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

The Eagles made a series of roster moves Wednesday that notably included Nolan Smith being placed on injured reserve.

Smith, a third-year outside linebacker, reinjured the left triceps he tore during Super Bowl LIX, The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane confirmed. Smith underwent surgery a week and a half after that game and 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.

Backup cornerback Jakorian Bennett and wide receiver Darius Cooper also were placed on injured reserve. Cooper, an undrafted rookie wide 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 team hopes that the trio could return around the bye week, which is in Week 9. At minimum, they must miss the next four games, making the earliest possible return 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 on game day this season.

When asked if Smith’s injury would open the door to a game-day role, Ojulari said Wednesday that “whatever the opportunity is” going forward, he’ll be ready to rise to the occasion. Ojulari, the New York Giants’ No. 50 overall pick in the 2021 draft out of Georgia, arrived in Philadelphia this offseason looking to rediscover the success he had his rookie season, when he posted eight sacks in 17 games.

While he waits for his opportunity, Ojulari said he’s been “working” behind the scenes so he can take advantage when his number is called.

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“Just keeping the body right,” Ojulari said. “Treatment, everything, whatever it is, just to stay ready. Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.”

Za’Darius Smith, 33, signed with the Eagles just over two weeks ago and still is getting up to speed in the playbook. He said he has the nickel defense down, but he’s still learning Vic Fangio’s base calls, which tend to come on early downs.

While Smith may not be ready to step into an every-down role, that isn’t because of his fitness level, he said.

“My first couple years in Baltimore, I didn’t play as much,” he said. “So I’ve still got a lot left in the tank. Obviously, I’m not going to turn [an every-down role] down. But you look at guys like Ogbo now that can get an opportunity. Azeez can get an opportunity, man. So hopefully we all can just get in and rotate, be rotational players, man, and help this void that we’re going to miss from [Nolan] Smith.”

Bennett was the backup to Adoree’ Jackson, the outside cornerback opposite Quinyon Mitchell when the Eagles are in their nickel defense. Jackson exited Sunday’s game with a groin injury and was at practice on Wednesday but did not participate. 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.