Eagles get defensive leader Brandon Graham off IR in time for Super Bowl LIX

NEW ORLEANS — When Brandon Graham tore his left triceps on Nov. 24, he knew it could have meant more than just the end of his season. At age 36, with 15 years in the NFL and already talking openly about an imminent retirement, he was aware that it could have spelled the end of his career.

“But in my mind,” Graham said, “I didn’t want it to end like that.”

There was one hope it wouldn’t. If the Eagles could stay alive long enough and make it to Super Bowl LIX, then maybe, just maybe, he could recover in time to play in that game.

The Eagles did their part. And so did Graham.

The defensive end returned to practices with the team after the NFC Championship Game and on Saturday afternoon was activated off injured reserve in time for Sunday’s Super Bowl game against Kansas City. He still is listed as questionable on the injury report but figures to play at least some role in the Eagles’ defense.

“I feel good,” Graham said a few days before the roster designation that cleared the path for his participation. “No issues. I haven’t had too many problems.”

Nick Gates, a former Giants offensive lineman who has been questionable with a groin injury, was placed on injured reserve to make room for Graham on the roster. The Eagles also elevated fullback Khari Blasingame and linebacker Nicholas Morrow for the game.

Graham said he doesn’t want to “get in the way of the rhythm that everybody already has” but vowed to “add anything” he can and “give everything I’ve got.”

“If he’s able to be out there with us, it would mean a lot to this football team,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said before the final decision was made on Graham. “Obviously, his ability to play and the things he can do, but [his leadership] would mean a lot for us out there. If he’s out there, I know he’ll make plays that help us win the football game.”

Graham has been doing that for a decade and a half with the Eagles.

A first-round pick out of Michigan in 2010, he came to Philadelphia when Andy Reid — now Kansas City’s head coach — still was running the team. He played through highs and lows with a collection of quarterbacks and head coaches. He holds the record for most games played for the organization.

In Super Bowl LII against the Patriots, Graham’s strip-sack of Tom Brady in the fourth quarter helped the Eagles win just as much as the memorable “Philly Special” gadget play for a touchdown did.

He also was on the field two years ago with the Eagles when they lost to Kansas City in Super Bowl LVII.

“The biggest thing I would say about him? How much love he actually has for the Eagles’ organization and the city of Philadelphia,” Saquon Barkley said of his former NFC East rival and now teammate. “You can really see that. You can see it when he’s talking about it and he gets emotional.”

Even before he was cleared to play, his Eagles teammates were happy to have him back at practice. It just hadn’t been the same, they said, without his legendary mile-a-minute trash-talking.

“Man, I’m probably the happiest one B.G. is back,” tackle Lane Johnson said. “Everything he’s been able to overcome, and he’s been dominant for a long time. I’m excited he’s back trash-talking us every day. I’ve probably heard the most.”

Said cornerback Darius Slay: “B.G. is a spark at any given thing. When he retires, man, he can still be a spark . . . He played a long time in this league. If he doesn’t come back [next season], he’ll still be welcomed with open arms. He’ll still be in the locker room anyway.”

Former Eagles teammates Javon Hargrave and Hollis Thomas urged Graham not to let the triceps injury end his career.

“They just told me, ‘Hey, man, that’ll give you this amount of months,’ and I was like, ‘OK,’ ” he said.

Graham said the doctors and those who suffered similar injuries told him he might be able to make it back in 2 1⁄2 months. It’ll be just about that long on Sunday.

“I just went for it,” he said. “And I’m happy that the team wanted me to go for it, too.”

The Eagles still had to get this far for the plan to work, though.

Now both of them are here. For at least one more game together.

By Tom Rock

tom.rock@newsday.com@TomRock_Newsday

Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.