Eagles’ Brandon Graham says he suffered a season-ending triceps injury

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – In a gloomy corner of an otherwise giddy visitors’ locker room, Brandon Graham waited to hold court.

Graham’s locker box, home or away for more than a decade, has become a ritual visiting place for journalists. He’ll dish out some friendly banter, a few cackles and an overarching message about the state of the team with the always upbeat attitude that has helped define his 15-year career with the Eagles.

But in the wake of the team’s 37-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams, if he tried to stay upbeat, it was different for Graham when he announced he would miss the rest of the season — what could be his last season – with a triceps injury.

“Yeah, I’m done,” Graham said of his season. “Too real. I’m out for the rest of the year. Right here. I tore my triceps.”

Graham was able to turn back the clock for most of Sunday’s game and the season in general, but Father Time prevailed in the end. The 36-year-old defensive end was not ready to say for sure if he had just played his last game, but said he would be at peace if Sunday was the end of a 15-year career that was solely used at Eagles.

“I’m just trying to process everything right now,” Graham said. “I haven’t made it that far. But I’m going to keep my spirits up, keep enjoying it, because we have a special team right now.

“And if anything, if I had to go out, I’m happy with the way I played today. I couldn’t ask for anything else.”

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni would not confirm that Graham will miss the rest of the season, instead saying he is “holding out hope” pending further testing.

“I love him, he’s one of my favorite guys I’ve ever been able to coach,” Sirianni said. “We’ll see where it is. I’m not ready to talk about it yet. We’re holding out hope.”

Graham, the team’s first-round pick in 2011, has been one of the Eagles’ most reliable defensive linemen this season, despite entering the year expected to play a limited role. He played 46% of the team’s defensive snaps entering Sunday, up from the 35% he played last season, and for good reason. Against the Rams, he had two tackles for loss, a sack, three quarterback hits and a pass breakup.

The intangible impact he has had off the field may be even greater. Graham has been a team captain in each of the past six seasons and entered the year as the most consistent member of the team.

Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson, the Eagles second-most tenured behind Graham, said he was “devastated” when Graham told him the news.

“I love BG like a brother,” Johnson said. “There’s nobody in the building that has more respect than him, not only for what kind of player he is, but what kind of captain he is, what kind of mentor he is to the young guys. He does a lot of things behind closed doors that people don’t see. That’s why people love BG. I’m heartbroken for him, especially with the year he had.”

Graham came out midway through the fourth quarter after being chipped by a Rams running back and was watched by trainers, who Graham said were quick to tell him the grim diagnosis. Before heading back to the locker room, Graham had a long embrace with Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who Graham said prayed with him.

Several Eagles players noted that Graham addressed the team in the locker room after the game, but did not tell them he would be out for the rest of the season.

“I’m honestly a broken man,” Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata said. “I can’t even process it yet. I started crying when I saw him and when I walked back from the sideline and I came in here and started crying again. … I haven’t really had time to process it , man, BG means a lot to me.”

After delivering the news to reporters after the game, Graham did his best to maintain the upbeat, trash-talking persona he’s been loved for throughout his career with a handful of jokes and an emphasis on the potential for this year’s team to do something especially.

“At the end of the day, if I was going to go out like this, I love the way I gave it my all out there on the field,” Graham said. “All I know is they’re not done with me yet. I’m going to make sure I go out there and be the best leader I can be, like I always do.”

“I’m going to keep bringing the energy and letting people know how lucky they are that I’m out,” Graham said, cackling.