Eagles Lose Hurts and Two Receivers as Cowboys Visit on Monday

Philadelphia Eagles fans will watch without their star quarterback and two top wide receivers when the team hosts the Dallas Cowboys on Monday, Oct. 26. The matchup arrives as both clubs battle injury lists and offensive struggles heading into the Week 7 contest at Lincoln Financial Field.

Jalen Hurts is out of the game after blood clots were found in his calf and lungs. The Eagles also lost wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks to injury. Running back Saquon Barkley, guard Landon Dickerson, and offensive linemen Jonathan Greenard and Jalyx Hunt are all listed as questionable for the contest. Philadelphia enters the game after dropping four consecutive matches following a 2-0 start to the season.

The Cowboys arrive in Philadelphia having lost two straight games. Their offense combined for 29 points against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers, a sharp decline from the 30-plus point totals they recorded in the previous three weeks. Dak Prescott completed 20 of 38 passes for 194 yards and no touchdowns when facing extra rushers in those two games. The team also managed only 98 rushing yards combined over that span despite the return of guard Tyler Smith.

Statistical data suggests the Eagles may not pressure Prescott as heavily as the teams that just beat Dallas. Tru Media reports the Eagles blitzed on 24.1% of dropbacks, the fourth-lowest rate in the NFL. In contrast, the Buccaneers and Packers sent extra rushers on 38.8% of Prescott's drops in Weeks 5 and 6. Vic Fangio, the Eagles' defensive coordinator, has blitzed on at least 38% of opponent dropbacks only once since joining the staff.

The Eagles' defense has allowed opponents to complete 60.4% of passes at 7.0 yards per attempt. They have given up eight touchdown passes while recording only three interceptions. Defensively, Philadelphia has recorded a sack, hit, or hurry on just 32.9% of opponent dropbacks. This lack of pressure often leaves cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell, Riq Woolen, and Cooper DeJean covering receivers for extended periods.

The Eagles will likely lean on a pass-heavy approach with Tanner McKee at quarterback. McKee threw 48 times in the previous week and averaged 44 pass attempts in his two career starts. The team loses the quarterback running threat that Hurts provided. If Barkley returns, he has averaged 5.5 yards per carry in the two games he has played through this season. He practiced in full on Friday for the first time since his hamstring injury.

The Cowboys have allowed at least 165 rushing yards against all five of their other opponents this season. Opponents average 4.7 yards per carry against Dallas. The Eagles' offense will rely on Makai Lemon, Darius Cooper, and Dallas Goedert as primary targets. McKee is 16 of 45 for 179 yards and no touchdowns in his career when under pressure, with a 15.1% sack rate.

DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Cowboys as 4.5-point favorites with an over/under of 43.5 points. The game kicks off at 8:15 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN and ABC. Cobie Durant is set to return for Dallas, which could push Daron Bland to the bench. The Cowboys have not been able to stop the run effectively, allowing opponents to find considerable room against their front seven.