Eagles activate training camp standout from IR
The Philadelphia Eagles will look to get back on track against the New York Giants in Week 8, but veteran defensive lineman Brandon Graham won’t be suiting up just yet. The longtime Eagle recently came out of retirement to rejoin the team, but he will not play this Sunday, and his absence isn’t due to injury.
Given that Graham has only just returned after stepping away earlier this year, it’s understandable that he’s not ready for game action. The 36-year-old will need time to regain conditioning before making his season debut. When he does, Philadelphia hopes he can provide the same veteran presence and pass-rush spark that defined his previous seasons.
“Of course, I believe in the team,” Graham said on his podcast after announcing his un-retirement. “That’s a big part of it, too. I think they got everything they need. I want to add more value.”
The Eagles have dealt with several defensive line changes in recent weeks. Za’Darius Smith briefly joined the team but unexpectedly retired, while young pass rusher Nolan Smith was placed on injured reserve with a triceps injury. Graham’s decision to return was seen as a key morale boost for a locker room that’s been tested through early adversity.
Adding to the positive developments, the Eagles officially activated wide receiver Darius Cooper from injured reserve this week. The team announced the move on its official X account, writing:
“We’ve activated WR Darius Cooper from Injured Reserve.” Cooper, a training camp standout before suffering a lower-body injury, had impressed coaches with his route-running and versatility. His return could provide Jalen Hurts with another reliable option in the passing game, particularly as the offense continues to adjust without DeVonta Smith, who remains sidelined.
We’ve activated WR Darius Cooper from Injured Reserve. pic.twitter.com/rIdgHmnLXa
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 25, 2025
Off the field, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie also made headlines by praising quarterback Jalen Hurts’ mindset and leadership. “If you can’t block out most of the noise, you’re not going to maximally perform,” Lurie told NFL insider Ian Rapoport. “And Jalen is one of those where, the more noise there is, the better he performs.”
Philadelphia enters Week 8 with a 5-2 record, driven by Hurts’ continued excellence and the team’s resilient culture. With Darius Cooper returning and Graham working toward full readiness, the Eagles are quietly reloading for a potential second-half surge in the NFC.
Detroit Urged to Snag NFL’s Top Trade-Ready Edge Rusher
The Detroit Lions have a star in edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, but have struggled to find a competent counterpart who can pressure quarterbacks off the opposite edge.
They may have a chance to add that missing piece at the upcoming trade deadline, with several analysts predicting the team could take a run at Miami Dolphins edge rusher Jaelan Phillips. The Dolphins are watching their season spiral and could be just a few weeks away from being essentially eliminated from playoff contention, leading many to peg them as sellers at the trade deadline.
The Lions could take advantage, taking aim at Phillips to round out their edge rushing group.
Lions Could Add ‘Very Effective’ Defensive End
Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News identified top trade candidates for all 32 NFL teams, noting that the Lions may have their eyes on Cincinnati Bengals star Trey Hendrickson but would find Phillips a more attainable player.
“With Hendrickson unlikely to happen and the Lions may be being a bit reserved in giving the Bengals that great desired haul, they can take a shot on another very effective would-be complement to Defensive Player of the Year candidate Aidan Hutchinson,” Iyer wrote.
Phillips has endured some injury issues over the last two years, appearing in just 12 total games between the 2023 and 2024 seasons. But he has proven to be a productive pass rusher when healthy, averaging more than seven sacks in each of his first three seasons in the NFL.
Reporter Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports predicted the Lions could land Phillips with a Day 3 draft pick.
“The Lions will have to give a high Day 3 pick to get it done, but what they get back is a player who has racked up 22 pressures this season and is just begging to take advantage of the one-on-one opportunities that Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill provide,” Payton wrote. “In my opinion, this is the deal the Lions should do at the deadline because there’s a chance for a future, it doesn’t cost a first-round pick, and you don’t have to break the bank.”
Payton noted that Phillips is the “best edge rusher” on the trade market, which could make competition fierce to land him.
Lions Could Look at Other Targets
Iyer noted that the Lions could look at another potential trade target on the Dolphins, edge rusher Bradley Chubb.
Other potential targets could be slipping out of their grasp. New York Jets edge rusher Jermaine Johnson, seen as a top trade candidate, said this week that he wants ot stay with the team and expressed that on social media.
“I’m definitely wanted here, and I want to stay here,” Johnson told ESPN. “That’s been understood. Hence the tweet.”
The Lions have used the trade deadline to add help in their edge rushing group before. They made something of an emergency addition last year, acquiring Za’Darius Smith to lead the position group after Hutchinson suffered a season-ending injury in October.
The Lions have put together a Super Bowl-caliber roster and could take an aggressive approach this season, especially after the pass rush has faltered in last season’s early exit from the playoffs.
