Eagles' Smith carted off field

By John McMullen
The Phanatic Magazine

Philadelphia Eagles tight end L.J. Smith aggravated a sports hernia injury Thursday and was carted off the practice field.

"Actually, I didn't get a chance to see it," Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb said. "I was on the other field, and I just kind of saw him in the fetal position. Any time you see any of your players go down, you ask who that player is and what happened, and if he's okay. Having pretty much that same injury, with the torn groin, and having it surgically repaired and coming back out here, it's something you've got to battle through. Right now he's going through another phase of it. I hope everything kind of works itself out and he'll be back out here being able to be the L.J. we all know."

Smith underwent surgery in the offseason to repair the sports hernia. The fourth-year veteran out of Rutgers is entering the final year of his contract with the Eagles. He had 50 receptions for 611 yards and five touchdowns last season, his second as a full-time starter.

He was also named as a second alternate to the Pro Bowl as he ranked second on the team in receptions (50) and tied for second in receiving touchdowns (5), while ranking fourth in receiving yards (611).