The Eagles have reached their bye week, giving them a valuable full 15 days off between last Sunday’s win over the Giants and next Monday’s primetime showdown against the Packers. With several key players dealing with injuries and ailments, this extended break will be crucial for their recovery and preparation.
“They’re key,” said Dr. Dinesh Dhanaraj, Attending Orthopedic Surgeon at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne. “Rest and activity modification, time off the offending activity—whether it be sport, running, jumping—is key. That goes for any level of athlete.”
This is especially true for the Eagles, who need their top players healthy for the back half of the season as they aim to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive.
### Injury Recovery: Time Is Variable
“The amount of time is variable. It really is,” Dr. Dhanaraj explained when discussing injury recovery in general. “Professional athletes, obviously, can recover faster and need shorter time, but that two weeks is gonna be key—for A.J. Brown, for whoever is honestly on that Injured Reserve list.”
Here’s a rundown of notable Eagles players on the Injured Reserve list or recently appearing on the injury report, with expert insights from Dr. Dhanaraj on their recovery status.
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### A.J. Brown (WR)
Brown had a heavy workload during the win over the Vikings two weeks ago, recording four receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns. However, he missed last week’s game against the Giants due to a hamstring issue.
Per The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane, Brown’s hamstring tightened up from scar tissue. The Eagles and Brown made the wise decision not to push the injury.
By the time Brown potentially returns on November 10 in Green Bay, he should be rested with nearly three full weeks off.
“You don’t want to push through pain with some injuries, like the hamstring, because they can rupture,” Dr. Dhanaraj said. “Right now, he may have a strain; it’s sore. If you’re not close to pain-free before doing explosive maneuvers—cuts, jumps—there’s a risk of rupturing it, which could be season-ending.”
With that in mind, neither Brown nor the Eagles want to risk anything more serious by rushing his return.
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### Saquon Barkley (RB)
Barkley made a big run late against the Giants but pulled up limping along the sideline, leaving the game with a groin injury. Postgame, he said he could have returned if necessary, but since the Eagles were in control and backup Tank Bigsby was performing well, he was held out as a precaution.
Neither Barkley nor the team seemed overly concerned, as he promptly recognized something was wrong and the Eagles chose to play it safe.
“It’s a cost-benefit analysis,” explained Dr. Dhanaraj. “They were already winning comfortably, and he felt something—that’s the time to sit him. That’s how you mitigate risk. Even without pain, sitting him to prevent injury would have been smart.”
Barkley should be ready for next Monday night’s game.
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### Cam Jurgens (C) & Landon Dickerson (LG)
Both interior linemen have battled through injuries this season.
– **Landon Dickerson** underwent a meniscus cleanup procedure before the season and missed Week 6 against the Giants due to an ankle injury.
– **Cam Jurgens** has been recovering from offseason back surgery and missed last Sunday’s game against the Giants with a knee injury.
Both players have played through pain, making this bye week an important chance to rest and rehab.
Dr. Dhanaraj explained that Dickerson’s meniscus procedure involved trimming away a loose fragment, similar to removing a torn carpet piece caught under a door. While manageable, the reduced meniscus means the knee remains vulnerable and warrants caution.
Regarding Jurgens, an incompletely healed back can predispose him to other injuries, given the back’s critical role as a kinetic chain, Dr. Dhanaraj noted. These next two weeks will be vital for both.
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### Nolan Smith (DE)
Smith landed on Injured Reserve after Week 3 due to a triceps re-injury—a tear initially suffered during the Super Bowl.
The bye week provides extra recovery time, but even when he returns, his arm may still be vulnerable.
“If you can tear a perfectly good triceps, you can re-tear one that’s been repaired,” said Dr. Dhanaraj. “The repair uses your own tendon, sutured and anchored, but it’s not indestructible.”
The Eagles hope Smith will be back in action next Monday night in Green Bay.
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### Brandon Graham (DE)
Graham suffered an initial triceps tear midway through last season, which was thought to be season-ending. After rehabbing, he re-tore it in the Super Bowl but was able to play through it, helping the Eagles secure the title.
Originally set to retire after the Super Bowl, Graham later decided to return for the remainder of the 2025 season. He’s now fully healthy but approaching 37 years old and utilizing the bye to ramp back up to full NFL speed.
Dr. Dhanaraj emphasized the importance of a cautious approach.
“He’s got to feel strong and have minimal pain. It’s about listening to his body and ensuring no overt pain or weakness,” he said.
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### The Key During Bye Week: Rest, Not Training
Dr. Dhanaraj stressed that this time off is not for conditioning or training but for recovery.
“This is probably just for recovering, and I hope they’ll take full advantage during the bye week,” he said.
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The Eagles will need their key players as healthy as possible as they gear up for a challenging second half of the season. The coming two weeks should help get them ready for the battles ahead.
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*Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and guest contributors and do not reflect official NFL team or team medical staff positions.*
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