The Philadelphia Eagles celebrated an emotional victory on Sunday, but it came at a significant cost. During the game, multiple players sustained injuries, with DeVonta Smith’s concussion being the most serious.
Smith suffered a hard hit and was left on the ground for several minutes, prompting concern from teammates and coaches. The incident occurred when the officials hesitated to blow the whistle as Smith was being pulled down by several New Orleans Saints defenders. In the midst of this chaos, defensive tackle Khristian Boyd launched a blindside hit on Smith, knocking him to the ground.
While Boyd appeared to be targeting Smith’s shoulder pads, safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson vehemently disagreed. He labeled the hit as “the dirtiest” play he had ever witnessed in football. Gardner-Johnson expressed his frustration, stating, “Y’all obviously saw that forward progression was stopped. And for them to take a cheap shot on one of our key guys, it shows what kind of team that is. They’re front-runners.
The incident raised serious questions about the officiating, particularly the decision not to blow the whistle when Smith was being dragged down. This oversight allowed Boyd’s hit to occur, and it was part of a broader pattern of questionable plays by the Saints’ defense. One notable moment included offensive tackle Trevor Penning receiving a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for a late hit on Darius Slay, which resulted in Slay being pushed off the field and into the bleachers.
In the aftermath of Smith’s injury, the Eagles focused primarily on his condition and well-being. Despite the severity of the hit, Boyd was not penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. Offensive tackle Fred Johnson, who stepped in for Lane Johnson during the second half, voiced his concerns about the situation. “I saw him (knocked) out, and that’s when I waved to the training staff, like he’s out cold. It was scary,” Johnson said. He emphasized the need for officials to call plays dead when a player is in a vulnerable position, particularly when a player of Smith’s stature is involved.
Johnson pointed out that Smith, despite his skill and agility, shouldn’t have to endure such dangerous hits, especially after catching the ball and running backward for several steps. He added, “It’s on the refs to take necessary action when he’s hit late. It’s unprofessional to allow a lineman to hit him after five steps.”
Although Boyd later reached out on Instagram to wish Smith a speedy recovery, insisting he never intended to cause a serious injury, the Eagles remained frustrated by the incident. The team’s focus on Smith’s injury reflects their commitment to player safety and their determination to address the need for stricter enforcement of the rules regarding late hits.
By Jeff Kerr