The Philadelphia Eagles already had lost right tackle Lane Johnson to a concussion during their game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, when a monstrous hit knocked wide receiver DeVonta Smith out of the game.
For the third straight snap, Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts connected with the former Alabama All-American on a first-and-10 play from the Eagles 30-yard line. With Smith being ridden down after a 5-yard gain by New Orleans defensive back Paulson Adebo and Kendal Vickers, 320-pound Khristian Boyd, on the full run trailing the play, blasted Smith in the back and head.
Smith’s helmet flew off, and the hit left him stretched flat on the turf.
“Man, that’s the dirtest (expletive) I ever saw in football, bro,” Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson said after the game. “Ya’ll obviously saw that forward progression was stopped. They’re going to take a cheap shot on one of our key players, it goes to show you what type of team that is: They’re frontrunners.”
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.
The NFL team announced Smith was being evaluated for a concussion. Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni did not provide any new information about Smith’s injury after the game.
“DeVonta Smith, man, he’s one of the toughest dudes I know,” Sirianni said. “He is one of the toughest dudes I know, and I’ll get an update on how he’s doing. Obviously, he didn’t come back into the game, but if he would have been able to, he would have because DeVonta Smith is tough. And when one of your best players has that much mental and physical toughness, that’s contagious.”
The Eagles trailed 3-0 when Smith went out with 13:45 left to play. On the next snap, Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley broke loose for a 65-yard touchdown, and the Eagles went on to a 15-12 victory.
“The thing we did right after that, we locked in and said let’s trust each other and get this done for Smitty,” Barkley said. “Sometimes it just works like that.”
From Amite City, Louisiana, Smith was playing in New Orleans for the first time in his NFL career on Sunday.
“I know it was a special game for him,” Hurts said, “and I’m happy as a team we found a way to win in his home state, and so, hopefully, he can hear these words and be proud.”
