to stop.”
For the second year in a row, Vic Fangio’s Eagles defense is one of the best in the NFL.
‘He’s like the Godfather’
Bears head coach Ben Johnson knows he faces a tough challenge when it comes to beating this Eagles defense led by Vic Fangio.
“He’s like the Godfather in a lot of ways,” Johnson told reporters. “He’s kind of taken the lead over in terms of that scheme. … He’s influenced the game significantly.
“I never worked with Vic, but a lot of respect from afar, obviously. The people that have worked with him speak so highly of how he calls a game. He’s usually a step ahead of the opposing play-callers. So, it’ll be a challenge here just to make sure that we’re trying to keep him as off balance as we possibly can.”
Jason Kelce used the latest episode of his New Heights podcast to break down what went wrong for the Eagles on Sunday. After the Birds blew a 21-point lead to fall to the Cowboys, Kelce identified the core of the loss as a limited running game and crumbling second-half offense.
But alongside his brother, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, the former Eagles center also gave fans reason to be optimistic about the team’s potential in the latter part of the season. He also announced a free tailgate for fans before Friday’s game against the Chicago Bears.
Here’s what you missed …
‘New Heights’ to host Black Friday tailgate
Jason Kelce is hoping to stir the energy back up around the Birds before their game against the Bears with a Black Friday tailgate hosted by New Heights. The tailgate will begin at 11 a.m. in Lot K outside Lincoln Financial Field, with free admission for fans on a first-come, first-served basis.
And it sounds like it’s going to be a wild affair.
“I don’t know how many people we can admit or how many people will show up, but we do know we’re going to be drinking, eating, and having a gay old time,” Kelce said. “That’s right, we’ll have food, merch giveaways, photo booth, DJ, games — and of course a belly bucking competition! They’ve allowed us — I never thought legal would let this happen. Thank you to the legal team at Wondery.com and whoever is doing it on our behalf.
“We’ve already picked vetted contestants, so you can’t apply, but you can witness the festivities. If you want to see mostly fat guys rub bellies into each other to see who can win some type of prize that we have yet to determine, if you want to show up and see these bellies get bucked, show up in Lot K on Friday. … We’re going to have a [expletive] blast!“
What’s “belly bucking?” Good question …
Fixing the Eagles offense
When it came to breaking down the Eagles’ collapse on Sunday, Kelce largely blamed the offense’s inability to keep up with the Cowboys in the second half on a severely lacking running game.
Kelce pointed out how Lane Johnson’s absence has further hampered the Eagles’ ground attack. The veteran offensive tackle, who suffered a foot injury during the team’s Week 11 win over Detroit, is expected to be sidelined for several weeks.
“I know it’s very fashionable to blame Kevin Patullo and the play-calling, but the passing game felt like it was pretty good in this one,” Kelce said. “The thing that is really hurting this offense right now is the run game. It has not been clicking for the majority of the year. It’s multifaceted. The offensive line has been banged up, there’s been guys in and out. … It’s been hard to build cohesion as a unit.”
Eagles offensive tackle Fred Johnson has been filling in for injured starter Lane Johnson.
Kelce also addressed the self-inflicted wound of the Eagles’ pair of turnovers in the fourth quarter, granting the Cowboys ample opportunity to make a comeback.
“Outside of the run game, the ultimate thing that killed this team was … the turnovers at the end of the game, which were extremely costly,” Kelce said.
However, the former center attempted to quell some concerns by assuring that the offensive line will improve as the team adjusts from the injury misfortune.
“I think that this offensive line, as they continue to get the reps together, they will block better as a unit, and that will make a huge difference in the ways these plays get executed,” Kelce said. “I feel confident about the Eagles moving forward.”
Just weeks after a triumphant moment, Byron Young found himself dealing with the greatest tragedy of his life. Back in March, the defensive tackle returned home to Mississippi for a festive weekend with family. Not only did they celebrate him being part of the Eagles’ 2024 Super Bowl championship team, but his aunt’s birthday as well. A day later, Young’s father, Kenny, died suddenly. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane profiled Young’s emotional journey in a recent feature.
You can read the article in full on inquirer.com and via the following link: https://www.inquirer.com/eagles/byron-young-late-father-memory-key-chain-nfl-week-13-20251126.html
Listen to an excerpt of Jeff’s conversation with Young on this bonus episode of unCovering the Birds.
unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the season, including day-after-game reactions.
