On Monday, the Eagles released their estimated injury report for a walkthrough ahead of their Thursday night matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and tight end Dallas Goedert was listed as a non-participant due to an illness. On Tuesday, the team placed Goedert on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, putting his availability for Thursday in doubt.
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Goedert is vaccinated but will need two negative tests before Thursday night in order to play against the Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football. If he just tested positive, receiving two negative tests in that short period of time is unlikely.
Eagles Tight End Depth Chart
The Eagles, of course, also have tight end Zach Ertz on the roster. After Ertz and Goedert, the team kept undrafted free agent Jack Stoll on the roster, and he has played sparingly on offense in select packages this season. The Eagles also have Jason Croom and Tyree Jackson on injured reserve and just yesterday signed former fan-favorite Noah Togiai to the practice squad.
If Goedert has to miss Thursday’s game, Ertz would start and play the majority of the offensive snaps, and head coach Nick Sirianni would likely lean more heavily on 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end) than he has through the first five weeks of the season. In that scenario, Stoll would likely play more snaps, and Togiai could be promoted from the practice squad as an emergency option.
Normally, it would be unlikely for a player signed on a Monday to be able to suit up and play for a new team just a few days later, but Togiai was with Sirianni in Indianapolis last season and is familiar with his offensive system. In fact, that may even be why the Eagles decided to sign him.
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Mike Maher is the editor and publisher of The Birds Blitz and Juiced Ball Era. Follow him on Twitter @mikeMaher and @TheBirdsBlitz and check out his Eagles news archive for all of his latest stories about the Eagles and the NFL.
