The Eagles left Week 4 with plenty to sort through after blowing a 10-point fourth-quarter lead and falling to the Los Angeles Rams, 24-20. But even in a messy loss, Nolan Smith Jr. gave Philadelphia something to hang onto.
Smith turned in one of the best games of his young NFL career, and he did it with relentless pressure on Matthew Stafford. He was in Stafford’s face all game, consistently collapsing the pocket and making life difficult for the Rams quarterback.
His final line showed two tackles, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hit and one sack, but those numbers barely tell the story. On the field, it looked like he was around Stafford on play after play, and the Eagles easily could have had more sacks if Stafford hadn’t gotten the ball out so quickly.
Smith also had a hand in at least one of Stafford’s two interceptions, getting close enough to help create the pressure that led to the turnover. When Jonathan Greenard went down and exited the game, Smith kept the edge rush going. Jalyx Hunt has usually been the steadier presence there, but this time Smith was the one driving the pressure off the edge.
That continued a strong start to the season for Smith, who now has two sacks and has emerged as one of the Eagles’ bright spots. The team wanted more from Hunt and Greenard, but Smith has done the heavy lifting.
That matters for more than just this season. Smith is eligible for a new contract, and this stretch is helping shape what the Eagles may want to do with him in the offseason. There’s still work to be done, and he has to keep proving it, but he is putting himself in position for a big payday.
After a Week 4 loss that left most Eagles fans numb, Smith was one of the few reasons to feel good about anything. He has been a bright spot for this team in 2026.
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Lane Johnson Update Leaves Eagles Fans With A Bigger Concern
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Johnsons status also comes with a larger long-term backdrop after he announced plans to retire following the 2026 NFL season. He already dealt with a Lisfranc injury that cost him part of last season, so even a short-term update like this tends to invite bigger questions about what comes next for an aging cornerstone in the middle of another demanding year. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Just Sent A Troubling Message About Their Backup Quarterback Spot
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McKee, a sixth-round pick in 2023, has already shown enough in limited action to stay in the conversation. He has started two career games and owns a 99.5 passer rating, which gives Philadelphia a different look at a spot that suddenly feels worth watching a lot more closely. [Read more 🡒]
Saquon Barkleys Latest Injury Leaves Eagles Facing A Bigger Concern
Saquon Barkleys latest setback arrived during the game against the Los Angeles Rams, when a hamstring injury forced the Eagles to take him out for the rest of the afternoon. Philadelphia had already been managing his workload after he missed most of Week 2 with a stinger, and the timing only adds to the concern around a backfield that was built to lean on him early and often.
Tank Bigsby stepped in after Barkley exited, with Will Shipley also picking up snaps as the Eagles tried to piece together the running game on the fly. Barkley has still produced 174 rushing yards through the first four weeks, but the bigger worry now is whether this is becoming a pattern rather than a one-off, and how long Philadelphia can keep its ground game on track if he keeps getting dinged up. [Read more 🡒]