Photo by Ghyuty17 (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons

Eagles hand the ball to Tanner McKee without Hurts and Barkley

Philadelphia's season has asked a lot of its depth, and Sunday asks for more. The Eagles (2-3) host the Carolina Panthers (2-2) on a three-game losing streak, with quarterback Jalen Hurts on injured reserve and running back Saquon Barkley ruled out.

Hurts hurt his left calf against the Rams in Week 4. Follow-up ultrasounds found a superficial blood clot, and on Saturday the Eagles placed him on injured reserve, which rules him out for at least four games.

Tanner McKee will make his first start of the season, opposite Carolina's Bryce Young. Barkley is out with the hamstring injury he picked up in the same Rams game.

There is one piece of good news on offence. DeVonta Smith, who missed the last two games with a hamstring problem, practised fully on Friday and has no game designation.

The injuries elsewhere are heavy: running backs Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley are on injured reserve, outside linebacker Jalyx Hunt (knee and ankle) is out, and A.J. Epenesa (back) is doubtful.

The Eagles come in off a painful loss in London. They led Jacksonville 17-16 late in Week 5 before Cam Little's 57-yard field goal in the final seconds gave the Jaguars a 19-17 win.

Carolina is rested after a Week 5 bye, though the Panthers lost to Detroit in Week 4. One record is also on the line for them: long snapper J.J. Jansen is set to become the longest-serving long snapper in NFL history.

For Philadelphia, a young quarterback, a thin backfield and a three-game slide add up to a game that is hard to read before kickoff. For Carolina, it is a chance to take advantage of a bye week and a depleted opponent.

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