Eagles keep Barkley, Kendall and Smith out of practice as London trip approaches

The Philadelphia Eagles began tightening their final preparations for an overseas matchup by again keeping three key offensive players out of practice. Saquon Barkley, the team’s starting running back, was absent with a hamstring issue, while center Drew Kendall missed time with a knee problem. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith, listed with a hamstring injury, also remained sidelined on Thursday.

According to game-week reporting, the trio’s absence marked their second consecutive missed practice session. That matters because with Sunday approaching, practice participation is often a primary indicator for whether a player can handle the full workload, particularly at positions that rely on timing and physical contact in scripted early downs.

The Eagles are also moving on an expedited timeline to London. Reporting tied the practice status to the team’s plan to issue injury designations for the Sunday game on Friday, which also coincides with when the team crosses the Atlantic. Those designations can influence roster planning and how much each player, if cleared, can be used in game plan terms.

Philadelphia’s offensive structure could feel the absence of Barkley and Smith most directly. Barkley’s role extends beyond rushing, since he is a central option in pass-game sequencing. Smith’s absence affects the receiving group’s downfield spacing and third-level route timing, responsibilities that tend to be harder to replicate quickly when a starter misses practice time.

For the unit in the middle, Kendall’s knee issue carries a different kind of impact. Centers anchor protection calls and line adjustments, so a missed practice can affect continuity even if other linemen remain available. As the Eagles close out the week, Kendall’s status is likely to determine how the line is organized in run and pass protections.

The matchup itself, a trip to London to play the Jacksonville Jaguars, raises the stakes for each decision because logistics and preparation time are compressed for an overseas game. Even without additional details on severity or potential return timelines, the practical question for Philadelphia remains straightforward: which players can be designated for Sunday, and who will be limited or replaced if they are not.

What to watch next is the team’s Friday injury designations. That is the point when the Eagles’ final availability picture for Barkley, Kendall and Smith becomes clearer, and it will guide how Philadelphia structures its offensive reps and depth usage heading into kickoff.