by The Philadelphia Eagles have suffered a significant setback in their 2025 season: Eagles OLB Nolan Smith triceps injury has forced the team to place him on injured reserve. This move immediately impacts the defense and reshapes the rotation at outside linebacker. In this NFL news roundup Eagles injuries, we’ll provide a detailed Nolan Smith injury update, examining how his absence alters the Philadelphia Eagles injury report and what it means for the team’s upcoming games.
Smith’s injury not only sidelines a promising pass rusher but also forces the Eagles to rely more heavily on depth players to maintain pressure off the edge. With Nolan Smith placed on injured reserve, coaches must adjust schemes and explore roster moves to fill the gap. For fans and analysts alike, the Eagles OLB Nolan Smith triceps injury raises serious questions about the defense’s ability to sustain dominance.
Background on Nolan Smith and His Triceps History
Nolan Smith entered the NFL with high expectations, drafted 30th overall by the Eagles in 2023. In his rookie season and into 2024, he developed into a promising Eagles linebacker triceps injury risk—he first sustained a torn left triceps during Super Bowl LIX, which required surgery in the offseason.
He played the early part of the 2025 season wearing a brace and with caution around that surgically repaired region. His presence on the edge had become an increasingly important component of the Eagles’ pass rush.
Given that past history, the announcement that Eagles OLB Nolan Smith triceps injury has again flared is painful but not wholly surprising.
What Happened: The Latest Update
On September 24, 2025, the Eagles officially placed Nolan Smith on injured reserve due to an aggravated triceps injury. The team confirmed that, by rule, he must miss at least four games.
Reports indicate this is a re-injury of the same left triceps muscle that had surgery earlier in the offseason. It is not expected to require additional surgery, but Smith will need rest and recovery.
His Nolan Smith injury update also suggests that the Eagles hope he can return after their Week 9 bye (Nov. 2) or potentially for the Nov. 10 Monday Night game against the Packers.
Through three games in 2025, he recorded 10 tackles and forced one fumble, though he had not yet logged a sack.
So, this Eagles OLB Nolan Smith triceps injury is a serious blow, but not necessarily season-ending—depending on how his rehab and recovery go.
Impact on the Eagles’ Defense and Roster Adjustments
Losing Nolan Smith disrupts the Eagles’ pass rush and edge rotation. With Nolan Smith placed on injured reserve, the team must lean heavily on backups and depth.
Depth at EDGE / Outside Linebacker
Without Smith, the pass-rushing responsibilities will likely shift to:
- Jalyx Hunt, the starter opposite Smith, will see expanded snaps.
- Joshua Uche and Za’Darius Smith are the next in line to pick up more workload.
- Additional options include Patrick Johnson, Azeez Ojulari, and Ogbo Okoronkwo.
This shuffle means the Eagles’ defensive coordinator may have to adjust schemes or rotate more often to manage fatigue and matchups.
Other Injuries & Roster Moves
Smith’s move to IR came along with two more placements: cornerback Jakorian Bennett and rookie wide receiver Darius Cooper were also placed on injured reserve. The trio must miss a minimum of four games.
Because of these moves, the Eagles promoted or signed the following:
- To active roster: Marcus Epps, Cameron Latu, Parry Nickerson
- To practice squad: Lance Dixon, Eli Ricks, Quez Watkins
These additions reflect how the Eagles are trying to maintain roster flexibility in light of Philadelphia Eagles injury report challenges.
Timeline and Prognosis
Duration of Absence
By rule, Smith must miss at least four games. But multiple sources suggest a more extended timeline:
- ESPN reports he could be out through the Week 9 bye (Nov. 2) and return afterward.
- The Inquirer, NBC, and other outlets also align that the earliest realistic return is late October or early November.
So while Eagles OLB Nolan Smith triceps injury is serious, the Eagles are not yet treating it as season-ending. They’ll monitor his recovery closely and aim to bring him back after his arm is fully stable.
Recovery and Rehabilitation
Because this is a re-aggravation of a surgically repaired triceps, the recovery path is delicate. The usual protocol will likely include:
- Rest & immobilization (brace, limited strain)
- Physical therapy and strengthening
- Gradual return to on-field work and pass-rushing drills
- Game-readiness evaluation
Given his prior surgery and this flare, recovery must be carefully managed to avoid further setbacks.
What This Means for Upcoming Games
In the immediate term, the Eagles must navigate several challenges without Smith’s presence:
- Pass rush effectiveness may drop — losing a key edge player weakens depth and may blunt pressure in certain matchups.
- Rotation fatigue risk — backups will have to shoulder increased snaps, especially in high-leverage situations.
- Matchup flexibility — the coaching staff may alter defensive schemes, using more stunts, blitzes, or combination fronts to compensate.
- Game planning adjustments — offenses may target edges or design quick passes to mitigate pressure.
Despite this, the Eagles started the 2025 season 3–0 and still have a strong roster. The hope will be to “plug and play” without too much dropoff until Smith returns.
Historical & Career Context
Through 36 regular-season games since being drafted, Nolan Smith has compiled 70 tackles and 7. It is worth noting that you see, 5 kind of sacks. It is worth noting that in 2024, he posted 6. 5 sacks and paced his way I mean into a key role during Philadelphia’s Super Bowl run.
You see, His durability has been a question mark, especially given this recurring Eagles linebacker triceps injury. When examining this closely, you see, still, that eagles viewed him as a core piece inside their defensive future.
Basically, This latest injury adds another chapter toward his narrative—one that may test his resilience along with long-term outlook.
Summary & Final Thoughts
The Nolan Smith placed on injured reserve announcement is a sort of major storyline within this week’s NFL news roundup Eagles injuries. An alternative viewpoint suggests that the eagles olb nolan smith triceps injury threatens to disable a key pass-rush weapon during a critical stretch of the season. From a Nolan Smith injury update, we know he must miss located at least four games, and likely through this bye week. that Philadelphia Eagles injury report will now skip his name for a few contests. Does that make sense?
Despite this, the Eagles have options and depth. Their rotation found at EDGE can adjust, and they’ve already made roster moves to bolster support. Still, Smith’s absence will test that defense’s adaptability. It is worth noting that when he returns, his performance and health will be central within gauging whether this seems to be a blip or a recurring issue during his career. From a different perspective, until then, this eagles must soldier on without him.
