The Philadelphia Eagles just started training camp, and major questions are already being answered. The ongoing experiment of testing out former first-round linebacker Jihaad Campbell as an edge rusher is finally coming to an end.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio laid the position switch to rest at training camp, opting to have the second-year defender focus on playing linebacker.
Per team reporter Zach Berman, "Vic Fangio said the experiment with Jihaad Campbell on the edge is over. He might rush some, but he’s an off-ball LB for the Eagles."
Vic Fangio ends Eagles' Jihaad Campbell position change experiment
There were some draft scouts who believed that Campbell could make the switch to edge rusher in a full-time capacity when he was coming into the league. While he played off-ball linebacker primarily at Alabama, he was at his best when moving toward the line of scrimmage and had the size to hold up against offensive tackles.
Campbell only took about 15% of his defensive snaps as a defensive lineman in his final collegiate season, though he was often used as a quarterback spy.
Fangio and the Eagles continued the experiment throughout Campbell's first NFL season, though in a limited capacity. The rookie played 150 snaps on the defensive line and 514 snaps as an off-ball linebacker, per PFF.
Those snaps on the defensive line diminished throughout the season, falling below ten in each of the Eagles' final nine games.
He only logged 57 pass-rushing snaps and produced an encouraging 14 pressures and 12 quarterback hurries.
According to Fangio, that experiment is over. Campbell will likely still be used occasionally as a blitzer, although the Eagles tend to blitz less often than most NFL teams. The second-year linebacker will focus on developing off the ball, improving his coverage and run-fitting skills in his second year under Fangio.
The early returns at linebacker were encouraging, as Campbell logged 80 tackles despite playing a somewhat limited role. Without Nakobe Dean in front of him, the former first-round pick should see significantly more snaps this season. He could easily eclipse 100 tackles as Philadelphia's primary "Mike" linebacker.
The Eagles don't need help on the edge in the way that they did early last season. After adding Jonathan Greenard this offseason, they have a solid rotation at the position.
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Given a more defined role in Vic Fangio's defense, Campbell is primed to make major improvements in 2026.
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