The Philadelphia Eagles will look to snap their four-game losing streak when they face the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football in Week 7. Both teams will enter the game with identical 2-4 records, making the matchup an important opportunity for either side to regain momentum.

However, Philadelphia will have to navigate the game without wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who has been ruled out. His absence presents another challenge for an Eagles receiving corps already dealing with injury concerns, raising questions about how the offense will compensate for the loss of one of its key playmakers.

What Happened to DeVonta Smith?

Smith has been dealing with hamstring problems since the summer, which forced him to miss nearly two weeks of training camp. He aggravated the injury during the Week 2 game against the Tennessee Titans.

Smith recently said that dehydration caused by the heat in Nashville may have contributed to the setback. Despite the discomfort, he played through the injury the following week before Philadelphia decided to hold him out of consecutive games against the Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Smith returned to action last Sunday against the Carolina Panthers and delivered an encouraging performance, looking much closer to his usual self.

However, concerns about his availability resurfaced when Smith failed to participate in practice on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Missing three consecutive sessions significantly reduced his chances of playing Monday, making the Eagles’ eventual decision to rule him out unsurprising.

When Will DeVonta Smith Return?

Smith’s absence represents a huge setback for Philadelphia’s offense due to his production when available this season. Through four appearances, he has recorded 26 receptions for 310 yards and two touchdowns.

Smith currently holds a 74.8 grade in the PFN WR Impact rankings, placing him at No. 34 among eligible receivers. In his most recent outing against Carolina, he caught seven passes for 75 yards and a touchdown.

Unfortunately, Smith’s latest hamstring setback has interrupted that momentum, and Philadelphia head coach Nick Sirianni addressed the situation while speaking to reporters Saturday.

Sirianni responded to a question about whether the Eagles might consider shutting Smith down as he continues to struggle with the injury.

“I just want him to continue to get better,” Sirianni said. “We’ll see where that goes. He works extremely hard. Nobody takes care of their body like DeVonta Smith.

“He is such a good example to everybody of how to take care of yourself. He’s the first one in here getting treatment, doing his prehab before a practice, and sometimes the process doesn’t always produce the results you want.”

Sirianni also explained that even when players follow every precaution and maintain excellent preparation habits, the recovery process does not always deliver the desired results. However, he expressed confidence that Smith would continue doing everything necessary to return to his best form, regardless of how the situation unfolds.

Smith’s next opportunity to return to the field will come in Week 8, when the Eagles face the Washington Commanders on November 1. His availability will depend on how his hamstring responds to treatment and whether he can make sufficient progress before the game.