It's becoming increasingly clear that the Philadelphia Eagles need to figure something out at inside linebacker with Jihaad Campbell, and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. could be that solution.
Campbell has been solid at times for the Eagles this season, posting a team-high 28 tackles through three games. He also has three pressures, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hit, one sack, and one forced fumble. Pro Football Focus has him graded 67.9 overall, ranking him 27th among 91 eligible NFL linebackers.
While it hasn't been all that bad, one part of Campbell's game is making him a massive liability on this defense: pass coverage. The Eagles may have no choice but to look at Jeremiah Trotter Jr. as a linebacker option to rotate in more.
How bad is this Jihaad Campbell situation for Eagles in pass coverage?
PFF has Campbell's passer rating allowed at 140.9 in pass coverage. Eagles On SI's Jeff Kerr went more in-depth, as he had Campbell's passer rating at 138.9 when he is the primary defender in covereage. That's allow 10 of 12 passes to be completed for 128 yards and one touchdown.
Jihaad Campbell has allowed a 138.9 passer rating as the primary defender in coverage through three games.
— Jeff Kerr (@JeffKerrPHL) September 29, 2026
10-of-12, 128 yards, TD #Eagles
There's no getting around it: Campbell is struggling in coverage. Nakobe Dean helped with this last season, despite being more of a blitzing linebacker in defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's scheme.
Campbell isn't playing badly enough to warrant a full benching. He should still be the starter for the Eagles. Fangio might need to give Trotter more playing time and, specifically, a shot on passing downs.
How Jeremiah Trotter Jr. can bring the Eagles some extra juice on defense
This season, Eagles fans expected Trotter's role to change and for him to get more reps. That hasn't been the case at all; it's pretty much been the same for him.
In three games, Trotter has had only four tackles and none in the 27-7 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 3. He has played 84% of the special teams snaps this season. Trotter has played six defensive snaps all year. Six.
It's baffling that a man who had a great training camp and preseason is still not getting the playing time he's earned. He may not be as experienced as Campbell or Zack Baun, but at some point, he needs to get on the field and play.
Campbell has proven he is a good linebacker, but he still has some development to do. Getting Trotter out there can only help the defense out. Trotter brings good instincts and can lay the hammer down on stopping the run.
The unknown is Trotter in coverage and whether he can handle it with a heavier load. That's where the Eagles really need to test the waters and give him a chance. What they are doing now is not working with Campbell, so they shouldn't give the young third-year linebacker a shot.
Read more: Jalen Hurts deserves very little blame for Eagles' debacle in Week 3
At this point, with the Eagles' defense struggling, they need to try something new, and what better way to do that than letting Trotter rotate in on defense more. That kind of shake-up not only gives a hungry young player like Trotter the field to prove himself, but could also give Campbell the push he needs to take his game to the next level.
Add us as a preferred source on Google