Eagles’ DeVonta Smith ready to play again, doesn’t think debilitating hit was dirty

Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson called the hit that knocked teammate DeVonta Smith out of the Sept. 22 game against the New Orleans Saints “the dirtiest (expletive) I ever saw in football.”

But ready to return to the field when the Eagles play the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Smith didn’t agree.

“I don’t feel like it’s a dirty hit,” Smith said on Friday. “He didn’t hit me in the head or nothing like that. More so I think the whistle should have been blown.”

The former Alabama All-American wide receiver had caught a first-and-10 pass from quarterback Jalen Hurts and was being ridden down after a 5-yard gain by New Orleans defensive backs Paulson Adebo and Kendal Vickers, when 320-pound defensive tackle Khristian Boyd blasted Smith in the back. Smith’s helmet flew off, and the hit left him stretched flat on the turf.

“I can’t extend the play if I’m moving backwards,” Smith said about what he considered a late whistle.

After being tended to on the field, Smith walked to the sideline medical tent, then to the locker room. Smith waved his arms and a towel trying to fire up Eagles fans at Caesars Superdome on his way to the locker room, but he did not return to the game.

“I remember everything up to when I went to the locker room,” said Smith, who sat out the Eagles’ 33-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 29. Philadelphia had an open date last week.

Boyd was not penalized for his hit on Smith, but the NFL did fine the New Orleans defensive tackle $4,665.

Smith was listed as a full participant in practice on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as he cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol.

“It feels good just to get back out here, around the guys – basically two weeks away from them – just get back around the guys, just get back to playing football,” Smith said.

Right tackle Lane Johnson also sustained a concussion against the Saints and missed the game against Tampa Bay. He also returned to practice this week, as did wide receiver A.J. Brown, who has missed the past three games because of a hamstring injury.

“It’s always good to have your guys out there,” Hurts said. “You know, I jokingly said it’s nice to see some familiar faces in there, but we trust everybody that’s out there, and that’s always the mentality when we’re out there. But you know those guys bring a different level of impact with their presence on the field and what they’re able to do.”

The Eagles and Browns will square off at noon CDT Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.