The Philadelphia Eagles upped their record to 9-2 with a 37-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football, but it came with a cost. Long-time defensive end Brandon Graham suffered a season-ending triceps injury in the second half of the game. The injury was a mystery to most Eagles fans, including myself, until after the game in the locker room, when Graham disclosed the extent of the injury.
Graham’s Reveal
The Philadelphia Media went to the Eagles locker room after the game as they normally do, where they would get the bombshell of all bombshells when Graham said that he would be out for the season. At first, they were like, “No way,” but he reiterated that he did indeed tear his tricep and explained how it happened. A running back chip blocked him around the elbow, and it tore the tricep. Before that, Graham reached third all-time in Eagles sacks behind Reggie White and Trent Cole with a sack on Stafford in the third quarter.
As an Eagles fan, seeing the clip on Twitter after the game left me in a somber mood because this is probably the end of his career. I love BG and what he has brought to the game and this Eagles team throughout his 14-year career. He also said afterward that he’ll still be around and be the leader of that defensive front from the sidelines. Graham this season has been stellar at his age with 3.5 sacks and a bunch of big plays for that Eagles front four, and he was the wrecking ball against the Rams all night before the injury.
Brandon Graham’s Career Retrospective
Graham had the biggest play in Eagles history by strip-sacking Tom Brady late in Super Bowl 52 to help the Eagles close that game out and win their first Lombardi Trophy. He will always have a special place in my heart, and like other Eagles fans right now has me replaying that moment in my head over and over again. If this is it for his career, Graham will definitely be in the Eagles Hall of Fame and could potentially be in the NFL Hall of Fame.
Graham is an underappreciated player in the national media, but in Philly, he’s a hero and will always be a hero. I will miss him a lot when his career does end. I hope this Triceps injury doesn’t end his career, but if it does, he seemed upbeat, knowing he left it all out on the field.
Where Do the Eagles Go From Here?
The Eagles already had setbacks at the edge position with Bryce Huff’s wrist surgery last week and Josh Sweat’s foot tweak, but he did return to the game last night. The burden will fall to Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, and Sweat to step up to create that pass rush from the edges. And the interior linemen, Jalen Carter, Milton Williams, Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo, must continue their stellar play going forward without BG. I have full confidence that Vic Fangio will figure things out, especially with the adjustments he has already made this season. I’m also fully confident that BG’s leadership will keep them focused on the goal at hand.
Final Thoughts
The injury to Graham devastated Eagles fans, including myself, and hindered the excitement of the dominant win on Sunday Night Football last night. I’m still confident that the Eagles will be fine in the long run for the 2024 season. But if this is it for Brandon Graham in terms of his career, it was one hell of a ride for not only him but us Eagles fans who have watched his journey from the beginning. For more NFL news, follow along with Total Apex Sports.
