When Brandon Graham first donned the midnight green for the Philadelphia Eagles, the NFL was a different beast. The Patriots had only three Super Bowl titles to their name, and the Seahawks were still chasing their first Lombardi Trophy. Yeah, the Eagles drafted the 36-year-old defensive end back in the 2010 NFL draft. And now he has become the first player in franchise history to play 200 games. Now, that’s what we call a legacy.
But here’s the kicker: his journey hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Before the 2024 season kicked off, the veteran DE announced that he’ll retire after this season. Then came the week 12 games against the LA Rams when he tore his triceps, seemingly ending the final season of his career. But he bounced back just before the most anticipated showdown of the season—the Super Bowl. And before the Eagles meet the Chiefs today, let’s take a look at his injury history.
Brandon Graham’s week 12 injury this season
Graham signed a one-year contract extension with the Eagles in the last offseason to play his 15th NFL season for Philly. In his first 11 games, the DE recorded 20 combined tackles, 15 solo tackles, and 3.5 sacks. However, in week 12, Graham suffered a torn triceps in a 37-20 win over the Rams.
Graham, who stands at 6’2” and weighs 265 pounds, declared that he’s been dealing with tendonitis in his triceps and would miss the remainder of the 2024 season. “If I had to go out like this, I gave everything I got,” said Graham after his injury. But! But the Eagles activated him on February 8, just before the Super Bowl. Talk about the perfect timing when it matters most.
But let’s be real: this isn’t the only bounce back for a DE who’s been for the Eagles longer than anyone else on the current roster, right?
Major injuries sustained by Brandon Graham in the NFL
If we’re talking injuries, buckle up—Graham’s been battling them since his rookie season in the NFL! After having a solid pro football career start, Brandon Graham suffered a torn ACL and meniscus during a 30-27 win over the Cowboys in week 14. The result? The Eagles had to put their rookie DE on injury reserve as he required microfracture surgery. Fast forward to his sophomore season, Graham had to miss out most of the 2011 season and played just 3 games due to his torn ACL.
After recovering from the injury, Graham turned out to be a beast on the gridiron, having played most of the games for the next 5 seasons. Then came the 2017 season when he suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 16. Though he returned at the postseason time, he suffered an ankle injury the following year in May to help speed up the healing process.
Jump to the 2021 season—or, as Graham might call it, the one he’d rather erase from his career. In week 2 game of his 12th season for the Eagles, he suffered a torn Achilles. The result? Graham played just two games that season before landing on season-ending injury reserve.
But as the veteran defensive end is known for some impressive comebacks, he returned to the field the following season and played all games. The guy recorded 35 combined tackles, 19 solo tackles, and a whopping 11 sacks. Now, after being a part of the Eagles’ organization, Graham is eyeing for a second Super Bowl title of his career.
He may have called this his final season, but there’s some buzz that the veteran DE isn’t done just yet—especially with the Eagles’ success. And if Philly takes home the Super Bowl, don’t be surprised if Graham suits up for one more run.
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