Eagles place linebacker Nolan Smith on injured reserve with a triceps injury

Olivia Reiner, The Philadelphia Inquirer on Sep 24, 2025

Published in Football

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PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles made a series of roster moves Wednesday that most notably included the placement of Nolan Smith on injured reserve.

Smith, a third-year outside linebacker, reinjured the left triceps he tore during Super Bowl LIX, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane confirmed. Smith underwent surgery a week and a half after that game, and he was good to go for the start of the season. Smith had been playing with a brace on his surgically repaired arm.

It is unclear when Smith, 24, aggravated the injury in the Eagles’ Week 3 win over the Los Angeles Rams. He played 46 defensive snaps (69.7%), which led the team’s edge rusher corps. Smith was on the field until the third-to-last play of the game, an incomplete pass to Puka Nacua.

In addition to Smith, backup cornerback Jakorian Bennett and wide receiver Darius Cooper are also headed to injured reserve. Cooper, an undrafted rookie receiver out of Tarleton State, exited the Rams game after injuring his shoulder on the opening kickoff of the second half. Bennett’s injury is unclear.

None of the injuries to Smith, Bennett, or Cooper will require surgery. The hope for the team is that the trio could return around the bye week, which is in Week 9. At a minimum, they must miss the next four games, making the earliest possible return in Week 8 against the New York Giants on Oct. 26.

The Eagles have options to replace Smith’s snaps at the starting outside linebacker spot opposite Jalyx Hunt. Joshua Uche and Za’Darius Smith, who played 19 (29%) and 24 (36%) defensive snaps, respectively, against the Rams, could see their playing time increase. Patrick Johnson, Ogbo Okoronkwo, and Azeez Ojulari were inactive for the game. Neither Okoronkwo nor Ojulari has been active yet this season.

Bennett had been serving as the backup to Adoree’ Jackson, the outside cornerback opposite Quinyon Mitchell when the Eagles are in their nickel defense. Although Jackson exited Sunday’s game with a groin injury, he was back at practice on Wednesday. Kelee Ringo, the 2023 fourth-rounder out of Georgia, would be the next man up behind Jackson.

To fill the open spots on the active roster, the Eagles signed safety Marcus Epps, tight end Cameron Latu, and defensive back Parry Nickerson from the practice squad. Epps had been elevated to the game day roster three times, the maximum, this season. Latu, who has been serving as the team’s fullback after the season-ending knee tendon injury to Ben VanSumeren, had been elevated twice.

Additionally, the Eagles added linebacker Lance Dixon, cornerback Eli Ricks, and wide receiver Quez Watkins to the practice squad. The Eagles worked out Watkins, their 2020 sixth-rounder out of Southern Mississippi, on Sept. 8.