Eagles Will Be Without Three Stars in Week 4 Matchup Against Rams

The Philadelphia Eagles will be without three of their best players in a Week 4 clash against the Los Angeles Rams. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith is out with a hamstring injury, offensive tackle Lane Johnson is out for personal reasons, and Zack Baun is out with a concussion.

Smith has been the Eagles' top weapon, with 19 receptions for 235 yards and a touchdown through the first three games of the season. He became the number one wide receiver this offseason after Philadelphia traded AJ Brown to the New England Patriots.

The 27-year-old has proven capable in this role, but with him out against the Rams, the Eagles will need another reliable weapon. Dontayvion Wicks has been a solid piece in the passing game, with nine receptions for 179 yards and a touchdown. 

However, with tight end Dallas Goedert also out, Philadelphia hasn't had another consistent weapon in the passing attack. The Eagles will need contributions from rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon. They selected Lemon in the first round, but he has only seven receptions for 38 yards through the first three weeks.

Without Johnson in the lineup, Philadelphia's offensive line will also be weaker, which could force Jalen Hurts to get the ball out quicker. Rookie right tackle Markel Bell will start at right tackle in place of Johnson.

Hurts and the passing attack have been inconsistent to start the season, as he's completed 64.4 percent of his passes for 620 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. The 28-year-old needs to limit turnovers and be more efficient if they want to beat Los Angeles, but it will be challenging with two stars out on offense.

On defense, the Eagles are without one of their leaders in Baun. Through the first three games of the season, Baun has 25 total tackles, four tackles for loss, and three pass deflections.

He has been a Pro Bowler for the last two years, and Philadelphia will miss his presence against an elite Rams offense. The Eagles will need to limit the star receiver duo of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams while preventing Kyren Williams from taking over the run game.

This will be a challenging matchup for Philadelphia, who are coming off an atrocious loss to the Chicago Bears. However, if they want to contend this season, the Eagles will need to prove they can compete with another playoff-caliber team in the Rams.