Eagles Face Jaguars in London Without Barkley, Smith and Greenard
Philadelphia entered Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday with its offensive depth and defensive discipline under an immediate spotlight. The Eagles’ final inactive list confirmed that running back Saquon Barkley, wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Marquise Brown, and outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard would not play against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The announcement came at 8:05 a.m. Eastern time, less than 90 minutes before the Week 5 kickoff in London. Philadelphia also listed safety Marcus Epps and center Drew Kendall as inactive. Jacksonville entered the game at 3 and 1, while Philadelphia arrived at 2 and 2 after a week marked by injuries and major changes along the offensive line.
Philadelphia’s final London inactive list
The Eagles’ official game day report listed Brown, Smith, Barkley, Epps, Greenard and Kendall as inactive. Five had been ruled out Friday. Greenard was the final significant decision after carrying a questionable designation because of an ankle injury suffered against the Los Angeles Rams. He did not practice during the week.
Barkley also missed every practice while managing a hamstring injury from the Rams game. Smith remained unavailable for a second consecutive game because of a hamstring injury, while Brown continued to recover from an ankle injury that has kept him out of practice since September 25. Kendall did not practice because of a knee injury, and Epps was sidelined by a groin injury.
Philadelphia did receive some stability at quarterback. Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee and Cole Payton were all active. Tight end Zach Ertz and tackle John Ojukwu were elevated from the practice squad on Saturday, giving the staff two additional options for a lineup that had changed considerably during the week.
What the absences change on offense
The most immediate question concerned how Philadelphia would replace Barkley’s workload. The club’s own game preview identified Will Shipley as the likely lead option and noted that Dameon Pierce and Carson Steele could provide support. Tank Bigsby had already been moved to injured reserve, narrowing the available backfield choices.
At receiver, the absence of Smith and Brown reduced both route versatility and established production. Philadelphia still had to create answers for Hurts against a Jacksonville defense that entered the day among the league’s strongest groups against the run and in the red zone. That combination made early down efficiency especially important. Long down and distance situations would allow the Jaguars to attack a reshaped protection unit while devoting extra attention to the remaining proven targets.
The line itself carried another layer of uncertainty. Lane Johnson retired Tuesday, and the Eagles traded Cam Jurgens on Wednesday. With Kendall out, the official team preview projected a group of Jordan Mailata, Willie Lampkin, Jake Majors, Tyler Steen and Markel Bell. Only Mailata and Steen brought established continuity to those expected roles.
Greenard’s absence raises the defensive burden
Greenard’s late move from questionable to inactive removed an experienced edge defender from Philadelphia’s rotation. Against a Jacksonville offense led by Trevor Lawrence, the Eagles needed to control the run without losing contain or exposing the secondary to extended coverage situations.
The defensive news was not entirely negative. Linebacker Zack Baun cleared concussion protocol, and cornerback Quinyon Mitchell was available after practicing through the week. Those returns mattered because the Jaguars entered the matchup with balance on offense and a 3 and 1 record.
Philadelphia’s margin for error was nevertheless thinner. Without Greenard, the front needed coordinated pressure rather than one player attempting to replace his snaps and production. The practical test was whether the available rotation could stay disciplined on early downs and force Lawrence into obvious passing situations.
Jacksonville’s unavailable players
The Jaguars also carried meaningful absences. Their inactive list included wide receiver CJ Williams, cornerbacks Alijah Huzzie and Jaylon Jones, safety Eric Murray, offensive lineman Daniel Faalele, defensive end Wesley Williams and defensive tackle Albert Regis. Murray had been listed as doubtful with a concussion, while Jones had already been ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Those losses gave Philadelphia potential opportunities, particularly against a secondary missing several options. Converting those openings still depended on time for Hurts and precise route execution from a receiving group working without Smith and Brown.
A depth test on an international stage
The NFL’s official Week 5 injury report had already shown the scale of Philadelphia’s challenge. The final inactive announcement removed the remaining uncertainty around Greenard and made the assignment clear: the Eagles had to win with a substantially altered lineup.
That is where roster construction becomes visible. Practice squad development, reserve roles and communication across new combinations matter most when a team loses stars at several positions at once. The London setting adds attention, but it does not change the fundamentals. Philadelphia needed efficient possessions, reliable protection, secure tackling and restraint against Jacksonville’s ability to create short fields.
The result would be decided after publication, but the strategic story was already established before kickoff. Philadelphia’s response to a concentrated wave of absences offered an immediate measure of its depth and adaptability in a game with early significance for both teams.
Sources: Philadelphia Eagles inactive report; Philadelphia Eagles game preview; NFL Week 5 injury report.
About the author: HuddleUp NFL Sports Desk reports verified league, team and football culture developments using official sources and clearly attributed independent reporting.
