Graham, a Philadelphia icon and author of the biggest play in franchise history (a sack of Tom Brady in Super Bowl LII that gave the Eagles their only Lombardi Trophy), may have played his last snap in the NFL.
Before the season started, he said his 15th year would be his last. Playing at a high level at age 36, he has since left the door open for a comeback, but that’s no guarantee.
“I’m just trying to process everything right now. I haven’t gotten that far,” Graham said. “But you know what? I’m going to keep my spirits up, keep enjoying it… because we have a special team right now and it’s time for people to step up.
“I’m happy that we are where we are. And if anything, if I were to go out, I’m happy with the way I played today. And I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Graham had a big impact in Sunday’s win with a sack, 2 tackles for loss, and 3 quarterback hits. He exited in the fourth quarter after running back Kyren Williams hit his elbow while running down the left edge on a pass play.
Graham thought at first it was just the elbow tendonitis he had been dealing with, but he knew something was wrong when trainers examined him on the sideline.
“[The trainer] He told me and I just tried to process it. I called my wife and told her the news. The kids were crying,” he said. “But at the end of the day, it is what it is. There’s no point crying about it. I just have to know that I put everything into it, it hurt, but I tell you I’m going to get better.”
As the news began to circulate on the Eagles’ sideline, quarterback Jalen Hurts approached Graham, put his arm around him and spoke to him at length.
“That I was there for him,” Hurts said of the message he delivered. “It’s very unfortunate for the man first and for a teammate second. A guy who has endeared himself to this franchise, has always tried to elevate and really teach the younger guys that are coming in. “His quest has been to be the best he can be.” “Myself, but really being the best teammate I can be and serving everyone I can.”
Other teammates gave Graham a hug or a pat on the back as he walked inside. While the Eagles celebrated their seventh straight win to move to 9-2, the loss of Graham was clearly top of mind among his teammates.
“I’ve only been able to be his teammate for a short period of time, but I feel like I’ve known him my entire life,” said Saquon Barkley, who set a career-high with more than 300 yards from scrimmage on Sunday. “He’s the reason this transition for me has been so easy: him along with a lot of other guys.
“The energy and the passion that he brings not only to this team but to this city, he epitomizes what it is to be a Philadelphia Eagle. And all of us have to align ourselves and try to follow and try to achieve the things that he accomplished.”
With his sack on Sunday, Graham moved into third place on the Eagles’ all-time sacks list (76.5), trailing only Reggie White (124) and Trent Cole (88.5). He holds the record for most regular season games (206) in Eagles history.
The Eagles are shorthanded at the edge rusher position. Bryce Huff, one of the team’s big free agent acquisitions, is on injured reserve after undergoing wrist surgery but is expected to return toward the end of the regular season. Meanwhile, most of the responsibility will fall on Josh Sweat, Nolan Smith and rookie Jalyx Hunt.
Philadelphia also saw cornerback Darius Slay leave early in the third quarter with a concussion after a heavy collision while making a tackle on tight end Colby Parkinson on the right sideline.
Slay was replaced in the lineup by Isaiah Rodgers, who was flagged for pass interference in the end zone later in the drive to set up a Rams score.
Slay, a six-time Pro Bowler, is in his 12th season in the NFL. He has seven passes defensed and one forced fumble on the year, and the Eagles came in with the league’s second-ranked pass defense (173 yards per game).
