Eagles’ decision means Auburn won’t be represented in Super Bowl LIX
The Philadelphia Eagles had two players on injured reserve return to practice on Jan. 30, which put them on course to play in Super Bowl LIX if the NFL team restored them to its active roster before Sunday.
On Saturday, defensive end Brandon Graham rejoined the Eagles’ active roster, making him eligible to play on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. But tight end C.J. Uzomah was not restored to the 53-man roster and will not be able to play in Super Bowl LIX.
With Uzomah remaining on injured reserve, Auburn will not have an alumnus on the field in the Super Bowl for the second season in a row, a void that followed a school-record eight-season streak of Super Bowl participation by former Tigers.
Philadelphia will play Kansas City in Super Bowl LIX at 5:30 p.m. CST Sunday at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. FOX will televise the game.
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An abdominal injury landed Uzomah on IR on Jan. 1 after he played in seven games for the Eagles in his 10th NFL season.
Uzomah has played in the Super Bowl previously under similar circumstances.
In the 2021 season, Uzomah suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee during the Cincinnati Bengals’ 27-24 overtime victory against Kansas City in the AFC Championship Game. Two weeks of rehabilitation work later, Uzomah played 49 offensive snaps and had two receptions for 11 yards in Cincinnati’s 23-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI.
Philadelphia has another Auburn alumnus on its roster, but offensive lineman Jack Driscoll also is on injured reserve. An ankle injury sent Driscoll to injured reserve on Jan. 10 after he had played in the 13 previous games, including a starting assignment in the regular-season finale.
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Graham sustained a triceps tear and has not played since Nov. 24. By returning from injured reserve, the 15-year veteran will have the opportunity to play in his third Super Bowl with Philadelphia.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.