Vic Fangio Making Big Change to Eagles Defense After 1st Playoff Game
By Jovan Alford
The Philadelphia Eagles will play the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday in the Divisional Round of the 2025 NFL playoffs. The Eagles are coming off a physical win in the Wild-Card Round, taking down the Green Bay Packers 22-10.
While the Eagles walked away with the win, they also lost one of their key defensive starters in third-year linebacker Nakobe Dean. Dean suffered a torn patellar tendon in his knee, ending his postseason.
Without Dean on the field, the Eagles are losing their “play-caller” as he wore the green dot this season. This means Zack Baun, Oren Burks, and rookie Jeremiah Trotter Jr. will have to step up to fill the void left by Dean.
On Tuesday, Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio detailed changes that could be on the horizon heading into Sunday’s playoff showdown against the Los Angeles Rams.
According to Zach Berman of PHLY, Fangio said that Baun will wear the green dot and they’re taking a look at Trotter Jr. at linebacker, in addition to the Burks. Burks replaced Dean in last week’s game, playing 36 defensive snaps. The veteran linebacker had five combined tackles and a forced fumble, which happened on the opening kickoff.
Vic Fangio said Zack Baun will wear the green dot and they’re taking a look at Jeremiah Trotter Jr. at linebacker in addition to Oren Burks. pic.twitter.com/w9hCvsAFsG
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) January 14, 2025
However, Burks also struggled in pass coverage, allowing 62 yards on five completions and had three missed tackles. The Packers took advantage of Dean not being on the field, utilizing Josh Jacobs in the passing game.
The Rams will try to do the same with running back Kyren Williams on Sunday. As for Trotter, he saw no defensive snaps in last week’s playoff game as his playing time was on special teams (19 snaps). That said, the rookie linebacker has played 104 defensive snaps this season and could see some time against Los Angeles.
“I think he’s got a good future. That might be now,” Fangio said to reporters on Tuesday, who is not afraid to put him on the field (h/t 94WIP’s Eliot Shorr-Parks)
Vic Fangio says the Eagles are not afraid to put Jeremiah Trotter Jr in despite the fact he’s a rookie
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) January 14, 2025
“I think he’s got a good future. That future might be now” #Eagles
The Eagles hope Burks and Trotter are both ready as this Rams’ team is coming off a great win over the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night.
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