Eagles hero Brandon Graham returns from a torn triceps to play in Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs. This remarkable comeback comes after 11 weeks of recovery, a journey that many believed would sideline him for the entire season.
At 36 years old, Graham faced uncertainty following an injury sustained during a game against the Los Angeles Rams on November 24. Initially, his season appeared to be over when he was placed on injured reserve just two days later, marking what he thought would be the end of his illustrious career.
As the Eagles advanced through the playoffs, winning all three NFC games, Graham began to express hope about returning to the field. He found inspiration in the number 55, which he wore during the NFC title game when the Eagles scored that many points, considering it a good luck charm for his potential Super Bowl appearance.
Last week, Graham participated in practice as a limited player and was listed as questionable on the injury report. By Saturday, he was officially reinstated to the Eagles’ 53-man roster.
In a recent statement made in New Orleans, Graham shared his excitement about the prospect of running out of the tunnel for Super Bowl introductions. “It’ll feel great because you worked your butt off to get back,” he remarked, emphasizing his commitment to supporting his teammates.
Graham stands as one of the last remaining players from the Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning squad of 2017, alongside just three others. A first-round pick from Michigan in 2010, he initially announced that this would be his final season, but his injury has prompted him to reconsider that decision.
He is well-remembered for his pivotal strip-sack of Tom Brady during the Eagles’ historic Super Bowl win, a moment that solidified his place in franchise lore. Despite missing most of the 2021 season due to a torn Achilles tendon, Graham rebounded last year with a career-high of 11 sacks.
Before his injury this season, Graham had recorded 3.5 sacks in 11 games and holds the franchise record for postseason sacks at 5.5. In a previous matchup against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, he played 18 snaps without a tackle or sack, a statistic he hopes to improve upon in the upcoming game.
With Graham’s absence, the Eagles successfully utilized a three-player rush combination of Nolan Smith, Josh Sweat, and Jalyx Hunt. Graham expressed his desire to contribute without disrupting their rhythm, stating, “If I can just add anything, I want to give everything I’ve got.”
