Now, Nolan Smith Jr., the rookie starting edge rusher for the Philadelphia Eagles has been officially placed on injured reserve. He suffered a strained triceps during the team’s victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. The Pittsburg, Kansas native’s injury is a big blow at this important juncture in his career. He was finally expected to break out and be the Eagles’ top pass-rusher this season with veterans Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat departing for greener pastures during the off-season.
Smith was the 30th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft after a standout season with the University of Georgia. He unfortunately suffered some issues with his left triceps and had surgery just after the Super Bowl. He further injured this pre-existing ailment last week to the point where it resulted in his current placement on the injured reserve list. In fact, he had no sacks through his first three games. He generated eight quarterback pressures, second only to his teammate Jalyx Hunt.
With Smith retiring from his post, The Eagles’ newly acquired pass-rusher combo of Joshua Uche and Za’Darius Smith will be key to bolstering their pass-rushing unit. Uche and Za’Darius will be tasked with maintaining pressure on opposing quarterbacks as the team navigates through the next few games without their key edge rusher.
Last season, Smith showcased his potential by posting impressive statistics, including 6.5 sacks, 11 quarterback hits, and eight tackles for loss. His performance was a good sign for the future in the league and expectations were high going into this season.
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