The plan for Philadelphia Eagles first-round pick Jihaad Campbell was originally to have him at inside linebacker to give him time to learn the defense. That might not be the case anymore.
During Thursday's joint practice with the Cleveland Browns at training camp, Campbell was not always just playing at inside linebacker. NBC Sports' Dave Zangaro shared where Campbell was lining up throughout the workout.
"While Jihaad Campbell hasn’t gotten reps as a pure edge rusher in team drills, the Eagles were walking him up to the line like an overhang player frequently on Thursday. Earlier this summer, Campbell would mostly drop into coverage in those moments. But today, he got a chance to rush the passer and looked good. He even picked up a “sack” on Joe Flacco who tried to step up in the pocket before fleeing but didn’t quite get beyond the line of scrimmage."
While the positioning of Campbell was fascinating, his performance against the Browns in what was categorized as a bad practice for the Eagles is something to highlight. Zangaro added Campbell's ability to stop Cleveland's running game
"The Eagles eventually gave up some plays through the air in Thursday’s practice but early on they were doing a great job stuffing the run. Both Campbell and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. showed the ability to clean up runners and fill gaps."
How much will Campbell play this season, and will he become an edge rusher?
During his time at Alabama, Campbell demonstrated his versatility at linebacker. He was able to line up on the edge and pressure the quarterback while dropping back into coverage.
Campbell has made significant progress in training camp and performed well in his NFL debut, contributing to the Eagles' 34-27 preseason win over the Cincinnati Bengals. He finished the game with three total tackles made.
Nakobe Dean's injury has left the door open for Campbell and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. to get their reps on the practice field. Trotter feels like he has a slight edge in the competition since he's a little more experienced in Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's defense. Campbell has more upside for what he can do.
The Eagles realize the talent level Campbell possesses and can't be reduced to just being an inside linebacker. Their depth at edge rusher has left something to be desired by Fangio, who has stated that, outside of Josh Uche, not many of the other backups are showing anything great.
If the concerns at EDGE persist, Campbell might have an opportunity to secure playing time there as well. He showed in Thursday's practice that he has enough speed to get off the line quickly and get to the quarterback.
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It's interesting to see how Fangio lines up Campbell on the field for the Browns' preseason game.