Eagles injury update on Nolan Smith, Haason Reddick and more

The Philadelphia Eagles will enter the 2023 season with a relatively healthy roster, despite some preseason injury scares. Some of those bigger scares came in the Eagles' second preseason matchup against the Cleveland Browns. The stretcher came out three times to take defensive lineman Moro Ojomo, wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland and cornerback Zech McPhearson off […]

Kelsey Kramer — College Football & NFL Trending News Writer

Sep 2, 2023 2:58 PM EDT

Eagles' LB Haason Reddick — Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Eagles will enter the 2023 season with a relatively healthy roster, despite some preseason injury scares.

Some of those bigger scares came in the Eagles' second preseason matchup against the Cleveland Browns. The stretcher came out three times to take defensive lineman Moro Ojomo, wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland and cornerback Zech McPhearson off of the field. Three others were injured in that game as well, including Eagles' rookie linebacker Nolan Smith, who suffered a shoulder injury.

The Eagles won't release their official Week 1 injury report until Wednesday, Sept. 6, so for now, we'll look at what we do know.

LB Nolan Smith (shoulder)

Smith returned to practice on Wednesday, Aug. 30, via NBC Sports Dave Zangaro.

Nolan Smith (shoulder) has returned to practice today with a helmet. That’s a good sign. pic.twitter.com/ICi1rMd7ZU
— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroNBCS) August 30, 2023

Zangaro also added that Smith participated in some special teams drills.

While Smith's Week 1 status is TBD, the 2023 first-round pick appears to be trending in the right direction.

WR Quez Watkins (hamstring)

Watkins missed a week of the preseason tending to a hamstring injury but returned to practice in full pads on Aug. 22, though he was limited, according to Zangaro.

There has not been a new update on Watkins since then, but CBS Sports' Jeff Kerr shared a video of him at practice on Aug. 31.

DeVonta Smith and Quez Watkins#Eagles pic.twitter.com/MkCOHwXx5o
— Jeff Kerr (@JeffKerrCBS) August 31, 2023

LB Haason Reddick (thumb)

Reddick underwent surgery to repair ligament damage in his right thumb on Aug. 17 and recently told reporters that he is confident he will play in the regular season opener.

“It’s a thumb. Wrap it up. Go back out there and play ball,” Reddick said on Monday, Aug. 28, via NBC Sports' Rueben Frank.

Reddick has not missed a game since joining the league in 2017.

DT Moro Ojomo (concussion)

While Ojomo has fully recovered from the concussion that he sustained against the Browns in the preseason, he has not returned to practice, per Zangaro.

The rookie defensive tackle was still able to secure a spot on the Eagles' 53-man roster, even after missing the last week of training camp and preseason finale against the Colts.