The Philadelphia Eagles had another frustrating effort on Monday night, falling to the Los Angeles Chargers in overtime by a score of 22-19. The Eagles’ fifth loss of the year was a roller coaster for everyone involved but the one player who may have been stuck waiting in line was rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell.
Campbell’s rookie season started well and the Eagles’ first-round pick may have been on the way to Defensive Rookie of the Year Award honors until Nakobe Dean returned from a torn patellar tendon. While Campbell’s role had mysteriously declined in recent weeks, he was limited to just nine snaps against the Chargers, re-opening the discussion as to why he isn’t playing.
While the Eagles lost, Campbell may have been a bigger loser and Dean’s performance as a pass rusher may have been Exhibit A as to why the script has been re-written and left Campbell searching for answers.
Nakobe Dean Has Made Jihaad Campbell’s Rookie Year a Lost Cause
Dean had been a solid player in the first seven games after returning from injury, recording 38 total tackles with four tackles for loss, a pass deflection and a forced fumble. He also was coming off his best game of the season with 12 total tackles in last week’s loss to the Chicago Bears.
But while the overall stats were good, Dean’s pass-rushing ability has been great. He entered Monday’s game with six pressures on 21 pass-rushing snaps but he took it to another level against the Chargers, recording a pressure on four of his six pass-rushing snaps according to Pro Football Focus.
It would have been one thing if Dean was efficient when going after the quarterback. But it was another considering he did it in impactful moments. His second-quarter strip sack of Chargers QB Justin Herbert set up Jake Elliott for a 30-yard field goal that allowed the Eagles to go into halftime down 10-6. Dean almost had a second sack in the third quarter as he was unblocked on a blitz but Herbert was able to escape before scrambling upfield for a gain.
It’s plays like that which might be the reason why Vic Fangio trusts the veteran over the rookie. Philadelphia’s pass rush entered Monday night ranked tied for 25th in the NFL with 24 sacks, but with Dean leading the charge, the Eagles racked up a season-high seven sacks and kept Philadelphia in the game despite another meager offensive effort lowlighted by Jalen Hurts’s five turnovers.
With the defense doing its job, Philadelphia was able to stay in the fight despite the overtime loss. But it brings questions to what Campbell’s role is moving forward.
Campbell has strong numbers for his rookie season with 53 total tackles, a tackle for loss, an interception, two pass deflections and a forced fumble. But he has yet to record his first career sack and managed just nine pressures on 47 pass-rushing snaps according to PFF. A season-low in snaps could have been part of the game plan but it could be another indictment on an area of his game that needs improvement.
At this point, Campbell may need to hope that Dean leaves town when he’s set to become a free agent at the end of the year. But it might be possible that the Eagles bring Dean back to serve the role he’s been playing as a high-level pass rusher.
Whatever it is, Campbell’s rookie season has encountered a plot twist and it may take another unforeseen development for him to overtake Dean and get back on the field.