The Philadelphia Eagles already had misplaced proper sort out Lane Johnson to a concussion throughout their sport in opposition to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, when a monstrous hit knocked large receiver DeVonta Smith out of the sport.
For the third straight snap, Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts related with the previous Alabama All-American on a first-and-10 play from the Eagles 30-yard line. With Smith being ridden down after a 5-yard achieve by New Orleans defensive again Paulson Adebo and Kendal Vickers, 320-pound Khristian Boyd, on the complete run trailing the play, blasted Smith in the back and head.
Smith’s helmet flew off, and the hit left him stretched flat on the turf.
“Man, that’s the dirtiest (expletive) I ever saw in football, bro,” Eagles security C.J. Gardner-Johnson said after the sport. “Ya’ll obviously saw that forward progression was stopped. They’re going to take a cheap shot on one of our key players, it goes to show you what type of team that is: They’re frontrunners.”
After being tended to on the sector, Smith walked to the sideline medical tent, then to the locker room. Smith waved his arms and a towel making an attempt to fireplace up Eagles followers at Caesars Superdome on his solution to the locker room, however he didn't return to the sport.
The NFL team announced Smith was being evaluated for a concussion. Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni didn't present any new details about Smith’s damage after the sport.
“DeVonta Smith, man, he’s one of the toughest dudes I know,” Sirianni said. “He is one of the toughest dudes I know, and I’ll get an update on how he’s doing. Obviously, he didn’t come back into the game, but if he would have been able to, he would have because DeVonta Smith is tough. And when one of your best players has that much mental and physical toughness, that’s contagious.”
The Eagles trailed 3-0 when Smith went out with 13:45 left to play. On the following snap, Philadelphia operating again Saquon Barkley broke free for a 65-yard landing, and the Eagles went on to a 15-12 victory.
“The thing we did right after that, we locked in and said let’s trust each other and get this done for Smitty,” Barkley said. “Sometimes it just works like that.”
From Amite City, Louisiana, Smith was enjoying in New Orleans for the primary time in his NFL profession on Sunday.
“I know it was a special game for him,” Hurts said, “and I’m happy as a team we found a way to win in his home state, and so, hopefully, he can hear these words and be proud.”
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Mark Inabinett is a sports activities reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.