Eagles' Ben VanSumeren Reportedly Out for Season with Knee Injury Suffered vs. Cowboys

Philadelphia Eagles fullback Ben VanSumeren will miss the rest of the 2025 season after suffering a torn patella tendon during Thursday night's season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Friday.

VanSumeren suffered the knee injury on Thursday's opening kickoff. He was carted off the field and ruled out for the remainder of the game.

He was placed on IR on Friday. The Eagles announced the signing of former Detroit Lions defensive end Za'Darius Smith in a corresponding move.

VanSumeren, originally signed by the Eagles as a undrafted free agent linebacker ahead of the 2023 season, was called up to the active roster in November 2023.

He had established himself as a key special teams player since then, playing 393 special teams snaps over 20 games between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, per Pro Football Reference.

VanSumeren also played 22 offensive snaps at fullback last season, although he was sidelined for the last six games of the campaign after suffering a season-ending ACL injury.

He re-signed with the Eagles on a one-year deal in March, then recovered from his ACL injury in time to be listed as starting fullback on the team's first unofficial depth chart of the regular season.

VanSumeren recently told reporters he expected his role to expand to him receiving carries this season, per Jimmy Kempski of the Philly Voice.

The 25-year-old will have to put what could have been a potential breakout season as a full-time fullback on hold as he begins recovery from the second significant knee injury of his NFL career.

The Eagles will meanwhile hope using his open roster spot to add Smith, who recorded 9.0 sacks during a 2024 campaign split between the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions, will hope bolster their defense ahead of next Sunday's Super Bowl rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs.