Philadelphia Eagles Roundup: What role will T.J. Edwards play?

Some of the Philadelphia Eagles’ fan base has been clamoring for T.J. Edwards to get more playing time all season. On Sunday, versus the Dallas Cowboys, their wishes will be granted.

What role will T.J. Edwards play in Week 16’s game versus the Dallas Cowboys? Well, you may be in for a surprise if you’re expecting the Philadelphia Eagles to ease him in. Let’s talk some Kamu Grugier-Hill for a second though.

In losing him, Philly lost one of their key contributors on defense at a time where they could ill-afford to do so. That’s obvious. Prior to missing the Week 14 game versus the New York Giants with a concussion that no one was told about until we were all days before the game and playing five snaps versus the Washington Redskins in Week 15, the “Flyin’ Hawaiian” began the season with some nagging injuries.

He’d work his way back onto the field but got no work in Week 4 versus the Green Bay Packers. In Week 5, he was in, and Philly made good on a statement that all of us heard several months earlier. ‘Kamu Grugier-Hill will play a bigger role in the defense in 2019’.

In 2019, Grugier-Hill, from Week 5 to Week 13, was on the field for 295 defensive snaps, roughly 55 percent of the snaps. He’s racked up 22 total tackles. 16 have been of the solo variety and four have resulted in a loss of yardage, and now, we’re being told that he’ll be replaced by an undrafted free agent.

Now, if you’ve read ITI enough, you know our staff subscribes to a theory. Fans have opinions. The media has opinions, but opinions are only as valuable as your knowledge of a subject. Should everyone worry about Edwards? For an answer to that one, let’s defer to the players, and recently, Nigel Bradham, the man who calls the defensive signals put his two cents in on the rookie.

"(Edwards is) a guy that’s been motivated all year. He’s been tremendous for us. (He’s) stepped in each and every time we’ve needed him… (When) somebody goes down, he picks it right up. You can’t even tell the difference (in production when he walks in). (He’s) a smart guy (and he) doesn’t really make mistakes… He’s only a rookie but doesn’t play that way. He’s physical, smart, and has (good) instincts. He’s an all-around linebacker. We’re lucky to have him. I tell him all the time that it’s crazy (that) you went undrafted. I just don’t understand it."

We’re all still getting to know Edwards, but we’ve known Bradham for a while. His opinion should trump any other. He’s one of the guys that go to war with Edwards. He’s on the practice field with him and in the meeting rooms with him. His opinion should be listened to about who this Edwards guy is.

Alex Singleton, Nathan Gerry, and Duke Riley join Edwards and Bradham as the other linebackers on Philly’s roster. They’ll need to play huge in their respective roles. If they do that, it will go a long way in helping the defense and special teams spearhead an Eagles big win at Lincoln Financial Field. What role will Edwards play? It’s simple. He needs to step into the void left by Grugier-Hill and be the Greg Ward or the Boston Scott of this Eagles defense. There’s no reason to assume that he can’t.