Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson has called a hit on wide receiver DeVonta Smith during the Eagles’ game against the New Orleans Saints the “dirtiest” he’s ever seen. The Eagles secured a hard-fought 15-12 victory, but it came at a cost as Smith suffered a concussion following a controversial play. The incident occurred when several Saints defenders were dragging Smith back at the end of a play. During this sequence, defensive tackle Khristian Boyd delivered a blindside hit on Smith, knocking him down hard.
While the collision initially appeared to be aimed at Smith’s shoulder pads, Gardner-Johnson was outraged by the play, stating that the hit was unnecessary and came after Smith’s forward progress had clearly been stopped. He criticized the Saints, calling the play a cheap shot and accusing the Saints of unsportsmanlike behavior. Gardner-Johnson, who once played for the Saints, expressed his frustration to reporters, emphasizing that such actions don’t belong in football.
The officiating during the play also came under scrutiny. Many, including Gardner-Johnson, believed that the officials should have blown the whistle to stop the play before Boyd’s hit. The lack of an immediate whistle, they argued, put Smith at unnecessary risk, resulting in his injury. Offensive tackle Fred Johnson, who replaced Lane Johnson during the second half of the game, shared his concern over the delay in stopping the play. He described the hit as unprofessional, especially given Smith’s size compared to Boyd.
The Eagles were left focused on Smith’s well-being after the game. Although Boyd was not penalized for the hit, the incident raised questions about the officiating and the actions of the Saints’ defense. Boyd later reached out on social media, wishing Smith a speedy recovery and claiming he never intended to cause serious harm.
Gardner-Johnson, however, remained adamant that the hit had no place in the game, stating that the league would handle the situation. The Eagles were clearly upset by the play, and the incident will likely remain a topic of discussion as the team looks ahead to future games.
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