Devin White Breaks Silence on Suggested Unhappiness With Eagles
By Cem Yolbulan
When Pro Bowl linebacker Devin White signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles in the offseason, he was hoping to show that he was still an impactful defender and cash in on a lucrative, long-term deal. So far in his Philadelphia stint, things haven't gone according to the plan.
Even though White was ruled out with an injury before the Week 1 clash against the Packers, it was reported that he was behind Nakobe Dean on the depth chart. This came as a huge surprise to Eagles fans who were expecting White to be the starting MIKE LB. Dean had missed the last 12 games of the season last year with a foot injury. He reportedly outplayed veteran White to take over the starting role in the preseason.
This naturally kickstarted speculation about White's unhappiness with the situation. The former Buccaneers star would presumably not have signed with the Eagles if he knew he would be a backup. When asked about his role on the team on Thursday, the 26-year-old put the ball on head coach Nick Sirianni's court.
Eagles News: Devin White Addresses His Demotion to Backup Role
ESP: Nick Sirianni says you have a role on this team. Did they describe to you what that role is?
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) September 12, 2024
Devin White: “You’re going to have to get it from him.” pic.twitter.com/cmnH6oX8h4
White was a full participant in the latest practice and should be available against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night. How big of a role he will have in that game will likely determine his future with the Eagles.
The former LSU star is no stranger to drama. Last year, he was playing out the fifth year of his contract in Tampa Bay and was eventually demoted in favor of K.J. Britt. His defensive snaps were reduced significantly as he only played 44% of snaps against the Eagles in the playoffs and just 19% against the Lions in the next round. White later admitted that playing for a contract extension hurt his concentration and affected his play on the field.
If White continues to have a smaller role than he anticipated, a potential mid-season trade might be in the cards. Otherwise, the Pro Bowler will need to play like his old self in limited snaps to win the job back from Nakobe Dean.
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