It’s time for a weekly stock report after the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Detroit Lions, 16-9, on Sunday night at Lincoln Financial Field.
Whose arrow is pointing up after Week 11? And whose stock is dipping going into an NFC East showdown with the Dallas Cowboys? Let’s take a closer look.
STOCK UP
The defensive line: The entire front deserves its flowers after the last two games. What was for a while a concern has turned into a strength in a matter of days. Jaelan Phillips (12 pressures vs. Green Bay and Detroit) has changed the outlook since being acquired from Miami. Jalyx Hunt has played his best football the last three weeks. Jordan Davis had three batted passes vs. the Lions. Jalen Carter and Moro Ojomo have been menaces. Even Brandon Graham contributed on just eight defensive snaps. This d-line is dangerous.
CB Adoree’ Jackson: Jackson, after a rough start to the year and missing the Giants win with a concussion, has played well in 114 total snaps the last two games. Against Detroit, he got burned by Jameson Williams, which happens to a lot of corners, and bounced back. Jackson stuck to Amon-Ra St. Brown on a crucial fourth-down stop in the red zone and had a key pass breakup later in the fourth quarter. Hat’s off to the vet who endured a lot of scrutiny.
RB Tank Bigsby: Bigsby had only three carries on eight snaps, but he made the most of his opportunities. The August trade acquisition had a key 17-yard run on second-and-13 on the Eagles’ lone touchdown drive of the night. Bigsby burst into the open space and ran through a couple arms tackles to ignite the crowd at the Linc. It’s fun watching him get downhill.
OT Fred Johnson: Johnson already had an important role as the sixth offensive lineman in under-center, heavy packages, which have produced great results this season. But now Johnson’s role is expected to expand to a full-time starting gig with Lane Johnson’s injury.
STOCK DOWN
OT Lane Johnson: Conversely, losing Johnson is a major blow. The five-time All-Pro pick is expected to miss four to six weeks with a Lisfranc sprain. The silver lining is that it does not appear to be a season-ending injury. But Johnson, who dealt with neck, back and ankle injuries already this season, is now having to come back from another issue at 35 years old.
C Cam Jurgens: Lost in the Johnson injury news was Jurgens’ exit from Sunday’s game. The 2024 All-Pro left late in the fourth quarter and did not return. Jurgens played with a brace on his right knee and, frankly, didn’t look himself. It was a rough night in a rough season for Jurgens. Maybe the Eagles should go back to Brett Toth and give Jurgens more time to rest up.
WR DeVonta Smith: It was an uncharacteristic night from Smith, who had two early drops. Smith had only one drop in his previous 14 games. Have to think the reliable receiver will shake that off and move on. But Smith will have something to prove in Dallas.
QB Jalen Hurts: Hurts went into the bye week playing like a dark horse MVP candidate. But in primetime games against the Packers and Lions, Hurts completed 29 of 54 passes for 318 yards and one touchdown with 58 yards, a tush push score and a lost fumble on the ground. On Sunday in particular, Hurts didn’t have much help with the drops. But he was off, too. Hurts’ MVP odds going into the bye week (+2000) have since doubled (+4000), which makes sense.
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