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[UPDATE]: Looks like DeVonta Smith is expected to miss two to three weeks with an MCL sprain according to Adam Schefter. The Eagles first preseason game is against the Steelers on Thursday, August 12, so it seems the injury could keep the rookie out of all three preseason games.
Update on Eagles’ first-round pick DeVonta Smith: He is expected to miss two to three weeks with a sprained MCL, per sources. Smith underwent an MRI on Sunday that revealed the injury.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 2, 2021
On Saturday, Day 4 of the Eagles’ training camp, rookie DeVonta Smith suffered an injury, and we’ve now learned that he’s considered week-to-week with a knee sprain. The good news, it doesn’t appear that the team is too concerned with this being a long-term issue, and don’t expect it to affect his development.
DeVonta Smith (knee sprain) is week-to-week. Eagles expect him to be back sooner than later. Team feels like they can be cautious with him because of how advanced he is as a WR.
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) August 2, 2021
Obviously, it’s still not great news, and the rest of the wide receiver has more than a few question marks, but fortunately second-year WR Jalen Reagor has returned the field after missing the first few days of team drills. Additionally, they have Travis Fulgham, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Jhamon Ausbon, John Hightower, Andre Patton, and Greg Ward to take reps in the meantime. Michael Walker went to the trainers tent early in Monday’s practice.
Smith was also working a bit with special teams on punt return, but coordinator Michael Clay said that it was more of a “good to be prepared” situation rather than a regular plan for the first-round draft pick.
The good news is, he’s spent a lot of time with Jalen Hurts this offseason so they’ve already established a good amount of chemistry and rapport before he was sidelined. Here’s hoping he’s back on the field in no time and has no lingering issues as we get closer to the preseason.