Jihaad Campbell is set to focus solely on inside linebacker, freeing up the Philadelphia Eagles to potentially clear a path for Brandon Graham's return as an edge rusher.
The Eagles need Campbell to take over at inside linebacker after Nakobe Dean left in free agency to sign with the Raiders. Campbell was the Eagles' first-round pick in 2025 (No. 31 overall).
The Eagles tried Campbell at edge rusher, or outside linebacker, the position he played when he first got to Alabama, but those chances became sporadic late in the season.
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio made it clear that Campbell's days as an edge rusher are over. "He may end up there on occasion, but as a full-time player, yes, [they're over]," Fangio said.
Campbell is expected to start next to Zack Baun and play the vast majority of the defensive snaps. At 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, Campbell is considered undersized for an edge rusher.
The Eagles fortified the edge rusher position by trading for Jonathan Greenard, who had 12 and 12.5 sacks in 2023 and 2024 with the Vikings. They also have Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith returning, and added Arnold Ebiketie and A.J. Epenesa in free agency.
Greenard is on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list with a pectoral muscle strain, and Fangio made it seem like Greenard will miss a large portion of training camp. "That remains to be seen" if Greenard will practice before Week 1 of the regular season, Fangio said.
Epenesa, who had three straight seasons of 6 to 6.5 sacks from 2022-24 in Buffalo, has made a good early impression. Fangio said, "For a guy who's being asked to do a few things that he's never done before, I thought he did a nice job with it."
Campbell said he's fine focusing solely on inside linebacker. "Whatever Vic says, he’s the big dog," Campbell said. "I believe in Vic, Coach Fangio, I believe in his process and his understanding of how he actually wants things to look like for his defense."
Graham might be needed if Greenard's injury lingers, and the Eagles are deep enough at edge with Hunt, Smith, Ebiketie, and Epenesa to get by for a few weeks.
Source: Yahoo Sports