Eagles
Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
In the midst of a disappointing season for the Eagles, fans are wondering if they will be forced to go without one another of their most consistent star players for the long haul. In this instance, the player is DeVonta Smith, and the sixth-year wide receiver had only missed five games in his career prior to the 2026 season. This season alone, he’s missed three and counting.
There’s reason to believe that number will only grow. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni was noncommittal about Smith’s immediate future in a week seven media session.
“I just want him to continue to get better,” said Sirianni about Smith. That doesn’t sound like he’s talking about a player who’s playing anytime soon.
Nick Sirianni in the Eagles’ tunnel before a game against the Carolina PanthersCredit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
And why would the Eagles want to rush him back? Smith is a key player for preserving the Eagles’ championship window beyond this season. Having DeVonta Smith play with Tanner McKee for ten weeks won’t do anything monumental for the team or his own development.
On the other hand, Smith should be out there. NFL players are paid to play football no matter if their quarterback is Jalen Hurts or Tanner McKee. Players’ legacies are defined by their statistics, and who knows how many more years of his prime Smith has left? Shutting down a healthy player for an entire season just because the team is already terrible is laughable behavior from an NFL team.
It seems as though there are three major options for the Eagles’ course of action with managing Smith’s injury, and each one has major implications about Nick Sirianni.
If they shut him down for the season
If DeVonta Smith does not play another game in 2026, that decision completely indicates that Nick Sirianni will be fired. Even though he’ll likely be fired no matter what happens to DeVonta Smith, coaching the remainder of the season without Smith is a sure sign that it will be Sirianni’s last as a Philadelphia Eagle.
The Eagles are too smart of an organization to risk the health of their alpha wide receiver by letting him play meaningless games for a head coach with no future with the team and a career backup quarterback.
They’ll let their new head coach, most likely an offensive playcaller, come in strong with a rejuvenated and hungry DeVonta Smith in addition to a hopefully healthy Jalen Hurts.
I’m not saying this is the right option for the remainder of this Eagles season, I’m just saying that if this is what the higher-ups decide to do, the little chance that Sirianni has of keeping his job will be promptly extinguished.
DeVonta Smith on the sideline at Lincoln Financial FieldCredit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
If they rush him back as soon as possible
If DeVonta Smith returns to the field without a trip to the injured reserve, the rest of this season will decide Nick Sirianni’s fate. If the decision about Sirianni is already made, whether it’s stay or leave, there is no reason to bring back DeVonta Smith before he’s entirely ready and put his future in jeopardy.
Nick Sirianni has never missed the playoffs as a head coach before. The season, at least record-wise, is not completely lost. Bringing Smith back within the next few weeks shows fans that the Eagles aren’t giving up on 2026, or Nick Sirianni, completely.
If the Eagles can’t salvage it with Smith, Sirianni will be fired anyway, but putting him out there gives Sirianni a chance to save his season and his job.
A fan holds a sign asking the Eagles to fire Nick SirianniCredit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
If they bring him back with no urgency
If the Eagles place DeVonta Smith on injured reserve, but still bring him back when he’s ready, the Nick Sirianni situation becomes less black-and-white.
A lack of urgency would show that Sirianni is comfortable. The last thing you should want to see from a coach who you want fired is comfortability. Could he still be fired if they bring Smith back on this timeline? Absolutely.
But it’s definitely not a sure thing…
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I’m a high school student from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and an aspiring sports media professional. I may have only recently … More about Jonah Casel
Categorized:Eagles
