At a Glance
- DeVonta Smith reached 1,000 receiving yards in the season.
- He became the fifth player in Eagles history with three 1,000-yard seasons.
- The Eagles rested most starters before the playoff game, playing Smith against the Commanders.
- Why it matters: It marks a career milestone for Smith and shows the team’s strategic rest ahead of playoffs.
In Sunday’s finale, the Philadelphia Eagles rested many starters, but let DeVonta Smith catch the 1,000-yard mark, a milestone that also underscores the team’s cautious approach before the postseason.
Smith’s Milestone and the Rest Strategy
Smith needed 44 yards to hit 1,000, caught 3 passes for 52 yards in the first quarter, and finished the season with 77 catches for 1,008 yards and 4 touchdowns. He said Sirianni asked him to play.
DeVonta Smith stated:
> “He asked me if I wanted to play and I was like, ‘Yeah.'”
Nick Sirianni commented:
> “We were safe with him as far as what kind of routes we were running and what he was doing. And so that was something that we decided to do, and obviously you can’t rest everybody.”
- Smith’s season totals: 77 catches, 1,008 yards, 4 touchdowns.
- He became the fifth player in franchise history with three 1,000-yard seasons.
- He joined A.J. Brown, Harold Carmichael, DeSean Jackson, and Mike Quick.
Eagles’ Rest Plan and Sirianni’s Coaching
The team played Smith against the Washington Commanders, limiting other starters’ reps to avoid injury before the playoff home game. Sirianni noted that defensive-line reps were still needed, but were kept minimal.
Nick Sirianni said:
> “There were guys that, as far as D-line reps, some of those guys played through the game. We tried to limit their reps a little bit and play them a little bit less than they normally do, but with a position like D-line, those are the circumstances that you have.”
- Most offensive starters rested.
- Smith was allowed to play to hit the milestone.
- Defensive-line reps were limited but necessary.
Historical Context
Smith joins A.J. Brown, Harold Carmichael, DeSean Jackson, and Mike Quick as the only Eagles with three 1,000-yard seasons. He and Brown are the only duo in franchise history to each have 1,000 yards in the same season, achieving this in 2022, 2023, and 2025. Smith also reached 5,019 career yards after five seasons, placing him 10th in franchise history and making him the third-fastest Eagle to hit 5,000 yards-behind DeSean Jackson (73 games) and Mike Quick (74 games).
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Career yards after 5 seasons | 5,019 |
| Games to 5,000 yards | 80 |
| Fastest to 5K (behind) | 73 (Jackson), 74 (Quick) |
Key Takeaways
- DeVonta Smith hit the 1,000-yard milestone in the Eagles’ final game.
- The team rested most starters to protect players before playoffs.
- Smith is now the fifth Eagle with three 1,000-yard seasons and the third-fastest to 5,000 career yards.
The milestone comes as the Eagles prepare for a playoff home game, balancing player health with career achievements.
