Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham has been cleared to return from a torn triceps injury he suffered 11 weeks ago and will play in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The 36-year-old Graham was initially thought to be out for the season after injuring himself during a game against the Los Angeles Rams on November 24.
He was placed on injured reserve two days later, which seemed to end what he had expected to be his final season. However, as the Eagles continued to win, including all three NFC playoff games, Graham began to hint he might be able to play in the Super Bowl, even considering wearing his No. 55 jersey as a good luck sign after the Eagles scored 55 points in the NFC title game.
Graham returned to practice last week as a limited participant and was listed as a full participant on Friday’s injury report. He was officially added back to the 53-man roster on Saturday.
This week, in New Orleans, Graham shared that he imagined himself running out of the tunnel for Super Bowl introductions.
“It’ll feel great because you worked your butt off to get back,” Graham said. “I know the team worked their butt off to get here and I want to be there for them.”
Graham is one of only two position players and four players remaining from the Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning team from the 2017 season.
The Eagles’ first-round pick from Michigan in 2010, Graham had mentioned in training camp that he planned to retire after this season. However, his injury caused him to reconsider, though his retirement decision is still not final.
Brandon Graham runs a drill in the NFL practiceHe is remembered for one of the most iconic moments in Eagles history, when he strip-sacked New England’s Tom Brady in the Super Bowl with 2:21 left in the fourth quarter. Derek Barnett recovered the fumble, and the Eagles held on to win 41-33.
Graham missed most of 2021 with a torn Achilles tendon but came back the next season to set a career-high 11 sacks. This season, he had 3 1/2 sacks in 11 games before his injury. He holds the franchise record with 5 1/2 career postseason sacks.
Graham played 18 snaps in the Eagles’ loss to the Chiefs two years ago, without recording a tackle or sack.
The Chiefs elevated linebacker Swayze Bozeman and cornerback Steven Nelson from the practice squad on Saturday. They did not activate wide receiver Skyy Moore, who has been on injured reserve but practiced during the week leading up to the Super Bowl.
Without Graham, the Eagles have found success with a three-player rush combination of Nolan Smith, Josh Sweat, and Jalyx Hunt.
“I don’t want to get in the way of the rhythm of what everybody already has,” Graham said. “If I can just add anything, I want to give everything I’ve got.”
