The 13-1 Philadelphia Eagles travel to Dallas to finish a three-game road trip and potentially clinch home-field advantage in the playoffs. The Eagles enter this game with one key injury on offense and a few other minor injuries. The Cowboys have an illness affecting two key players and also have some other injuries impacting key players throughout their roster
Here's a look at the Week 16 injury report for the Eagles:
QB Jalen Hurts (shoulder)
No point in forcing an injured Hurts to play when there are two more games this year to potentially clinch a first-round bye. Gardner Minshew gets the start in place of Jalen Hurts. Ian Book will be the backup QB.
TE Tyree Jackson (knee)
Jackson is out, but it’s not a big loss with Dallas Goedert back in the lineup. Jackson is back to being the #4 tight end on the depth chart, so there’s nobody that would take his place. Jack Stoll and Grant Calcaterra will be the #2 and #3 behind Goedert.
WR Zach Pascal (concussion)
Pascal suffered a concussion in practice this week but was already able to practice o Thursday, which gives him a good chance to be ready for Saturday. If he can’t go maybe it opens a door for Britain Covey to get a handful of offensive snaps.
*S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (kidney)
CJGJ was diagnosed with a lacerated kidney, which is a pretty unpredictable injury. He was placed on IR which means he's out at least 1 more game, and with the Eagles likely to have clinched their playoff seed by then he would be wise to sit out the final two games to be fully healthy and fresh for the playoffs as possible. UDFA Reed Blankenship has filled in well. K'Von Wallace will back up Blankenship.
*DE Robert Quinn (knee)
Quinn has been invisible since he was acquired before the trade deadline. He was placed on IR which means he can't come back to the roster until the season finale. Maybe he gets to play that game as a warmup for the playoffs. Thankfully the other pass rushers have picked up the slack and the Eagles currently have the most sacks in the NFL.
*DT Marlon Tuipulotu (IR - knee)
Tuipulotu was supposed to be the fill-in NT for Jordan Davis but suffered a season-ending knee injury. The 2021 6th-round pick wasn’t terrible but wasn’t impressive either in his increased role. The Eagles added Linval Joseph and Ndamukong Suh to replace Davis and Tuipulotu, and now with Davis active again the team is now deep at the DT position.
*DE Derek Barnett (ACL)
Barnett tore his ACL in Week 1 and is out for the rest of the season.
Here's a look at the Cowboys' injury report:
LB Leighton Vander Esch (neck)
LVE has had a history of neck issues and will miss this important game. Rookie Damon Clark is the next man up, with Jabril Cox backing him up. Clark has 35 tackles and 2 forced fumbles.
DE Dorance Armstrong (knee)
Armstrong was limited all week with his knee injury. Armstrong has 8.0 sacks this year thanks to DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons getting a ton of attention on the opposite side. If Armstrong can’t go or is limited in his snaps, Dante Fowler Jr. is the next man up on the depth chart. Fowler Jr. has 5.0 sacks so far this season.
LB Micah Parsons (illness)
Parsons had the illness early in the week and appears to be on the backend of it. It’s highly unlikely he misses the game or is limited because of it.
CB Trevon Diggs (illness)
Thursday is Diggs’ first day with the illness, which becomes a concern as it might linger into gameday. It’s still likely he plays, but if he is impacted the Cowboys don’t have much talent behind him on the CB depth chart. Kelvin Joseph (35 tackles, 4 passes defended in his career) and Nahshon Wright (14 career tackles) are the next men up on the depth chart.
TE Jake Ferguson (concussion)
The rookie has 16 receptions and 2 touchdowns this season. If he is not cleared in time Dalton Schultz (43 receptions, 3 touchdowns) is the #1 tight end with fellow rookie Peyton Henderson overtaking Ferguson’s backup slot. Hendershot has 11 receptions and 2 touchdowns this season.
*RT Terence Steele (IR): Steele was the Cowboys' starting RT until he tore his ACL and MCL against the Houston Texans Week 14. Tyron Smith and Jason Peters will split time at RT for the rest of the season for the Cowboys.
*CB Anthony Brown (IR): Brown tore an Achilles Week 13 against the Colts, and his season is over. Brown was replaced in the lineup by rookie DaRon Bland, who has 4 interceptions this season.
*CB Jourdan Lewis (IR): Lewis was the Cowboys' starting slot corner. until he suffered a lisfranc injury that ended his season back in October.
*DT Johnathan Hankins (IR): The Cowboys acquired Hankins from the Raiders at the trade deadline. He immediately became part of their defensive line rotation before he suffered a pectoral injury and landed on IR.
*OL Matt Farniok (IR): Farniok has played in seven games this season (mostly at LG), starting two games for the Cowboys. He tore his hamstring back in October.
