Eagles DT Fletcher Cox questionable vs. Panthers; RT Lane Johnson is out

Fletcher Cox boarded the Eagles' plane to Charlotte, N.C.,  on Wednesday, an indication that the injured defensive tackle has a chance to play Thursday against the Carolina Panthers. The Eagles listed him as questionable and will not finalize his status until 6:55 p.m., making Cox a true game-time decision after the Eagles star missed two games with a calf injury.

"He's progressing," coach Doug Pederson said. "Again we'll take it right up to the 90 minute on game day [to] make that decision. But he is feeling better."

There is more clarity about right tackle Lane Johnson, who has been ruled out with a concussion. Johnson's absence was expected. The league-mandated concussion protocol makes it difficult for a player concussed on Sunday to be cleared in time to play a Thursday game. Halapoulivaati Vaitai will start in Johnson's place. The Eagles went 2-4 in the six games Vaitai started last season. They're 9-2 since last when Lane Johnson is in the lineup. The Eagles are confident that Vaitai is better positioned to start this season than last year.

"I think the fact that he's played," Pederson said as the reason. "He's played against some really good competition …And then as the season progressed up in Seattle on the road, and even getting thrust in there a little bit last week against a couple good pass rushers in [Chandler Jones and players like that. So just he's getting better. He's played and that's the biggest thing for him is he's playing with a little confidence right now too which also helps him."

It's unknown whether Vaitai will block for running back Wendell Smallwood, who is questionable with a knee injury. Smallwood missed Sunday's win over Arizona and has not participated in practice this week. That would make it unlikely that Smallwood plays Thursday, but the Eagles still traveled him and will work him out before the game.

By comparison, Cox was a full participant in practice on Tuesday and in Wednesday's walk-through. That's more than could be said about fellow defensive linemen Beau Allen (foot), Chris Long (foot), and Destiny Vaeao (wrist). All three were limited this week and are questionable for Thursday's game.

Allen started in Cox's place during the last two games and injured his foot on Sunday, but still finished the game. The Eagles also have Elijah Qualls and Justin Hamilton at the position.

The Eagles listed defensive back Jaylen Watkins as questionable with a hamstring injury. He has not played since Week 2. The Eagles have gone with Jalen Mills and Rasul Douglas as their starting cornerbacks since Ronald Darby's injury, and that will likely remain the case on Thursday.

Look for Stefen Wisniewski to play more at left guard than he has since the Eagles adopted the rotation with Wisniewski and Chance Warmack in Week 3. Pederson said Warmack will still play, but the Eagles are "going to go a little more" with Wisniewski.

The Panthers listed three players as out: safeties Kurt Coleman and Demetrious Cox and center Ryan Kalil. Tyler Larsen will start in Kalil's place as he has the past four games. Colin Jones starts at safety for Coleman.