The Eagles do not have the luxury of solving one problem at a time right now. DeVonta Smith has missed two straight practices with a hamstring injury, ESPN’s Tim McManus reported that he is not looking very likely to play against the Rams, and that leaves Philadelphia trying to patch together answers at wide receiver, linebacker and along an offensive line that has already started to show cracks.
That is why this week feels less like a search for one replacement and more like a test of whether the Eagles can stack several internal solutions at once.
That matters even more because Steen is in the final year of his rookie deal and looking for a payday. The next couple of weeks will be about more than just holding up against the Rams; they will also be another chance for him to keep building on the solid outings he has already put together. With the Eagles dealing with injuries up front, they need the version of Steen that has kept him from becoming part of the problem.
The same internal-dependence theme shows up at receiver. Smith’s absence would leave a major hole, and the Eagles might also be without Hollywood Brown. In that kind of setup, Dontayvion Wicks becomes more than a depth option. Over the last three weeks, he has shown he can step up when needed, and his production gives Philadelphia something tangible to work with: nine catches for 179 yards and a touchdown, an average of 19.9 yards per reception.
Wicks has already flashed the kind of playmaking the Eagles would be asking for if Smith cannot go. In the Week 1 win over Washington, he made significant plays on both of his receptions, including one that went for more than 60 yards and another that ended in a touchdown. His receiving grade is 69.6, which ranks 40th in the NFL, and his overall grade is 65.5, placing him 48th among 85 qualified wide receivers. That is not the profile of a finished product, but it does show a player who has already given Philadelphia enough to trust him in a larger role.
Wicks has also been direct about his confidence. “Being me, the player I am, I already have that confidence,” he said.
The Eagles may need that confidence to show up quickly. After a 27-7 loss to the Bears on a short week, they are trying to stabilize while injuries keep reshaping the lineup. If Smith cannot play, the receiver room gets thinner. If the offensive line keeps leaking pressure, Steen’s steadiness becomes even more valuable. And if the defense is forced to absorb more snaps because the offense cannot stay on schedule, the young linebackers become part of the equation too.
That is where Jihaad Campbell and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. come in. Both could be in the starting lineup against the Rams, and the pairing gives Philadelphia a chance to use complementary traits rather than asking one player to carry the entire load. Trotter was arguably the Eagles’ best defensive player during the preseason, while Campbell already leads the team with 28 tackles through three games.
Campbell’s coverage numbers also show why this is not a simple plug-and-play situation. He has allowed 10 completions on 12 targets for 128 yards and a touchdown, with a passer rating of 138.9. The Eagles have been critical of his coverage skills, and Vic Fangio will also work to avoid exposing his linebackers in coverage. That is part of the challenge here: the Eagles are not just trying to find young players who can play, but young players whose strengths can cover for one another.
That is the thread running through all of it. Steen has been one of the better linemen on a unit under pressure. Wicks has already shown he can handle a bigger receiving role if Smith is out. Campbell and Trotter give the defense a chance to build around two young linebackers instead of forcing one to do too much. Philadelphia’s answer to this stretch may not be a single replacement at all. It may be the sum of several players who are still developing, but who have already done enough to make the Eagles believe they can hold things together.