Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver DeVonta Smith is expected to miss between two and three weeks after suffering a sprained MCL, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Alabama product and Heisman Trophy winner suffered the injury during a Saturday night practice while trying to reel in a low pass from second-year quarterback Jalen Hurts. It was immediately apparent that Smith tweaked something as he limped off the field after being helped up by his teammates. He did not participate in any other activities.
Smith underwent an MRI on Sunday, which initially revealed the damage, but the Eagles “are not expressing much concern,” per Schefter with ample time for him to prepare for the 2021 season.
Selected 10th in the 2021 draft, Smith heads to Philadelphia with sizable expectations placed upon his shoulders.
Not only will he be thrust into the role of being the team’s No. 1 receiver for the foreseeable future, he’ll also have to produce with a somewhat uncertain quarterback situation as Hurts is expected to take the reins full-time in his second year. He was 1-3 as a starter last season.
Smith was one of the most explosive receivers in college football despite a smaller frame at six-foot, 170 pounds.
Over 26 games from 2019-2020, the Alabama star posted 185 receptions for 3,112 yards and 37 receiving touchdowns.
Along with his Heisman Trophy last year, he came away with a king’s ransom of silverware, winning the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, Biletnikoff Award, Paul Hornung Award, the AP College Football Player of the Year, and the Sporting News College Football Player of the Year.
