Philadelphia Eagles Edge Rusher Nolan Smith had an amazing season in the midnight green, pursuing his first Super Bowl. However, late in the first half of the Super Bowl, Smith went to the locker room earlier than the rest of the team in some pain. On Friday afternoon, the former Georgia Bulldog’s torn triceps injury was discovered to be a torn Triceps, and he had successful surgery to repair it according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.
Rapoport and Garafolo reported that Smith’s timetable should have him ready to return to full action to begin the 2025 season. Smith has someone reliable to talk to about rehab. His mentor, Brandon Graham. I am confident that Smith will attack the rehab process like Graham did to make this recovery time feasible so he can start the new season on the right foot. The second-year stud had an amazing 2024 campaign including setting the Eagles’ postseason record for sacks in a run with 4.5 sacks.
An injured Nolan Smith had two quarterback hits on Patrick Mahomes in that game and was close to recovering the strip sack that Milton Williams had in the game. The Eagles defense was dominant all season long, and Smith, along with Jalen Carter, Josh Sweat, Williams, Jaylx Hunt, Graham, etc., created enough havoc with four-man rushes that it was easy for the back seven to cover the receivers downfield, especially in Super Bowl LIX.
Nolan Smith 2025 Projection After Injury
I think Smith is going to build off his 2024 campaign even though this injury could be a setback, I think his mentality is going to carry him through especially when you reflect on the fact that Smith played the second half of the game, the post-game party, and was one of the most animated people at the Eagles parade while having a triceps muscle that was off the tendon. I think he could have between 7-10 sacks in 2025 especially if the Eagles acquire a star pass rusher like Myles Garrett where teams have to pay attention to him and Carter more.
I could also see him having a bigger role in the defensive front if the Eagles don’t upgrade/replace Sweat, potentially having an 11-12 sack season as a result because his motor is that dang good as an undersize player that has become a skilled edge rusher in this league.
Conclusion
Smith is one of those guys that I as an Eagles fan am glad he is on the team because his “Dawg Mentality” is one to behold especially when it comes to edge rushers on this defense. I think this Triceps injury is only going to make him appreciate his career even more. Total Apex Sports is the place to be for the breaking news and stories of all of your favorite sports including the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, etc. Also, tune in to Total Apex Fantasy for all of your DFS and Fantasy needs, and Total Apex Bets for up-to-date betting advice on all of the sports action.
