Philadelphia Eagles star cornerback Darius Slay has been injured for the second time in the team’s Week 12 faceoff against the Los Angeles Rams and has headed to the locker room. It has now been confirmed by multiple sources that the CB will be out for the remainder of the game with a concussion after taking a hit to the helmet.
Darius Slay is OUT for the remainder of the game with a concussion#Eagles
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) November 25, 2024
More News: Cowboys’ Trey Lance Hit With Steep Fine for Unnecessary Roughness Hit vs Eagles
Barely two minutes into the game’s first quarter, the Eagles lost two defensive backs to injury on the same play when cornerback Slay and safety Reed Blankenship were both hurt.
Blankenship was diagnosed with a shoulder injury and was initially listed as questionable to return, while no official update was given on Slay’s condition. Blankenship appeared to injure his arm after colliding with Slay during Kyren Williams’ 27-yard run early in the first quarter.
Cooper Neill/Getty Images
Isaiah Rodgers stepped in for Slay, while Tristin McCollum replaced Blankenship. On the very next play, Rodgers forced a fumble from Williams, which was recovered by Nakobe Dean at the Eagles’ 17-yard line. Despite the injuries, both Slay and Blankenship returned for the Rams’ next possession.
However, midway through the third quarter, Slay suffered another injury and is out for the remainder of the game. Rodgers will reportedly play out the rest of the game in his place. Footage of the hit can be seen below.
Slay was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft and quickly became one of the league’s top cornerbacks, earning two Pro Bowl selections and a First-Team All-Pro honor in 2017. After seven seasons in Detroit, he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020, where he has increasingly become a crucial part of the team’s defense.
More News: Former Eagles HC Doug Pederson Surprisingly Offers Advice to Nick Sirianni
Depending on the severity of his injury, the loss of Slay could hit the Eagles hard. The team currently leads the NFL in total defense and ranks second in passing defense, allowing just 173.2 passing yards per game.
Since Week 6, they’ve surrendered only two passing touchdowns—the fewest in the league—and have held opponents to under 200 passing yards in five of their last six games. With a six-game winning streak, the Eagles have surged to the top of the NFC East, holding an 8-2 record.
Maintaining a record like that is no easy task, however, and losing a key element of their defense in a veteran like Slay could potentially have massive implications for the rest of the season.
For more on the NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.