Eagles' Dallas Goedert Placed on IR with Knee Injury, Reportedly Eyes Playoff Return
December 7, 2024
On the verge of clinching a playoff berth for the fourth consecutive season, the Philadelphia Eagles are giving Dallas Goedert extra time to heal his injured knee to be ready for January.
Goedert was placed on injured reserve on Saturday, meaning he will miss a minimum of four games.
Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, Goedert will sit out so the Eagles can get him "back at full speed" for the postseason.
The Eagles had already ruled out Goedert for Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers. He previously missed three games from Week 6-8 due to a hamstring injury.
Goedert suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of Philadelphia's 24-19 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 1. He finished the game with three catches for 35 yards and a touchdown.
Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inqurier noted an initial exam determined Goedert avoided a serious injury, but he was a candidate for short-term injured reserve.
The Eagles haven't featured Goedert as much in the offense since he returned from the hamstring injury. He was on the field for more than 80 percent of the offensive snaps in each of the first three games of the season.
Since his first game back in Week 10, Goedert only played at least 80 percent of the snaps once in four games. He averaged nearly six targets per game in the first five weeks of the season, but that number is down to 4.3 per game in the last four weeks.
Given how important Goedert is to the offense, particularly as one of the most reliable pass-catching tight ends in the NFL, the Eagles' ability to sit him down for four weeks to prepare for the playoffs is a huge advantage.
Their passing game should be fine going forward with DeVonta Smith returning on Sunday after missing the past two weeks with a hamstring injury. They still have A.J. Brown healthy and on pace for another 1,000-yard season.
Philadelphia is still in the mix for the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage in the NFC. It enters Week 14 with a 10-2 record, trailing the Detroit Lions (12-1) by one game in the loss column.
The Eagles can clinch a playoff berth this week with a win over the Panthers and some help from other teams.
