Eagles Host Cowboys With Jalen Hurts Out and Four Receivers Sidelined

The Philadelphia Eagles will host the Dallas Cowboys on Monday, October 26, at Lincoln Financial Field, playing without quarterback Jalen Hurts and their two primary wide receivers. The matchup marks the seventh week of the NFL season and serves as a divisional contest between two teams currently in poor form. The Eagles have lost four straight games after starting the season with two wins. The Cowboys have dropped two consecutive contests. The game is scheduled to begin at 8:15 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN and ABC.

Hurts is out after blood clots were found in his calf and lungs. Wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks are also sidelined. Guard Landon Dickerson, running back Saquon Barkley, offensive tackle Jonathan Greenard, and cornerback Jalyx Hunt are listed as questionable. The Eagles' offensive depth is thin. Running backs Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley remain on injured reserve.

Dallas enters the game with a struggling offense. The Cowboys combined for only 29 points in their last two games against the Buccaneers and Packers. That total follows three games where they scored at least 30 points. The passing attack has been vulnerable to pressure. Quarterback Dak Prescott completed 20 of 38 passes for 194 yards and no touchdowns when facing extra rushers in those two games. The Cowboys rushed for a combined 98 yards in that span.

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio faces a decision regarding blitz frequency. The Buccaneers and Packers blitzed on 38.8% of Prescott's dropbacks during Weeks 5 and 6. The Eagles have blitzed on only 24.1% of opponent dropbacks so far this season. That rate ranks fourth lowest in the NFL. Fangio has deployed a blitz strategy on at least 38% of dropbacks only once since becoming the coordinator. The Eagles currently rank 20th in opponents' expected points added per dropback. They have allowed eight touchdown passes and intercepted only three. Quarterbacks have completed 60.4% of passes for an average of 7.0 yards per attempt against Philadelphia.

The Eagles' secondary includes Quinyon Mitchell, Riq Woolen, and Cooper DeJean. However, the defense has struggled to generate pressure. The team has recorded a sack, hit, or hurry on only 32.9% of opponent dropbacks. This lack of pressure allows quarterbacks to remain in the pocket for extended periods. Dallas running back Javonte Williams has seven rushing touchdowns but averages only 3.7 yards per carry. The Cowboys' offensive line has not cleared rushing lanes, limiting Williams' ability to make defenders miss.

Philadelphia's backup quarterback Tanner McKee will start. He dropped back to pass 48 times in the previous game. That high volume reflects the Eagles' inability to run the ball effectively without Hurts. McKee has a career record of 16 completions on 45 attempts for 179 yards and no touchdowns when under pressure. His sack rate in such situations is 15.1%. If the Cowboys can pressure McKee, the Eagles' passing game could falter.

The Eagles may lean on their running game if Barkley is active. He averaged 5.5 yards per carry in the two games he completed this season. He practiced fully on Friday for the first time since sustaining a hamstring injury. The Cowboys have allowed opponents to average 4.7 yards per carry. All five of Dallas' previous opponents except the Texans and Packers have rushed for at least 165 yards. The Eagles may use Dameon Pierce or Barkley to control the clock.

The Eagles' receiving corps will feature Makai Lemon, Darius Cooper, and Dallas Goedert. The Cowboys may adjust their defensive alignments to account for these targets. Joey Porter Jr. could be assigned to cover Cooper or Lemon. The Cowboys are expected to return safety Cobie Durant, which may push cornerback Daron Bland to the bench. The odds favor the Cowboys by 4.5 points, with an over/under of 43.5.

The Cowboys' defense has faced scrutiny since the start of the season. The offense's inability to convert yardage into points has created questions about the unit's effectiveness. The Eagles' offense is also facing significant challenges due to injury and personnel changes. The game will determine which team can stop its losing streak first. The outcome will hinge on whether Dallas can maintain offensive efficiency or if Philadelphia can manage the game without Hurts.