DeVonta Smith's improved play could give Eagles' A.J. Brown more time to recover

Brown avoiding a season-ending knee injury is a positive for the Eagles, but he already missed three games with a hamstring problem. 

Brown may need more time to recover. If the Eagles sit him in a Week 10 road game against the Dallas Cowboys (3-5), that could give Smith another opportunity to step up. 

Against Jacksonville, Smith finished with four receptions for a season-high 87 yards. He also made a phenomenal 25-yard one-handed touchdown catch on a 3rd-and-22 early in the fourth quarter.

"It's always tough when [Brown] goes down because he's such a dynamic player, such a big part of this team and this offense," Smith said postgame, per ESPN News Services. "If he goes down, I kind of get the feeling like I have to step up. For me, I'm always ready for the challenge."

The Eagles may want to thrust Brown back into the lineup against the Cowboys. He has 23 receptions for 444 yards and three TD catches in his first five games. Plus, he has crossed the 100 receiving-yard mark twice. 

Philadelphia, however, should consider the long game. The Eagles (6-2) are in a tight NFC East race with the Washington Commanders (7-2). If Brown suffers another injury, that could hamper their chances of winning the division. 

Smith, meanwhile, is off to one of the best starts of his career. Through seven games, the fourth-year wideout is averaging a career-high 67.6 receiving yards per game. 

Whether Brown plays or not, expect Smith to keep flourishing against Dallas' 18th-ranked passing defense (217 YPG). As of Monday, ESPN Bet lists the Eagles as a seven-point favorite.