The Philadelphia Eagles are fighting for the top spot in the NFC. They are one game behind the Detroit Lions and need to keep winning to keep pace. The Eagles boast one of the most talented offenses in the league, but injuries have made things difficult this season. While Saquon Barkley has been a constant, the rest of the weapons have been in and out of the lineup. In week 14, Philadelphia will get one of their weapons back on the field when they take on the Carolina Panthers. Star receiver DeVonta Smith is set to return after missing the last few weeks.
Philadelphia Eagles DeVonta Smith Set To Return
DeVonta Smith has been out since week 11 with a hamstring injury. For a wide receiver, a hamstring can be tricky to recover from. The Philadelphia Eagles have been cautious with Smith as they would rather have him 100% healthy for the playoffs. With so many weapons, the Eagles can afford to give a player an extra week or two. Reports indicate the former Alabama receiver was pushing to play last week, but the team held him out. He did not carry an injury designation this week and said, “Count me in,” when asked if he was playing.
In the nine games he has played this season, Smith has caught 41 passes for 516 yards and four touchdowns. He and AJ Brown make one of the most dangerous wide receiver duos in the league. When this offense is fully healthy, they are hard to stop. At this point in the season, the Philadelphia Eagles are in the driver’s seat for the division crown. However, they want the number one seed to have a home-field advantage and the always-important bye week.
Remaining Schedule
The Philadelphia Eagles play the Panthers this week. Their last four games are against the Steelers, the Commanders, the Cowboys, and the Giants. Of those games, Pittsburgh is the toughest, but they get that game at home. With how the team has been playing, they could easily run the table. Eagles fans will be closely watching what the Lions do in their final four games. They already beat the Packers on Thursday night but have some tough games remaining on their schedule.
Next week, the Lions will host the Buffalo Bills in a potential Super Bowl preview. They end the season against the Minnesota Vikings with games against the Bears and 49ers in between. There are some tough games for Detroit in there, and their defense looks thin. Sometimes, in a season, week 18 doesn’t matter, as teams have already been locked into playoff positions. With the Lions, Eagles, and the Vikings, this will be a photo finish.
Final Thoughts
The Philadelphia Eagles are getting DeVonta Smith back at the right time. Hopefully, he can add another gear to this already potent offense and help them run the table and potentially nab the number one seed in the conference.
