Eagles' Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith sit out again as Week 6 status remains murky

The Eagles' most important skill players remain stuck in neutral. Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith both missed practice again Wednesday, Adam Schefter reported, keeping their status for Sunday's game against the Panthers firmly up in the air.

Both players have been sidelined by hamstring injuries — Smith aggravated his issue in the days before the London trip and Barkley has been out since before the Eagles flew to England. Philadelphia had entered the week holding out hope that one or both could return against Carolina, but a second straight day without practice suggests the team is being cautious with its two most explosive playmakers.

The Eagles opened 21-day practice windows Wednesday for four injured players — Landon Dickerson, Jakorian Bennett, Grant Calcaterra and Eli Stowers — while Barkley and Smith were held out. That split is telling: Philadelphia is willing to ramp up the players it believes are close, while the two stars who drive the offense remain on a slower track. The first official injury report of Week 6 lands Thursday; until then, the Panthers defense can plan for the possibility of facing a shorthanded Eagles offense.