Eagles Starting LS Suffers Serious Injury, Out for the Rest of the Season
The Philadelphia Eagles announced a series of roster changes this week following a tough stretch that saw two key players land on Injured Reserve. The moves leave the team with an open spot on the active roster and another on the practice squad.
Outside linebacker Ogbo Okoronkwo, who joined Philadelphia this offseason after a stint with the Cleveland Browns, was placed on Injured Reserve after making his Eagles debut in the Week 4 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Okoronkwo, inactive for the first three games of the season, played a handful of defensive snaps before being sidelined with a serious injury. His loss adds to an already thin edge rusher group.
With Okoronkwo out and rookie Nolan Smith also on IR, the Eagles will be leaning heavily on veterans Jalyx Hunt and Za’Darius Smith, along with Joshua Uche and Patrick Johnson, to carry the load. Former Giants pass rusher Azeez Ojulari, still waiting to be activated, could be forced into a larger role sooner rather than later.
Long snapper Charley Hughlett, who signed with Philadelphia after a decade in Cleveland, has suffered a severe recurrence of a neck injury and is expected to miss the remainder of the season. Hughlett had been a steady hand in the kicking game, working seamlessly with kicker Jake Elliott and punter Braden Mann through the first month of the season. His season-ending setback now forces the Eagles to pivot quickly at the position.
To fill the void, the Eagles signed veteran long snapper Cal Adomitis to the active roster. Adomitis, 27, spent the past three seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, appearing in 49 games. A former Pitt standout, he was recognized as an All-American by the American Football Coaches Association in 2021 and is considered one of the most decorated long snappers in school history.
These changes highlight the Eagles’ depth being tested early in the season. While the front office acted quickly to reinforce special teams with the addition of Adomitis, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will need creative solutions to overcome the growing list of injuries along the edge.
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