Jonathan Greenard’s start with the Eagles has been rough enough that Vic Fangio felt compelled to step in and explain it.
The big offseason addition still hasn’t recorded his first sack in Philadelphia, and the frustration around him has grown to the point that some are already tossing around the Bryce Huff 2.0 label. Fangio didn’t go there, and he made it clear he doesn’t see Greenard in that light.
“What I see is a guy who has had very, very little practice,” the Eagles’ defensive coordinator said. “I mean, when I say very little, minuscule. Okay?”
Greenard’s season has been interrupted from the jump. He missed all of training camp with a pec strain, didn’t get into a game until Week 3, and then hurt his ankle not long after returning. He logged 19 snaps the next week, but the ankle kept him out of Week 5.
“(Jonathan) missed the first two weeks of the season; no practice,” Fangio said. “Started practicing, was on a pitch count, played 19 plays.
Was gonna increase the next week, got hurt early in that game. Didn't finish that game, didn't play the next game, and he's been limited in practice.
You know, contrary to some people's popular belief, practice is important.”
Fangio doubled down on that point when talking about Greenard’s fit in the defense.
“Practice is important for everybody,” Fangio said. “He's just not into a groove, you know?
He's not totally comfortable in our system and what we want him to do. It's not because he doesn't know or doesn't want to.
It's just that he hasn't executed it. Walkthroughs are an assignment check.
It's not an execution. I don't know if I've had a guy that's had so little practice."
There’s also the matter of the contract. The Eagles gave Greenard a $98 million extension, and that kind of money can bring its own pressure. It may be pushing him to force the issue when he’s on the field, or even to play before he’s fully ready.
For now, the production hasn’t matched the price tag. Greenard has just two tackles and one quarterback hit in 118 snaps, which works out to 33%.
The Week 10 bye could give him a chance to get healthier and settle in. Until then, the Eagles are still waiting for the version of Greenard they expected when they made the investment.
In Other News...
Former Eagles Are Thriving Elsewhere As Philadelphia's Season Unravels
As Philadelphias season continues to slip toward the brink at 2-6, a few familiar faces are making life look a lot easier elsewhere. Jahan Dotson turned in a big day for Tampa Bay, while Nakobe Dean was active in a Raiders win and Alex Singleton kept stuffing the stat sheet for Denver with a heavy tackle total and a sack. For an Eagles team searching for answers, the list of former contributors finding traction in new uniforms only sharpens the contrast.
There have been rougher reminders too. Cam Jurgens had a difficult afternoon in Baltimores loss to Buffalo, and Jaelan Phillips is now dealing with a hamstring injury in Carolina. It is the kind of scattered post-Eagles snapshot that can sting a little more when the current roster is fighting just to stay relevant, especially with playoff elimination closing in and the season's frustrations piling up. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Ugly Start Is Putting Their Biggest Investments Under The Microscope
The Eagles six-game skid has done more than sink the season into a 2-6 hole. It has turned the spotlight onto the players the front office is counting on most, especially the expensive additions and extensions meant to anchor the roster for years to come. With a playoff run looking increasingly out of reach, every snap is being viewed through a longer lens, and the early returns have raised real questions about whether the teams biggest investments are tracking the way they should.
Jonathan Greenard, Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter all sit at the center of that conversation, along with rookie Markel Bell, whose development matters in a different but still important way. Injuries, inconsistency and uneven production have made it harder to separate temporary struggles from deeper concerns, and the Eagles now have to sort out which problems are just part of a bad stretch and which ones could shape the rosters future well beyond this season. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Hurts Just Gave Eagles Fans A Reason To Hope
Jalen Hurts has been out of action after being placed on injured reserve because of blood clots in his lungs, but his presence around the Eagles this week offered a small lift for a team trying to keep its footing without its quarterback. Reports said Hurts was at the practice facility and involved in team meetings, a reminder that even while he is sidelined, he still remains a visible part of the operation.
Nick Sirianni confirmed he has stayed in communication with Hurts, though he did not have any fresh medical update to share. For an organization and fan base looking for any encouraging sign, Hurts being around the team was enough to matter, even if the bigger questions about his recovery are still unanswered. [Read more 🡒]