Philadelphia is without its top two receivers and its starting quarterback, but a win would keep the Eagles alive in a wide-open NFC East.
The Eagles are running out of healthy bodies, and the Cowboys are running out of time. Both teams arrive at Lincoln Financial Field on Monday night at 2-4, and for all their problems, the NFC East is still there for the taking. That is what makes this one matter, even with the home team down its starting quarterback and its top two receivers.
Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. on Monday, October 26, 2026. The game airs nationally on ABC and ESPN, with the Manningcast on ESPN2, and on the radio on SportsRadio 94WIP with Merrill Reese and Mike Quick.
Philadelphia’s injury report, issued Saturday, tells the story of its season. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith is out with a hamstring injury, and wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks is out with an ankle injury. Smith leads the team with 26 catches for 310 yards and two touchdowns. He already missed Weeks 4 and 5 with the same hamstring, came back against Carolina last week with seven catches for 75 yards and a touchdown, and then could not practice at all this week. Wicks, who has 19 catches for 284 yards and a score, misses his first game of the year after hurting his ankle against Carolina.
That leaves quarterback Tanner McKee, making his second straight start with Jalen Hurts out for the rest of the season with blood clots, throwing to a group led by rookie first-round pick Makai Lemon. Lemon called it “definitely a big opportunity for the team” and said that with a couple of guys out it was “really just next man up.” Hollywood Brown, Britain Covey, Elijah Moore, and Darius Cooper round out the available receivers.
The news is better at tight end. Dallas Goedert, who aggravated a knee injury against Carolina, practiced fully on Saturday, carries no game designation, and said he expects to play. Goedert caught six passes for 61 yards against Carolina and becomes one of McKee’s most reliable remaining options.
Running back Saquon Barkley is the biggest question mark. He practiced fully on Saturday after a hamstring injury cost him the last two games, but he remains listed as questionable. Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, dealing with an ankle injury, has said his status will be a game-time decision. Guard Landon Dickerson, linebacker Jalyx Hunt, cornerback Jakorian Bennett, and tight ends Grant Calcaterra and Eli Stowers are also questionable. Linebacker Nolan Smith (concussion) and defensive back Michael Carter (abdomen) are out.
Dallas, for once, is the healthier team in this matchup. Its top two receivers are both available. CeeDee Lamb leads the Cowboys with 48 catches for 577 yards and four touchdowns, and George Pickens, who has 428 receiving yards, carries no injury designation after practicing fully on Friday and Saturday. The only Dallas receiver ruled out is KaVontae Turpin, whose main job is returning kicks. Turpin hurt his ribs on the opening kickoff against Green Bay and will not play. Offensive tackle Drew Shelton and linebacker Dee Winters are also out.
Dallas also gets two defenders back. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and cornerback Cobie Durant carry no injury designation and are set to play, a welcome sight for a defense that has allowed at least 20 points in every game this season.
That defense is the matchup to watch. Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott has thrown for 1,639 yards and 10 touchdowns, and the Cowboys average 25.1 points per game. Philadelphia’s offense averages just 17.6 points, and the Eagles have only eight sacks through six games. If Prescott has time, Dallas can dictate the game. If Philadelphia’s front, even shorthanded, can make him uncomfortable, McKee and a patchwork receiving group have a chance to keep it close.
The stakes are plain. The Giants lead the NFC East at 3-2-1, with the Eagles second and the Cowboys third, both at 2-4, and Washington last at 1-4-1. The winner moves to 3-4 and stays in the race. A Cowboys win would also give Dallas a 2-1 record inside the division. The loser falls to 2-5, and the questions about the direction of the season get louder.
Philadelphia has lost four straight games. Dallas has lost two straight. Neither team looks like a contender right now, and the oddsmakers agree, listing Dallas as a 4.5-point favorite. But division games at the Linc under the Monday night lights have a way of ignoring the form guide, and the winner here gets something neither team has had in weeks: momentum and a real path back into the NFC East race.
