Many Philadelphia Eagles thought that they might never see edge rusher Azeez Ojulari play in a game this season.
When Ojulari was signed in free agency this offseason, the former New York Giant was thought to be a perfect depth piece off the edge behind Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith Jr. That never seemed to materialize once the team got to training camp.
Ojulari had a quiet camp with nothing significant done to separate himself from the rest. Outside of Josh Uche, the rest of the edge rushers behind Smith and Hunt struggled. That sparked a conversation about Ojulari being a surprise cut or trade candidate.
Philly ended up keeping Ojulari on the 53-man roster, but the Eagles have never made him active for any of their first three games of the season. He seemed destined to be gone after the season without any action on the field, despite Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni saying that they are waiting for the right matchup for him.
That time might have finally come for Ojulari.
Eagles fans might finally see Ojulari on the field against the Buccaneers
This week, the Eagles have been plagued by injuries, including Smith being placed on IR after reinjuring his triceps, for which he underwent offseason surgery. Many don't expect him back until possibly November.
It has opened the door for Ojulari to step in and not only take more reps in practice, but he might finally be active for Sunday's Week 4 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He spoke with the media on Wednesday about potentially getting his shot to play.
"Whatever the opportunity is, I'll take it," Ojulari said via philadelphiaeagles.com.
Ojulari is no slouch player. During his first four seasons with the Giants, he racked up 37 quarterback hits and 22 sacks in 46 games. His only issue during his tenure in New York was injuries, as he missed 22 games in the last three years.
This season might have been frustrating for the fifth-year veteran, but Ojulari has kept his focus on the goal of getting back on the field in 2025.
"You're coming to work every day, trying to get better," Ojulari said. "Just working, just keeping the body right. Treatment, whatever it is to stay ready so you don't have to get ready.
"To be out there one day, that's the goal."
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Suppose Ojulari finally gets his opportunity to take the field in the midnight green uniforms. In that case, he knows he has to run with it and show Philly what general manager Howie Roseman saw in the speedy, athletic pass rusher.