Brandon Graham, with a hint of gray in his beard and a bulky brace on his left arm, is working hard to recover in time for the Super Bowl. While he’s not ready to confirm if his career is over, the 36-year-old defensive end is determined to rehab his torn triceps and make it back for the February 9 Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs.
“Whatever I’ve got to do for this one game, I feel like I can do it,” Graham said Thursday.
Thursday marked Graham’s first practice in over two months, bringing the possibility of a Super Bowl return after an injury that was initially expected to end his season. He tore his triceps in a November 24 game against the Los Angeles Rams and was placed on injured reserve shortly after.
Many assumed that would be the end of his career, but as the Eagles kept winning, including their NFC playoff games, Graham started considering a return for the Super Bowl.
“We’ve got two weeks. Today was a great start,” Graham said. “As long as I don’t have no setbacks, I don’t think it’s going to be a problem.”
Graham, who was part of the Eagles’ Super Bowl championship team in the 2017 season, is one of only two position players and four total players left from that winning team. Although he said during training camp that 2024 would be his final season, the injury has made him rethink that decision. His retirement is still undecided.
“I ain’t there yet, man,” Graham said. “We’re going to get this one. Let’s go get this one and then we’ll talk about it.”
Graham is remembered for his crucial strip-sack of Tom Brady in Super Bowl LII, which helped the Eagles secure their first championship.
He missed most of the 2021 season due to a torn Achilles tendon but bounced back in 2022 with a career-high 11 sacks. This season, before his injury, he had 3 1/2 sacks in 11 games and holds the franchise record with 5 1/2 career postseason sacks.
Though Graham remains on injured reserve and doesn’t count against the Eagles’ 53-man roster, his teammates were thrilled to have him back at practice.
“You heard him before you saw him, that’s for damn sure,” said offensive lineman Jordan Mailata. “It was amazing having him out there again. Just the energy, it’s infectious, man. It’s the right timing, man.”
Several other key Eagles players, including guard Landon Dickerson, center Cam Jurgens, and wide receiver DeVonta Smith, were held out of practice on Thursday, but none are expected to miss the Super Bowl.
Without Graham, the Eagles have been successful with a three-player rush combination of Nolan Smith, Josh Sweat, and Jalyx Hunt. Graham played 18 snaps without a tackle or sack when the Chiefs beat the Eagles 38-35 in the previous Super Bowl two years ago.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni had sounded downbeat after Graham’s injury in November, calling his leadership and energy contagious.
“His energy is contagious. If you’re having a bad day and you get around him, he can turn your day positive,” Sirianni said. “Obviously, the type of player he is speaks for itself and the play on the field. He was having a great year. I just can’t say enough about him as a leader, as a captain, as a teammate.”
Now, Graham has a chance for one last game in his career, and it seems impossible that the franchise leader in career games played at 206 would work so hard to recover just to sit out the Super Bowl.
“I’m just hype to be back on that field, man,” Graham said. “Can’t wait to get after it tomorrow.”
