Eagles Defense Takes a Hit

On Wednesday, the Eagles faced a significant setback. Star pass rusher Nolan Smith Jr. has been placed on injured reserve due to a triceps strain he suffered during last Sunday’s game against the Rams. It’s a tough break for Philadelphia, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The team is optimistic that Smith might return after the bye week, aiming for him to be back in action for their November 10 matchup against the Packers.

This injury isn’t entirely new for Smith; it’s the same left triceps he had surgery on shortly after the Eagles’ Super Bowl win back in February. The 2023 first-round draft pick from Georgia was having a solid second season, tallying 6.5 sacks, 11 quarterback hits, and eight tackles in the previous year.

While he hasn’t made any sacks this season so far, he has recorded 10 tackles and forced one fumble. Smith was quite impactful last postseason, notching four sacks, including two in the Super Bowl.

In addition to Smith, the Eagles also placed wide receiver Darius Cooper and cornerback Jacolien Bennett on injured reserve on the same day, which adds pressure to the team’s roster depth.

However, not everything is doom and gloom regarding injuries. Right tackle Lane Johnson and linebacker Zack Byrne participated in practice despite dealing with injuries from Sunday, although they weren’t fully cleared yet.

The Eagles are gearing up for a matchup against the undefeated Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday, which should be an exciting game for fans.