Nacoby Dean wants Brandon Graham back, whether he plays or not
When Za’Darius Smith suddenly announced his retirement from the NFL just hours after Philadelphia Eagles‘ A Week 6 loss to the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football sent fans scrambling for the next best option out of bounds.
Sure, the team still has a solid enough rushing trio in Jalik Hunt, Josh Uche and Aziz Ojulari, plus special teams ace Patrick Johnson, and will soon have Nolan Smith back from IR after a triceps injury, but is that rotation really strong enough to make another run to the Super Bowl?
Well, while running through potential trade options should still be on the table, the cavalry will likely come regardless, with Brandon Graham is reportedly nearing a comeback after several weeks of increases in the midst of his retirement.
Asked about the idea of returning Graham to a defensive front that needs veteran help, linebacker Nakobe Dean celebrated the veteran running back, noting that he would support BG’s return in any capacity, even if he doesn’t actually play.
“Whether he comes back in any capacity — whether he plays every recording or no recording — it doesn’t matter,” Dean said via Zach Berman. “The energy that BG brings is unmatched. Just to have a guy like that in the locker room would be great. And he can still play.”
One of the greatest figures in Philadelphia sports history, Graham went from an oft-maligned player to an all-time fan favorite because of his passion for the game and his willingness to do almost anything his coaches asked during a 15-year career to help his team win. While coming out of retirement may not have been on Graham’s bingo card at this point in the season, it sounds like the Eagles asked him to return shortly after the opener, so it’s clear the two sides have been working on this one for some time.
2025-10-20 20:43:00
