Eagles linebacker Smith out with sprained hamstring

Eagles outside linebacker Marcus Smith left the team’s joint practice against the Ravens on Thursday on a cart with an apparent right hamstring injury.

Marcus Smith said that he will miss three weeks, and thus the final three preseason games, with his hamstring injury.

“I’m glad it wasn’t anything major, but it’s still something that keeps him out, which is disappointing probably to him more than anybody”, defensive coordinator Bill Davis said before practice Friday. “He really took some development actions and arriving along, and today he’s got a setback”.

Smith, the Eagles’ first-round pick in 2014, was the favorite to become the backup outside linebacker, a vital role on the Eagles considering that Brandon Graham played 43 percent of the snaps in that role last season.

Beyond Bryan Braman, the special teams standout, the dwindling pool of candidates for the third outside linebacker job so capably manned a year ago by Brandon Graham are Brad Jones, signed to play inside linebacker, and Vinny Curry, the 279-pound defensive end. “I’m trying to get out there the last preseason game”. I’ll definitely be ready for the Falcons game [in Week 1]. “It’s a process. The more reps we give them the better we’ll get at it. Vinny is bright-eyed, very excited about the project, and he’s diving into it and attacking it. So he’ll probably get it quicker”. However, Smith vows to return when the regular season gets underway. “Three weeks is probably the most”.

In Smith’s absence, you’ll likely see more of pass rush specialist Vinny Curry at OLB.

“It’s not as bad as I thought it was”, said Smith, who suffered the injury in kickoff coverage. He did not earn much playing time as a rookie. “This week, we gave him a lot”. Wolff was in the running for the third safety spot.

Jones has the speed to go sideline to sideline, the size to set the edge on runs and a good-enough grasp of the defense in his first year here to have built a great deal of trust in the coaching staff.

Inside linebacker Emmanuel Acho also get work outside although for the time being he’s needed in the middle. His status for Saturday night is unknown.

“Ed is coming along”, Davis said.

The top three at that position – Kiko Alonso (concussion), DeMeco Ryans (Achilles) and Mychal Kendricks (mystery ailment) – all sat out the first game, and there’s no guarantee they play on Saturday night.

Either way, fans have been clamoring for Curry to see more playing time and it may finally happen. Maragos is a premier special teams player, meaning the others mentioned and possibly veteran E.J. Biggers, who looks like the clot cornerback, are vying for the third job. “And that’s all it is, it’s a setback”.

Wide receiver Miles Austin didn’t participate in Friday’s walkthrough practice, which would indicate that he’s doubtful for the game Saturday.