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Eagles Edge Rusher Jonathan Greenard Ruled Out of Season Opener
Jonathan Greenard will miss the Eagles' game against the Commanders due to a pectoral injury, but the team hopes for a quick return.
By the EagleEyeOdds desk, 1 hour ago
Season Opener Setback
The Philadelphia Eagles will start their season without one of their major offseason acquisitions. Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders. Greenard is dealing with a pectoral injury.
Although Greenard returned to practice this week in a limited role, the team decided not to rush him back. He missed all of training camp after suffering a pectoral strain while lifting weights earlier in the summer.
The Eagles initially placed him on the physically unable to perform list. However, they chose not to leave him on the regular season PUP list or place him on short term injured reserve. This decision suggests the team expects him to return at some point during the first four games.
Taking a Careful Approach
Philadelphia's defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, indicated earlier in the week that the coaching staff would be careful with the 29 year old defender. Greenard needs time to get back into playing shape before taking the field.
Fangio explained that players returning from injuries need to complete a certain amount of work first. "There's a minimal amount of practice, real practice, that you have to go through, especially for a guy coming off an injury," Fangio said.
While Greenard sits out, the Eagles will rely on other players to step up against Washington. The team's edge rushing group includes Nolan Smith, AJ Epenesa, Arnold Ebiketie, and Jalyx Hunt. Hunt is coming off a strong summer performance and could see more action.
A Big Investment
The Eagles made a significant investment to bring Greenard to Philadelphia. They acquired him in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings during draft weekend in April. In exchange, Philadelphia sent two third round draft picks to Minnesota, including the number 98 pick this year and a third rounder next year.
After the trade, Greenard agreed to a four year, 100 million dollar extension with the Eagles. The deal includes 50 million dollars in guaranteed money. Once healthy, he is expected to take on a starting role for an Eagles team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Greenard spent last season with the Vikings, where he recorded three sacks in 12 games. That followed two consecutive seasons with double digit sacks in Minnesota. He began his career with the Houston Texans before signing a 72 million dollar contract with the Vikings in 2024. He earned a Pro Bowl nod after recording 12.5 sacks in his first year with Minnesota, but a shoulder injury later required season ending surgery in 2025.
