Linebacker Devin White, the Eagles’ prized offseason acquisition, has experienced a rough start to his tenure with the team. A former first-round draft pick, White has been sidelined with an ankle injury, forcing him to miss the season opener against Brazil.
But now, after putting in the work to get healthy, White expected to make his highly anticipated debut on Monday Night Football. However, in a surprising turn of events, White will not be taking the field against the Falcons as he has been listed as a healthy scratch for the game.
The absence of White is a blow to the Eagles, who will also be without receiver A.J. Brown due to a hamstring injury. Quarterback Tanner McKee, cornerback Eli Ricks, offensive lineman Darian Kinnard, offensive guard Trevor Keegan, and defensive tackle Byron Young are also among the team’s inactives.
Brown’s late scratch from the lineup adds to the Eagles’ woes, but they will still have receiver Johnny Wilson available for the game. Wilson, who was nursing a hamstring injury last week, missed Saturday’s practice but was able to work out pregame and will suit up for the matchup.
In addition to Wilson, the Eagles will rely on DeVonta Smith, Jahan Dotson, and Britain Covey at the receiver position, with Parris Campbell being elevated from the practice squad as a fifth option. It will be interesting to see how this group of receivers steps up in the absence of White and Brown.
On the other side of the field, the Falcons have their own list of inactives, including linebacker Nate Landman, defensive back Antonio Hamilton Sr., defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus, offensive guard Jovaughn Gwyn, offensive tackle Brandon Parker, and defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro. The Falcons had already ruled out Landman and Hamilton earlier in the week, so their absence comes as no surprise.
As the Eagles and Falcons prepare to face off in a pivotal Monday Night Football showdown, the stage is set for a battle of attrition. With key players like White and Brown sidelined, both teams will need to rely on their depth and resilience to come out on top. Stay tuned for what promises to be an exciting and unpredictable matchup between these two NFC powerhouses.