Rookie Ainias Smith may be a candidate for interim candidacy, subject to MRI results

Rookie Ainias Smith may be a candidate for interim negotiations pending MRI results. Originally published on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Ainias Smith could be placed on the injured list after reportedly complaining of ankle and thigh discomfort following Saturday’s season finale at the Linc, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.

Smith, the Eagles’ rookie 5^thThe first-round receiver isn’t expected to contribute right away, but the Eagles don’t want to put him on waivers, so placing him on the injured list would be an unfortunate but convenient way to retain his rights without being added to the 53-man roster.

Rapoport said Smith underwent an MRI on Monday.

After a slow start to training camp, Smith has improved over the past week and a half, doing some encouraging things both in practice and in the last two preseason games. He caught Tanner McKee’s game-winning two-point conversion in New England and had six catches against the Vikings on Saturday.

“I was just pushing earlier,” he said. “I was just pushing, trying to do too much, trying to worry about other things that I can’t control, and now I’m just letting it all happen.”

Starting this year, there are two types of IR during the season. The Eagles could put Smith on IR before final cuts on Tuesday at 4 p.m. and have him re-enter after four weeks, or they could put him on the old-fashioned IR and he would miss the entire season.

The results of the MRI will likely determine whether he goes to the injured list and, if so, which list he goes on. Teams can place two players on the four-week injured list and Tyler Steen would be a likely candidate for one of those spots.

If Smith is not placed on the injured list, he would be the sixth receiver on the roster, behind AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jahan Dotson, Johnny Wilson and Britain Covey.

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