It's too bad the Philadelphia Eagles' offense is an absolute dumpster fire because that defense was a whole lot of fun to watch in their Week 9 loss to the New York Giants, 19-11. One of the game's highlights was young linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
The Eagles had to roll with Trotter at linebacker in place of Jihaad Campbell for the second straight game. Campbell has been dealing with hamstring and quad injuries over the last few weeks and hasn't been able to play.
Trotter has had great moments, but also some learning moments for the third-year linebacker out of Clemson. After the Giants game, it's becoming clear that he looks a lot like his dad, former Eagles legend Jeremiah Trotter Sr., and it may have made a case that the team can't justify starting Campbell anymore.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. put up a career performance in Eagles' Week 9 loss
Many Eagles fans might remember Trotter's performance in last year's Week 18 loss to the Washington Commanders and how well he played in that game. He had 12 tackles, two quarterback hits, and one tackle for.
While that was against backups, the Eagles got the best version of Trotter in the Giants game. He led the way with 11 tackles, plus three tackles for loss and one quarterback hit. Trotter was so good that Pro Football Focus gave him an overall grade of 90.6, the highest of any player in the contest.
It felt like it all finally came together for Trotter in this game, showing off his instincts and being able to make all the plays. He was flying around the field and almost looked exactly like his teammate, Zack Baun, out there on the field.
This was what Eagles fans saw from Trotter during the preseason, but the Eagles kept Campbell as a starter. All the run-game stops and blitzes showed that the Eagles have a true defensive weapon in Trotter for the future.
Eagles can't justify Jihaad Campbell over Jeremiah Trotter Jr. in the lineup
The Eagles have tried to force Campbell down every fan's throat because he was their first-round pick in 2025. While he is decent against the run and his biggest strength is pass rushing, he's been a liability on this defense all season. Especially in pass coverage.
PFF gave him an overall grade of 49, ranking 68th out of 76 eligible linebackers. Campbell also got a coverage grade of 53.7 (ranked 49th), a run-defense grade of 43.1 (ranked 72nd), and a pass-rush grade of 64.1 (ranked 35th).
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is clearly misusing Campbell in this defense and should be sent out on blitzes on passing downs or start getting reps off the edge. Putting Campbell back into coverage has been a nightmare, allowing a passer rating of 112.7.
Trotter is a better fit as an inside linebacker because he is stronger in coverage and a better run-stopper. He has the instincts to be a solid starter now and to develop into a better player with more reps.
This doesn't mean that Campbell is a horrible player and should be benched. It just means Fangio has to put Campbell in a position to succeed and can't let Trotter remain just a special teams ace on this team. Trotter is meant to be a starter and can be a great one in the future.
The Eagles just need to put Campbell out there on passing downs where he can rush the passer. He might want to try his hand as an edge rusher again, or at least just be a rotational linebacker.
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That's not what the Eagles want to hear since they spent a first-round pick on Campbell, but they can't keep ignoring the fact that Trotter is a starting-caliber linebacker. It's time for Trotter to be a full-time starter on this defense. For good.
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