Philadelphia Eagles star defensive end Brandon Graham has been given the green light to return to the field after recovering from a torn triceps sustained 11 weeks ago. Graham, aged 36, suffered the injury during a game against the Los Angeles Rams on November 24, which initially led to him being placed on injured reserve, seemingly ending his season.
However, as the Eagles continued to advance in the playoffs, Graham's hopes of making a comeback grew. He returned to practice as a limited participant last week and was upgraded to a full participant on Friday. Subsequently, he was officially added back to the 53-man roster on Saturday.
Graham, who had previously announced that this season would be his last, expressed his excitement at the prospect of playing in the Super Bowl, stating, 'It'll feel great because you worked your butt off to get back. I know the team worked their butt off to get here and I want to be there for them.'
The defensive end, a key member of the Eagles' Super Bowl-winning team in the 2017 season, is one of the few remaining players from that championship squad. Known for his pivotal strip-sack of Tom Brady in the Super Bowl, Graham has been a standout performer for the Eagles over the years.
Despite missing most of the 2021 season due to a torn Achilles tendon, Graham bounced back the following year to achieve a career-high 11 sacks. This season, he recorded 3 1/2 sacks in 11 games before his injury. Graham also holds the franchise record for the most career postseason sacks with 5 1/2.
Looking ahead to the Super Bowl matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, Graham acknowledged the success of his teammates in his absence, emphasizing his desire to contribute in any way possible without disrupting the team's rhythm.
The Chiefs, on the other hand, made roster moves by elevating linebacker Swayze Bozeman and cornerback Steven Nelson from the practice squad. Notably, wide receiver Skyy Moore, who had been practicing but remained on injured reserve, was not activated for the Super Bowl.
With Graham's return, the Eagles are poised to have a formidable defensive presence as they aim to secure another championship victory. Graham's resilience and determination to overcome his injury serve as an inspiration to his teammates and fans alike.
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