Updated: 3:33 p.m.
The Eagles have ruled out just one player for Sunday’s game against the Cowboys and it looks possible that at least one starter will return.
Here are their final game statuses:
OUT: Lane Johnson (ankle)
Questionable: Derek Barnett (ankle), Jordan Howard (shoulder), Avonte Maddox (knee), Nelson Agholor (knee)
Here’s more on each of those players:
Derek Barnett: After missing the last two games, it seems like Barnett (ankle) is the one guy who has the most realistic chance of returning this week. That would be a nice boost.
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“Derek’s doing well. He’s progressing,” Pederson said. “We’ll see at the end of the day, but he will work today. First time in a while.”
Barnett was limited on Friday. In Barnett’s absence, Vinny Curry has started and Josh Sweat has played a little more.
Lane Johnson: While Pederson said he’s “optimistic” about Johnson, he won’t play. Johnson didn’t get healthy enough to the point where he’d be a better option than a healthy Halapoulivaati Vaitai.
“I’m optimistic,” Pederson said, “but at the same time, gotta be smart with it.”
This means a big test for Big V against DeMarcus Lawrence on Sunday. It’ll be up to Pederson to help Vaitai at times on that side.
J.J. Arcega-Whiteside: The Eagles’ rookie receiver popped up on the report Thursday with a foot injury, but Pederson said they held him out for precautionary reasons.
“He’ll be good to go,” Pederson said.
Arcega-Whiteside wasn’t given a game status, so he will play. While Arcega-Whiteside hasn’t been very productive this year, it’s still a good thing he’s healthy. The Eagles have only three receivers ready to go this weekend: JJAW, Greg Ward and Rob Davis.
Nelson Agholor: Agholor’s knee is extremely swollen, so unless there’s a miraculous recovery, he’s not playing on Sunday. There have been questions about the severity of his injury but based on how swollen his knee was in the locker room on Thursday, it’s pretty severe. “It’s a real deal,” Pederson said.
Pederson said he’s still optimistic about a return for Agholor at some point, but acknowledged there’s a conversation to have about possibly putting Agholor on IR.
Jordan Howard: Don’t expect Howard (shoulder) to return this weekend. He’s still not cleared for contact.
Avonte Maddox: Maddox popped up as a limited participant in Friday’s practice with a knee injury. This also happened with Ronald Darby last week and Darby was able to play through a hip flexor injury.