Eagles set for London with new offensive look as Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith and a starting center are ruled out

The Philadelphia Eagles will have to absorb multiple lineup absences when they play in London on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. According to Yahoo Sports, the team has ruled out running back Saquon Barkley and wide receiver DeVonta Smith, along with one member of its new-look offensive line, ahead of the trip.

Barkley and Smith represent two key parts of the Eagles’ offensive identity. Barkley, described in the report as the team’s leading rusher, is the kind of playmaking back who can generate chunks of yardage in both the run game and as a pass-catching option. Smith, labeled as the club’s leading receiver, has served as a central target in Philadelphia’s passing attack, giving the Eagles a reliable route-runner who can win consistently at key spots in drives.

Philadelphia’s personnel challenge goes beyond the skill positions. The report also notes the Eagles will be without a player described as part of a new-look offensive line, including specifically a starting center. In practical terms, a center absence can affect more than just one spot, since it is where pre-snap reads, protection calls, and the exchange on every snap are anchored. With a new-look unit, the Eagles will be forced to adjust quickly to keep the timing and communication that the offense depends on.

The Eagles’ situation is heightened by the fact that this will be a different look than the one they used for opening day last month, per the Yahoo report. That wording points to a broader theme for Philadelphia early in the season, as it tries to settle on an offensive configuration while managing availability. When multiple key players are removed from the same week, it tends to accelerate the need for backups to handle expanded roles, and it can shift how the team chooses to attack defenses.

For Jacksonville, the match-up environment becomes more about opportunity than matchup math. When an opponent is without its leading rusher and leading receiver, defensive game plans often change from “limit this specific player” to a broader focus on formation tendencies and second-level routing. The Jaguars can look to test the Eagles’ receivers and running back depth, while the Eagles will counter by leaning on whatever passing windows remain clean and by asking the replacement offensive line combination to execute at a high level.

Philadelphia’s offensive staff will now have to decide how to redistribute touches and targets. With Barkley unavailable, the Eagles will likely emphasize other backs to carry the rushing load and to spell for pass-game plays. With Smith out, the attention of opposing defensive backs can shift away from one focal point, but it also raises the bar for other wideouts and tight ends to consistently get open and to finish after the catch.

For fans, the most immediate watch items are who starts in the backfield, who assumes the role of primary perimeter target, and how the center spot and overall line communications function in London’s setting. The Eagles’ adaptability will matter quickly, because the distance and travel can amplify the importance of week-to-week continuity. Until further reporting clarifies the exact changes along the offensive line, the expectation is that Philadelphia will lean on next-man-up depth and try to keep drives moving despite the missing core.