PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles have lost a key defensive starter to injury.

Nolan Smith, the Eagles’ budding star at edge rusher, was placed on injured reserve, the franchise announced on Wednesday.

Smith aggravated the same triceps he had had surgery on this past offseason, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport .

Smith is one of three players the Eagles placed on IR on Wednesday, joining cornerback Jakorian Bennett and wide receiver Darius Cooper.

The hope is that all three players will be back around the Eagles’ Week 9 bye week, according to multiple reports .

They are slated to miss games at least five games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos, New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings and Giants again.

Smith started all three games this season after breaking out in a big way

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