DeVonta Smith Cleared to Play as Eagles Finalize Injury Report Before Clash with Bears
The Philadelphia Eagles have released their final injury report ahead of their highly anticipated Week 13 Black Friday showdown at home against the Chicago Bears — and there’s good news for fans: DeVonta Smith is set to play.
But here’s where it gets complicated... three key players won’t be suiting up this week. The Eagles officially ruled Lane Johnson, Xavier Gipson, and Myles Hinton out for Friday’s game. It’s a notable blow, although there’s cautious optimism surrounding Johnson. The team believes he might return by Week 15. In the meantime, expect Fred Johnson to fill in at right tackle.
Gipson suffered his injury in Week 12, which forced the Eagles to reshuffle their return game. To cover the gap, they’ve promoted Britain Covey from the practice squad to handle punt return duties once again. Hinton, meanwhile, remains in his 21-day practice window after coming back from injured reserve — he’s not quite ready yet, but progress is being made.
As for the other big names on the injury list — DeVonta Smith, Saquon Barkley, Reed Blankenship, Landon Dickerson, and Brandon Graham — none of them carry a game status designation. Translation: they’re good to go. Smith’s return is especially encouraging; after sitting out earlier in the week, he was a full participant in Thursday’s practice.
Not every update was positive, though. Willie Lampkin’s 21-day window to return from injured reserve has expired, meaning he’ll remain sidelined for the remainder of the season. That’s a tough break for the depth-starved offensive line.
Roster Moves Ahead of Friday
In preparation for the primetime matchup, Philadelphia made two temporary elevations from their practice squad: Patrick Johnson and Andre’ Sam.
Johnson’s promotion isn’t just about defense — it’s largely about his value on special teams. This marks his third and final temporary elevation for the regular season. If the Eagles want him suited up again before the playoffs, they’ll need to sign him to the active roster. Once postseason play begins, however, he’ll once again be eligible for temporary activation.
As for Sam, his call-up adds depth at safety. Philadelphia enters the game with only two true safeties — Reed Blankenship and Sydney Brown — available. The team has been experimenting with hybrid options like Cooper DeJean and Michael Carter II, who could take some snaps at safety if necessary. Still, Sam’s presence gives the Eagles an emergency fallback should injuries strike midgame.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES INJURY REPORT (THURSDAY)
OUT:
WR Xavier Gipson (shoulder)
OT Myles Hinton (back)
OT Lane Johnson (foot)
RESERVE/RETIRED:
CB Jaire Alexander
EDGE Za’Darius Smith
(Smith announced his surprise retirement on October 13, while Alexander was placed on reserve/retired on November 12.)
RESERVE/INJURED:
S Marcus Epps
OT Myles Hinton (practice window open)
LS Charley Hughlett
G/C Willie Lampkin
S Andrew Mukuba
EDGE Azeez Ojulari
EDGE Ogbo Okoronkwo
FB Ben VanSumeren
OT Cameron Williams
WR Johnny Wilson
Hinton’s return window opened on November 19, and both Hughlett and Williams are eligible to be activated soon. Epps and Ojulari may come back after Week 13, while Mukuba could return later in the season if healthy — though that’s still uncertain. Lampkin’s practice period closed without him being activated, making his season officially over. Meanwhile, VanSumeren, Wilson, and Okoronkwo are out for the year with long-term injuries.
CHICAGO BEARS INJURY REPORT (THURSDAY)
On the other side, Chicago’s defense is hurting — literally. The Bears enter Friday’s matchup severely depleted at off-ball linebacker, missing their top three options at the position. That could spell trouble against Philadelphia’s physical run game.
However, there’s a silver lining for Bears fans: both starting cornerbacks have been designated to return from injured reserve. While they’re listed as questionable, their progress offers a boost to a secondary that’s been stretched thin.
OUT:
LB T.J. Edwards (hand/hamstring)
LB Ruben Hyppolite II (shoulder)
DL Dominique Robinson (concussion)
LB Noah Sewell (elbow)
DB Tyrique Stevenson (hip)
QUESTIONABLE:
CB Kyler Gordon (calf)
CB Jaylon Johnson (groin)
RESERVE/INJURED:
OL Kiran Amegadjie
LB Tremaine Edmunds
RB Deion Hankins
RB Roschon Johnson
OL Braxton Jones
OL Luke Newman
DL Dayo Odeyingbo
DB Terell Smith
DL Shemar Turner
The Bears’ defensive depth chart tells the story: a team battered by injuries, but hoping that star cornerbacks Gordon and Johnson can play through the pain.
And this is the part most people miss — with both teams navigating injuries and roster juggling at critical positions, this Friday’s matchup could come down to depth and adaptability more than raw talent. Will Philadelphia’s reinforcements step up, or can Chicago’s patched-up defense pull off an upset?
What do you think — are the Eagles’ injuries a ticking time bomb for the rest of their season, or will their depth continue to carry them through December? Share your take in the comments below!
