As the Philadelphia Eagles enter Week 18 against the Washington Commanders, much of the attention will be placed on how the roster is aligned heading into the postseason.
From the offensive struggles to the musical-chairs act among the front five, one of the most critical individual storylines in that context centers on linebacker Jihaad Campbell, whose role has come full circle at a crucial point in the campaign.
An elite second-level defender out of Alabama, Campbell opened the year as a core defensive piece, starting each of the first eight weeks and serving as a fixture in the middle of the Eagles’ defense. His early-season usage reflected the organization’s belief in his athletic profile and versatility, particularly his ability to operate downhill and cover ground sideline-to-sideline.
As the season progressed, however, Campbell’s snap count fluctuated. Between Weeks 10 and 15, he transitioned into more of a rotational role, with Philadelphia leaning on situational groupings and matchup-specific personnel. That trajectory shifted again in Week 17 against the Buffalo Bills in a matchup of two of the NFL's elites.
Jihaad Campbell's play against Bills sets up momentum in Week 18
Campbell logged 71 snaps, tied for the most in his rookie season (Week 5 against the Denver Broncos), reestablishing himself as a full-time presence and providing a reminder of why his skill set is so valuable. He finished the game with two pressures as a pass rusher, an area that taps into his background. Recruited out of high school as an edge defender before moving to off-ball linebacker at Alabama, Campbell brings legitimate burst and closing ability when used as a blitzer, something the Eagles can leverage against mobile and rhythm-based quarterbacks.
Within Philadelphia’s defensive structure, Campbell’s fit alongside Zack Baun is particularly intriguing.
The pairing gives the Eagles a versatile and athletic second level capable of attacking downhill while still defending the fringe areas of the field, and Campbell’s range allows him to scrape over the top, trigger quickly against the run, and apply pressure through interior and delayed blitzes without sacrificing structural integrity.
For the Eagles and head coach Nick Sirianni, Week 18 offers another opportunity to build continuity. Against Washington, the focus will be on extending Campbell’s snap count and sharpening his timing within the defense as the Eagles prepare for playoff football.
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Because for a team with championship aspirations, clarity at linebacker matters as much as how the front four can get home, or the play on the backend.