Nick Sirianni needed a day and four more questions to deal with the harsh news about team leader Brandon Graham that everybody else already knew.
“I think it’s pretty well known that he’ll be out for the rest of the season,” Sirianni said Tuesday, four questions into his second press conference in some 12 hours after the Eagles had dispatched the Rams on the other coast.
“Again, my heart goes out to him and how much he’s put into this thing, his entire career and this season,” Sirianni said of Graham. “And we’ll sure as heck miss him.”
Graham, playing in his team-record 206th Eagles game, tore a triceps muscle late in the fourth quarter of a 37-20 win over the Rams, the Eagles’ seventh in a row. Immediately afterward, Sirianni had declined to talk about Graham’s prognosis, until after he’d discussed the matter in detail with club medical officials.
While it took a little longer for the Eagles head coach to admit Graham was done for the year, he wasn’t really addressing Graham’s future beyond this season. Although this 15th season was announced as Graham’s last when he re-upped last summer, there was no question Graham had at least left a window open Sunday night when asked if he’d possibly give it another shot if this rehab went smoothly.
Sirianni, however, wasn’t drifting from the script.
“I can’t say enough good things about BG,” Sirianni said. “I think you guys have asked me this a couple times, and everybody and every workplace needs a Brandon Graham. His energy is contagious. If you’re having a bad day and you get around him, he can turn your day positive.
“I just can’t say enough about him as a leader, as a captain, as a teammate.”
As far as replacing Graham in the defensive line rotation, Sirianni referenced current Eagles Josh Sweat, Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt picking up extra snaps.
“I feel like we have good options in-house. And I know that Howie (Roseman, the Eagles’ general manager) and his staff will leave no stone unturned,” Sirianni said. “But, again, like I said, you only focus on the guys that you have right now. And the guys we have, I’m excited about their opportunity. As bummed as I am for Brandon and losing him, I’m excited for these other guys’ opportunities.”
As for the off-the-field Graham, just as much of a force as he is on the field, Sirianni said, “His leadership is very special. And BG is going to be around. He’s going to be still leading.”
While it was asked when or whether Graham would be medically cleared to be on the sideline at some point later in the season, Sirianni added, “Haven’t got to that point yet. I sure as heck hope so. We need him. I need him. The team needs him.
“Everybody and every workplace, I hope and wish that they have a Brandon Graham available to them because it brings up everybody every single day. And that is a special, special quality that Brandon Graham has. So even if they say he might not be able to go on the sideline, I will be lobbying with everything I have to make sure that he can. And I’ll do my best to protect him on the sideline if the ball gets anywhere close to him.”
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Baltimore’s veteran horse Derrick Henry hasn’t slowed down much this season after his great start, it’s just that Saquon Barkley has spent the past few weeks ascending to another level.
So much so that Barkley (1,392 yards rushing on 223 attempts) has passed Henry for the NFL rushing yardage lead. Henry, with only two less carries than Barkley, trails him by 67 yards.
Henry still is the leader in touchdowns, but only by three (13-10). That’s indicative of the way Jalen Hurts (11 rushing TDs) has been set up by Barkley for tush-pushes after Barkley helps put the ball on opponents’ doorsteps.
Now comes a chance to see a couple of marquis matchups as the Ravens host the Eagles Sunday (4:25 p.m.), with Hurts-vs.-Lamar Jackson in a quarterback battle, but one that might be a sidebar to Barkley-vs.-Henry.
“Obviously both great football players,” Sirianni said of the two leading rushers. “(I have) a lot of respect for Derrick Henry. … Big, strong, fast, hard to tackle. He is as advertised when you see him in person. And obviously we all see it. You guys all see it. The play speaks for itself.
“He’s able to hit a home run and make you pay if not everybody is on the same page, if you’re not tackling well, if you’re not getting off blocks well, if you’re not hustling to the football. That part of it reminds you of Saquon, because it’s similar.”
Source: Berkshire mont