An injury bug that tormented the Eagles all of last season has already begun biting during this year’s training camp. During Saturday evening’s practice, rookie wideout DeVonte Smith suffered a knee injury and is expected to miss two to three weeks. The official diagnosis is a sprained MCL, which was determined after Smith underwent an MRI on Sunday.
The team hopes Smith can return to action soon, as they fully expect him to immediately assume the lead wideout role. His combination of elite speed and clinical route running translated into a Heisman Trophy during his final season at Alabama.
This injury will no doubt sorely remind fans of last year, when the Birds’ receiving core was decimated with injuries. Second year receiver, Jalen Reagor, missed a solid chunk of last season and reportedly is off to a slow start in this one as he failed the team’s conditioning test and has been limited with a lower body strain.
Meanwhile, Travis Fulgham and Greg Ward will need to step up while the Eagles play it cautionary with Smith and Reagor, the latter of whom was able to return to drills on Saturday.
