Brandon Graham’s second Eagles comeback never got off the ground, and now the answer is clear: it isn’t happening.
Graham said Tuesday morning during a Breakfast With The Birds appearance that he was “officially done.” He wanted to break the news himself, though he also acknowledged he’ll still be around the Jefferson Health Training Complex - the same place he was last year before he returned to help.
That return gave the Eagles one more useful run from the longest-tenured player in franchise history. Graham leaves with a franchise-record 215 games played, the most seasons in an Eagles uniform at 16, and 79.5 sacks, which puts him third in team history behind only Reggie White (124.0) and Trent Cole (85.5).
This time, though, the Eagles never circled back in a way that made a reunion real. Graham hoped to come back and help the pass rush again, including during training camp so he could play a full season.
But as camp rolled on, the signs pointed in one direction. Once the Eagles reached the joint practices in New England, Graham still wasn’t back on the roster, and that was the first real hint the door was closing.
The team also passed on adding him after the initial 53-man roster was released, another indication that both sides had moved on. Whether there was ever an offer is unclear, but Graham had wanted to return at some point in August. By the roster deadline, though, Jonathan Greenard was off PUP with a pectoral injury, and the Eagles had little reason to make room.
The bigger reason is simpler: they had enough edge help already.
Philadelphia built more pass-rush depth this offseason than it had a year ago. The Eagles added Jonathan Greenard as a No. 1 pass rusher, and they saw what Jaelan Phillips did for Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith last season.
Hunt took another step and was arguably the best player in camp this summer, while Smith was more disruptive in a rotation. That gave the Eagles three quality pass rushers at the top of the group.
The depth behind them also improved. The Eagles spent more money on Arnold Ebiketie and A.J. Epenesa this offseason than they did on Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche the year before, and both are more proven rotation pieces who can help on third down.
That left the Eagles with five pass rushers they felt good about. Graham simply wasn’t needed on the edge to start the season, and the same was true at defensive tackle, where Philadelphia is also five deep. There wasn’t a clean roster spot waiting for him.
A midseason return doesn’t sound likely either. Graham doesn’t want to come back in the middle of the year, and the Eagles aren’t facing a situation where injuries or a lack of production suddenly force the issue.
Never say never with Graham, but this one feels like the end. Even if the Eagles had asked, it would have taken plenty to get him to do it again after the farewell he already gave them last season.
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