When the Philadelphia Eagles traded away All-Pro A.J. Brown in June, they signaled clearly that they trust DeVonta Smith to be a true WR1.

That trust was tested Tuesday, though, when Smith sat out of training camp with a hamstring injury. For any receiver, a hamstring issue is worth watching closely — and for Smith, who's battled them before in his career, it's especially concerning. The injury isn't believed to be serious, but it's far from an ideal sign this early in camp.

Making matters worse, Makai Lemon, the Eagles' first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, also sat out of Tuesday's practice with a hamstring injury — meaning the team's top two receivers missed practice with the same issue. On Wednesday, it was reported that both Smith and Lemon would miss practice again, with Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, and veteran Britain Covey expected to handle first-team reps once more.

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Both injuries are reportedly minor, and the Eagles still have over a week before their first preseason game, an Aug. 15 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. A proven veteran like Smith probably wouldn't see the field much, if at all, that early in the preseason anyway — it's far more important he's right for Week 1 in September. For Lemon, though, a rookie, the preseason opener would've been a great chance to get live NFL reps, even in a limited role.

There's a good chance both players return to practice within the week, and the team doesn't appear concerned about either injury. Still, hamstring injuries can be notoriously tricky, making this a situation worth monitoring over the coming days.

The extra reps are a chance for Wicks and Brown to make their case for the No. 3 role. So far, Wicks has been the standout, hooking up with Jalen Hurts on several big plays downfield — but Brown's track record, including a 1,000-yard season in Baltimore, gives him a strong case of his own.

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