Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith injury update. Eagles' effort questioned

PHILADELPHIA − The Eagles are conducting a walkthrough practice on Oct. 28, meaning that it won't be known whether running back Saquon Barkley or wide receiver DeVonta Smith are practicing until the team releases its injury report later in the day.That report will be an estimation based on whether they would have participated if the Eagles were conducting a regular practice session.The Eagles typically hold walkthrough practices on the Wednesday after a Monday night game in order to give the players an extra day to rest while still preparing for the next game. For the Eagles, that's a Sunday night game against the Washington Commanders on Nov. 1.Buy Philadelphia Eagles ticketsSmith, the Eagles' leading wide receiver, missed the 38-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 26 with a recurring hamstring injury. Barkley, who had seven carries for 62 yards, was used sparingly once his back tightened up after his first carry of the game, which went for 29 yards.It's the third time since training camp began that Smith has been sidelined because of the hamstring. He missed nearly three weeks of training camp when the injury first occurred. Then he missed two games, on Oct. 4 and Oct. 11, when it recurred. Smith played in the Eagles' 25-14 loss to the Panthers on Oct. 18. He led the team with seven catches for 75 yards and a touchdown. But apparently Smith re-injured it because he didn't practice all last week or play against the Cowboys.Barkley, meanwhile, has only played two full games out of the Eagles seven this season. He left two games in the first quarter, on Sept. 20 (stinger) and Oct. 4 (hamstring), then missed two games entirely with the hamstring injury (Oct. 4 and Oct. 11), then was in and out of the previous game because of his back.Barkley said after the game that his back "locked up on me," while overcompensating for tweaking his hamstring on his first carry of the game. Barkley also said that he expects to play against the Commanders. It's unknown yet if Smith can.Rookie Makai Lemon stepped in for both Smith and No. 2 receiver Dontayvion Wicks, who missed the Cowboys game with an ankle injury. Lemon had career bests of seven catches for 67 yards. Lemon also had his first career touchdown catch, a 4-yard reception that gave the Eagles a 21-20 lead with 5:44 left in the third quarter.Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said Lemon, the Eagles' first-round pick last spring, has improved steadily throughout the course of the season."I think we've all seen the growth of Makai Lemon, who I think is a really going to be a good football player − or he is," Sirianni said. "We know he's talented, but he has everything. He's got all the right stuff. Like, in my opinion, he's tough. He works his butt off. He loves this game. He cares deeply, and I'm excited about that."Sirianni denies effort issueSirianni said effort on defense wasn't the issue against the Cowboys, who racked up 416 yards, with 204 coming on the ground. That was led by Javonte Williams, who had 155 yards on 25 carries. In addition, Cowboys QB Dak Prescott threw for 212 yards with 3 touchdowns. Prescott was not sacked during the game. The Eagles defenders didn't even hit him. "We grade every play based off of their assignment, alignment, and we grade every play off of effort," Sirianni said. "That is not only in games, but that's also at every practice. … I did not see an effort issue on Monday night. … Now, do you bat 100% on effort? No, you don't play a perfect football game."Anytime there is an effort [play that] stands out in a positive way, we show it to the team and show what the standard is. And anytime there's one that we feel like there was a 'loaf,' we point that out and show that to the team."Sirianni wouldn't go into how many "loafs" there were.As far as the lack of a pass rush, Sirianni said it's hard to blitz the Cowboys because that's one fewer player to help in coverage on Cowboys star receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Sign up for the "Eye On The Eagles" newsletter, emailed to your inbox every Friday morning. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.comThis article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith injury update. Eagles' effort questionedOur editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.