The Philadelphia Eagles are the defending Super Bowl champions, but they’ll need to fill a lot of holes if they want to defend their title in 2025. Free agency wasn’t kind to Philadelphia this spring as Milton Williams, Josh Sweat and Mekhi Becton left for new teams and the Eagles were left to replace their role with up and coming players.
With that in mind, there are a lot of new faces that will be looking to bridge the gap. But one player has already gotten off to a rough start with his new team and has let the Eagles down as they prepare for their mandatory minicamp.
Eagles Rookie Jihaad Campbell Lets the Team Down Amid Injury Woes
The Eagles appeared to get a steal when they selected Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell with the 31st overall pick in April’s draft. The 21-year-old was a force in his lone season as a starter with the Crimson Tide, logging 117 total tackles with 12 tackles for loss, five sacks and an interception. With Nakobe Dean recovering from a torn patellar tendon, Campbell appeared to be ready to take his role and leave the veteran on thin ice until injury issues kept him on the sidelines.
Campbell had shoulder surgery this offseason and the issue was enough to go from being a potential top 10 pick to being available at the end of the first round. While Campbell hasn’t done anything wrong, he hasn’t been able to capitalize on Dean’s absence and may not be ready to participate in team drills until training camp.
“We’re doing all we can,” Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said regarding Campbell’s status. “He’s doing all he can in meetings. We’re doing all we can with him on the field. I take him to the side and do an individual drill with him that’s suited to what he can do right now. He’s working good and trying to pick it up.”
Campbell’s absence has opened the door for others to start beside Zack Baun this season. 2024 fifth-round pick Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is one player that has been soaking up the reps during training camp but fifth-round pick Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr. and incumbent Dallas Gant could also get opportunities before Campbell is ready to return.
This may not be a huge deal as Philadelphia has used a patient draft and develop approach to build it’s roster. While Williams and Sweat were homegrown talents that developed into free agent commodities, the Eagles have reaped the benefits in other areas including Nolan Smith Jr.’s emergence that made Bryce Huff expendable this offseason.
Perhaps Campbell will find his way once he gets on the field. But the Eagles probably would have liked to have had him on the field by this point as they look to navigate life without one of their top defenders.