Eagles place Nolan Smith Jr. on IR with left-triceps injury; Cooper and Bennett also IR
Philadelphia also places Darius Cooper and Jakorian Bennett on IR as Lane Johnson and Zack Baun participate in practice; Eagles prep for Buccaneers, eye return for N.Y. Packers in Week 9 bye.
The Philadelphia Eagles placed linebacker Nolan Smith Jr. on injured reserve Wednesday after he strained his left triceps in Sunday's game against the Rams, a re-aggravation of the same left triceps that required surgery shortly after Philadelphia’s Super Bowl win in February. The 2023 first-round pick from Georgia had shown promise in 2024, compiling 6.5 sacks, 11 quarterback hits and eight tackles for loss. Through three games this season, Smith had not recorded a sack but had contributed with 10 total tackles and a forced fumble. With the IR designation, the Eagles are now without one of their heralded young edge rushers for at least the next several weeks, a setback for a defense that has sought to maintain relentless pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
The timeline ahead remains uncertain, but Philadelphia conveyed optimism about Smith’s return date after the club’s Week 9 bye. The team hopes he can be back for the Nov. 10 Monday night matchup against the Green Bay Packers, a game that would mark a high-profile return if he progresses through rehabilitation as hoped. The organization emphasized that the IR stint is a precautionary measure designed to allow the defensive front to recover and reconfigure while Smith focuses on healing. In the meantime, the Eagles will lean on their depth along the pass rush and rely on other linebackers and defensive linemen to fill the void created by his absence.
In addition to announcing Smith’s IR designation, Philadelphia also placed wide receiver Darius Cooper and cornerback Jakorian Bennett on injured reserve on Wednesday. Cooper had been part of the depth at receiver, while Bennett had been contributing in the secondary. Their IR designations further thin a roster that has dealt with a series of injuries this season, testing the team’s ability to rotate players and maintain a high level of play on both sides of the ball.
On the practice field, the Eagles offered a glimmer of good news for a portion of their lineup. Right tackle Lane Johnson and linebacker Zack Baun were seen wearing helmets at practice after suffering injuries on Sunday, though neither player was a full participant. The specifics of their statuses remained fluid, but the fact that both were on the practice field suggested some progression toward potential inclusion in future games. Philadelphia will visit Tampa Bay on Sunday for a matchup with the Buccaneers, a game marketed as a key early-season NFC clash between two teams that had started the season strong.
Smith’s absence also robs the defense of a versatile, versatile edge player who had contributed pressure and versatility during his first two seasons. The Georgia product flashed the kind of burst and bend that made him a noticeable building block for the Eagles’ rush schemes, especially during the 2024 postseason when he logged four sacks, including two quarterback hits in the Super Bowl run. His 2024 production, highlighted by 6.5 sacks, 11 QB hits and eight tackles for loss, gave Philadelphia reason to believe he could become a regular sack threat on a front that has leaned on its ability to collapse pockets from multiple angles. In 2025, however, he had yet to notch a sack in three games, though he contributed with 10 tackles and a forced fumble, underscoring how quickly the NFL can pivot from optimism to setback.
The IR move also lands within a broader context of the Eagles’ ongoing effort to manage a rigorous schedule while evaluating young players at the margins. The club has found ways to compensate for injuries with depth, a process that will define the early portion of the season as the team works to maintain a strong open road slate in the NFC. Philadelphia’s injury updates come as the franchise eyes one clear, tangible target on the horizon: a clash with the Buccaneers this weekend, followed by a rapid return to conference play and, perhaps, the November 10 affair against Green Bay that could mark a pivotal moment for Smith’s potential return.
As the Eagles navigate the next stretch, the defense will rely on a blend of veteran leadership and emerging players to sustain the level of play that fans have come to expect. The loss of Smith, along with the IR stints for Cooper and Bennett, underscores the importance of depth across the roster and the need for the organization to maximize every available resource. The road ahead includes important tests in a competitive NFC landscape, with the Buccaneers game representing a critical early-season benchmark and the Packers meeting a potential late-season pivot point should Smith return to action by Week 10. 
In total, the Eagles’ scenario remains fluid, with the organization positioning to withstand several weeks without one of its promising young pass rushers while preparing for a challenging slate of opponents. The team has demonstrated resilience in previous seasons when faced with injuries, and the current roster adjustments will be tested in the weeks ahead as the coaching staff seeks to maintain momentum in the NFC standings. The next steps will hinge on Smith’s progress, the improvement of Johnson and Baun in practice, and the ability of Cooper and Bennett to transition from IR to contributing roles once deemed healthy enough to return to the field.