The Philadelphia Eagles were handed a frustrating 24-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. They held a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter but blew it. There are several things the Eagles need to iron out, but linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. made a statement in this one.
After getting the start due to Zack Baun being sidelined with a concussion, Trotter Jr. was one of the bright spots for this team. He finished with a team-high 15 total tackles, three run stops, and one pass breakup.
Meanwhile, Jihaad Campbell struggled again, making it evident that the coaching staff needs to find a way to keep Trotter Jr. out there when Baun returns.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. made his case for more playing time with Eagles
Campbell was second on the team in total tackles (9), but his issues in pass coverage stood out again. According to Pro Football Focus, Campbell allowed eight catches (12 targets) for 80 yards. Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay made it a focus to attack No. 11 in coverage, and it yielded positive results.
Entering Week 4, Campbell gave up nine catches for 116 yards and one touchdown. There have been times when he looked out of place and unsure in coverage, and his outing against the Rams put that on full display.
Trotter Jr. wasn't flawless in coverage himself, giving up seven receptions (eight targets) for 49 yards. There's reason to believe he can grow in that area, as this was just Trotter Jr.'s third career start. There's room to grow in his game, and with more playing time, he would likely continue to ascend.
Baun is a rock-solid starter in the middle of the Eagles' defense, but they need stability next to him. Through the first month of the season, Campbell hasn't answered that call. He's been a weak link for this defense, and with this team dropping two straight games, they need to take a hard look in the mirror.
Trotter Jr. gave Philadelphia an effective defender against the run, and that can't be overstated. Thus far into his Eagles career, Trotter Jr. has been more of a reserve. In his first two seasons, he didn't play in more than 10 percent of the defensive snaps.
There wasn't much of a need for him, but that isn't the case in 2026. Philadelphia can't afford to play people based on where they got drafted or how much they are getting paid. They need to play the most productive players, and from what Trotter Jr. showed, he deserves more playing time.
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That would come at the cost of Campbell, yet that shouldn't be something that holds defensive coordinator Vic Fangio back from making that call.
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