Carter, who has been managing a shoulder injury, missed the game last week with a heel injury. That same injury had him as a limited participant in practice twice this week. Dickerson, meanwhile, has been dealing with an ankle injury that knocked him from the Eagles’ Week 5 loss vs. Denver. Dickerson was limited on Wednesday and Thursday but was upgraded to a full participant on Friday.
Running back AJ Dillon is a healthy scratch for the first time this season. That means Tank Bigsby could see his first action with the offense. He has struggled in his role as a kick returner, and the Eagles have another option to return kicks now with wide receiver Xavier Gipson active for the first time.
The Eagles also elevated tight end EJ Jenkins from the practice squad for Sunday’s game. He is dressing for the first time this season.
The Eagles will face off against former quarterback Carson Wentz Sunday as J.J. McCarthy is officially inactive with an ankle injury for Minnesota.
“If you had the chance to fix the Eagles offense.. what would you do?” Negandhi asked on social media earlier this week.
The post drew a number of responses, including one from Inquirer columnist Mike Sielski, who mockingly suggested, “Be bold. Punt on first down.”
ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky, a former Jalen Hurts critic turned believer who happens to be married to an Eagles fan, outlined some concrete steps he thinks the Birds should take to wake up their sleepy offense:
1) Id put the QB under center and run at your 4-6X a game. 2) Id call 3-4 UC play action passes off that 3) I would have 4 concepts/plays off every formation or action 4) Id run some tempo early in the game 5) Screen game 1 a qtr
“I would put Jalen under center a little more and try to get the run game going at the defense,” Orlovsky said during an appearance on Up & Adams Friday. Not only are the Birds shotgun centric and don’t do much play action, Orlovsky said their play selection was predictable based on how the team lines up.
“You can tell if it’s going to be a run or a pass based on where Saquon’s lines up,” Orlovsky said.
Both head coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo acknowledged this week the Eagles offense had become predictable, largely because of a lack of success on first and second downs.
“We’ve got to eliminate those third-and-longs. Third-and-seven plus in the NFL is tough,” Patullo told reporters. “The defense is dictating to you at that point.”
It won’t be easy. The Vikings have the second-best pass defense in the league and are only allowing 19.4 points per game. But their rushing defense has slipped and Carson Wentz will be under center, so anything is possible.
Here’s everything you need to know to watch or stream Eagles-Rams Sunday:
What time and channel is the Eagles game Sunday?
Greg Olsen will call Eagles-Vikings Sunday on Fox.
Sunday’s game between the Eagles and Rams is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. Eastern on Fox.
Former tight end turned NFL analyst Greg Olsen will be back in the booth for his second Eagles game this season.
With Olsen’s normal partner Joe Davis calling the American League Championship Series on Fox (and dealing with dead mic issues), Adam Amin will handle play-by-play Sunday. Pam Oliver, in her 31st season with Fox, will report from the sidelines.
Eagles-Rams will also air on the radio on 94.1 WIP, where fans can listen to the familiar voices of Merrill Reese and former Eagles receiver Mike Quick. WIP host Devan Kaney will handle sideline reporting duties.
Rickie Ricardo, Oscar Budejen, and Dave Gerhardt will call the game in Spanish on La Mega 105.7 FM in Philadelphia, 93.9-FM in Atlantic City, and 103.3-FM in Vineland/Millville.
Both radio broadcasts can be streamed from anywhere on the Eagles’ website, while fans in Philly can also stream them on the Eagles app.
Eagles-Vikings will stream on Fox One, Fox’s new subscription streaming service. It will also stream on the Fox Sports app, though you need to log in with your cable provider.
The game will also stream on any so-called skinny bundle that carries Fox, including fuboTV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and DirecTV Stream. Most offer a free trial.
If you live in Philadelphia or any other TV market where the game is airing, you can also stream the game on NFL+, the league’s subscription streaming service, which runs $6.99 a month.
If you’re looking to stream the game for free and you live in or around Philadelphia, your best option is to use a digital antenna, since the game will air on broadcast television on Fox 29.
NFC East standings
Despite two straight losses, the Eagles remain in first place in the NFC East heading into Week 7.
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The last time the Eagles lost three straight games was …
After starting the season 10-1, the Eagles ended the 2023 season by losing five of their final six games, including three straight against the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, and Seattle Seahawks.
You have to go all the way back to 2020 to find the last time the Eagles have lost four straight games.
The good news is Sirianni is 8-0 against NFC North teams, including the playoffs, and the Eagles have the second-best road record (26-11) in the league since he because head coach, according to the Associated Press.
Other NFL Week 7 games on TV in Philly Sunday
Rams at Jaguars (in London): 9:30 a.m., NFL Network (Rich Eisen, Kurt Warner, Sara Walsh)
Commanders at Cowboys: 4:25 p.m., Fox29 (Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews, Tom Rinaldi)
The Eagles travel to face the Minnesota Vikings in a Week 7 matchup at U.S. Bank Stadium at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Here’s what you need to know about the game:
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is known for blitzing a lot.
When the Eagles have the ball
We’ve seen Nick Sirianni switch it up offensively coming out of mini-byes or byes before, with the emphasis often placed on the run game. The guess here is that he will take the same approach this season. The Eagles desperately need to get Saquon Barkley going on the ground. There have been glimpses in the last few games, but play caller Kevin Patullo hasn’t stuck with it enough for various reasons.
The Vikings’ run defense offers an opportunity to get on track (of course, so apparently did the New York Giants last week). They rank 24th in the NFL in expected points added (EPA) per rush and have allowed 132.2 yards a game. The Eagles haven’t won as much at the point of attack, but Minnesota is light on its defensive line. Landon Dickerson (ankle) could return at left guard, but playing at far less than 100% hasn’t helped.
The Eagles don’t major in under-center plays. They ranked 30th in snaps there. But I think we may see more of Jalen Hurts in that formation. It would conceivably help get Barkley downhill, and if successful, open up play action. They just can’t tip off defenses with their tendencies and may need to throw from under center a few times early on.
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is likely willing to give up yards on the ground because his No. 1 EPA-ranked pass defense has been stingy. Flores is a master of creating chaos. Yes, he blitzes a lot — a second-most 35.8% rate — but it’s his simulated pressures and disguised coverages that have given quarterbacks the most fits. The Eagles have struggled mightily against the latter two, partly because they’re often late to the line.
Flores leans heavily on zone coverages (77%) and employs a lot of two-high safety shells, often in Cover 2 or 6. The Eagles have seen zone more than ever and have had trouble working the intermediate part of the field.
Only 9.9% of Hurts’ attempts have traveled 10 to 19 yards, less than half the NFL average of 20.1%. Sirianni, Patullo, and Hurts have to do a better job of getting the ball to receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in space. Eagles receivers are averaging only 4 yards after the catch, which ranks 32d — last — in the league.
Carson Wentz will make his second career start against his former team, this time with the Vikings.
When the Vikings have the ball
The Eagles will face former franchise quarterback Carson Wentz for the second time since he was traded in 2021. It didn’t go well for Wentz in the first round. Then, with Washington, he got overrun by the Birds’ pass rush and was sacked nine times and fumbled twice. He still holds the ball too long and wants to play the hero.
But the Eagles’ front isn’t as ferocious and he has a solid offensive line, assuming that most of the starters are playing. Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill (sprained MCL) are plus tackles. Rookie left guard Donovan Jackson is back from a wrist injury, but backup center Michael Jurgens (hamstring) and O’Neill are questionable.
Wentz, despite his flaws, can still make throws many quarterbacks can’t. And he has arguably the best receiver in the NFL. Justin Jefferson will draw additional attention from Vic Fangio’s defense. Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell has followed top receivers this season, but his recent hamstring injury could hamstring Fangio’s coverage plans.
If opposite-side corner Adoree’ Jackson, who steps back into the starting role after Kelee Ringo’s benching, is matched up against Jefferson, Fangio will likely cloud his side. Jefferson alone, for context, has matched Hurts’ 10 intermediate-length completions this season for 205 yards. Jordan Addison is a potent No. 2 receiver.
The Eagles’ run defense has been leaky. They rank 20th in EPA per rush and 26th in success rate. With defensive tackle Jalen Carter (heel/shoulder) out last week, the Giants ran it down their throats. Minnesota running back Jordan Mason (4.7 yards per rush) has been effective in Aaron Jones’ absence.
It’s been an 11-man problem in stopping the run, but the Eagles have been susceptible on the edges. That isn’t just an outside linebacker issue, but a suspect pass rush that can be traced to the ineffectiveness of the Eagles’ edges. The current group, after Za’Darius Smith’s retirement, has just one collective sack.
Jalyx Hunt, Joshua Uche, Azeez Ojulari, and Patrick Johnson (owner of said sack) have gotten pressure at times, but if Wentz has an extra click in the pocket, you can be sure he’ll often find an open Jefferson downfield.
Eagles beat writers Olivia Reiner and Jeff McLane will provide a preview of the game before the Eagles face the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.You can tune in here.
Extra point
I don’t know what to make of this Eagles team through six games. I thought there would be early-season struggles, and predicted a 4-2 start. I just didn’t think it would look like this. Fangio’s unit has not played well over the last five quarters, but the offense’s second-half malaise against the Denver Broncos led to a fourth-quarter meltdown. And losing Carter and Mitchell clearly affected the Eagles at the Meadowlands. It shouldn’t have looked that pathetic.
There are still concerns at corner, edge, and safety. And where has defensive tackle Jordan Davis been the last three games? But it’s the pains on the other side of the ball that are more disconcerting. I keep expecting talent to win out, but the Sirianni-Patullo-Hurts trinity has had more holes than holiness. I foresee a tough, grind-it-out outcome, so the game could go either way. But I have a hard time riding with Wentz.
