DeVonta Smith has been a constant force for the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2025 campaign, appearing in all 11 games so far. But that streak was in serious danger heading into the Week 13 showdown against the Chicago Bears on Black Friday.
With Philadelphia trying to bounce back from a crushing loss to the Dallas Cowboys, there was speculation of them having to face an 8-3 Bears squad without their leading receiver. Smith is battling a trifecta of ailments: shoulder, chest, and illness, leaving the offense in a precarious spot for the holiday matchup.
Will DeVonta Smith Play Against the Bears on Black Friday?
The early practice reports this week did not offer much optimism. Smith did not practice on Tuesday and Wednesday due to shoulder and chest injuries, as well as an illness, according to the Eagles’ injury report. He was officially listed as a non-participant on both days, which puts his availability for the short week in real jeopardy.
Losing Smith would have been a massive blow to the offensive game plan. He has been the team’s most productive target this year, racking up a team-high 754 receiving yards on 55 catches.
However, fortunately for the Eagles, Smith fully practiced on Thursday and is expected to play against the Bears.
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The health concerns don’t end with Smith. The Eagles listed tackle Lane Johnson as a non-participant, while key contributors Saquon Barkley and Landon Dickerson were limited in practice.
While Bakley and Dickerson, like Smith, are expected to play in Week 13, Johnson is ruled out for the matchup against the Bears.
What Is DeVonta Smith’s Fantasy Outlook for Week 13?
Despite the injury cloud, the experts remain bullish on Smith’s potential if he takes the field. PFSN’s Kyle Soppe recommends keeping Smith in Week 13 fantasy lineups, provided he is active. Soppe projects him as a WR2 and actually prefers him over Brown for this specific matchup.
“The Bears are battling plenty of secondary injuries and allow the second-highest completion percentage on passes thrown 15+ yards downfield through 12 weeks. I’ve got Smith over Brown this week, and he checks in as a strong WR2 in all formats for me,” explained Soppe.
The data support Smith right now. According to PFSN’s WR Impact Metric, he sits at 11th among all wide receivers, significantly higher than Brown at 25th. He also enters this week fresh off one of his best performances of 2025 against Dallas, where he hauled in six catches for 89 yards on 11 targets. That marked his third game with double-digit targets this season, suggesting he will be a focal point again if he gets the green light.