Avoiding the Trap

The surging 10-2 Philadelphia Eagles are taking on the 3-9 Carolina Panthers with both teams nursing injuries.

On the latest episode of “Inside The Birds,” Geoff Mosher and Adam Caplan provided intel on the latest injuries and previewed the Week 14 matchup.

GETTY IMAGES: Chuba Hubbard has established himself as a high-caliber starting RB for the Carolina Panthers.

C.J. Uzomah

Geoff Mosher: “They signed C.J. Uzomah off the practice squad. He was out of elevations, so it kind of forced their hands in that regard. They are still light there at the position, they now have (Grant) Calcaterra and Uzomah. They got away with two tight ends earlier because they used Ben VanSumeren as a fullback.”

Adam Caplan: “Uzomah will be the ‘Y’ tight end, Calcaterra will be move tight end, and that’s it. You can use an extra lineman.”

DeVonta Smith

Mosher: “Smith was a full participant in Thursday’s practice. That was the best news they could have gotten in regards to DeVonta Smith and it shows he is getting a lot closer to being able to play against the Panthers. I would say he is trending towards being able to play as long as there’s no setback.”

Caplan: “I believe it is his first full practice in four weeks, and I’m not talking about a walkthrough. The indication on Wednesday was if that they practiced, it would have been full. He’s dealing with a lingering hamstring strain, they are terrible for receivers. Thankfully, he thought better than of playing last week…The question is can he play a full game?”

Darius Slay

Caplan: “He took all of his reps Thursday. He just needs final clearance. No setbacks and he’ll be cleared to play.”

Reed Blankenship

Caplan: “He didn’t do anything Thursday. The only way he could even have a chance to play is he has to get limited time in on Friday. There’s not enough time for the protocol.”

Mosher: “This is the same thing with the tight ends. They are down to one starting safety, which would be C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and as Andrew DiCecco is reporting, Avonte Maddox was warming up with the safeties.”

Chuba Hubbard

Caplan: “Jonathon Brooks, the second rounder out of Texas, came back from his ACL injury and the Panthers took a very conservative approach. Hubbard got off to a great start, they signed him to a big extension and now they are going to have to have a two-man backfield.”

Josey Jewell

Caplan: “Jewell has a hamstring injury. He didn’t work Thursday, worked a little bit Wednesday. Usually if a guy works Wednesday and doesn’t Thursday, they are just backing off and the guy plays.”

Jadeveon Clowney

Caplan: “Clowney has had this lingering knee problem, they weren’t concerned about it but he didn’t work Wednesday or Thursday.”

– Benjamin Paul is a staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.