Vic Fangio said the Eagles would rotate at linebacker, and on Sunday against the Panthers, he stuck to that plan. Just not in a perfectly even way.
Zack Baun was the constant, never leaving the field for a single one of Philadelphia’s 79 defensive snaps in the 25-14 loss. The rest of the linebacker picture was split between Jihaad Campbell and Jeremiah Trotter Jr., with Campbell getting the larger share.
Campbell logged 48 snaps, which came out to 61 percent. Trotter played 28 snaps, or 36 percent. The Eagles had only one snap in dime, with a single linebacker on the field.
The production was spread too. Trotter finished with five combined tackles, half a sack and a quarterback hit.
Campbell also had five combined tackles. Campbell, 22, started the game and has now started all six games this season.
He opened with the first two series before Trotter entered beside him, and the rotation followed series rather than situation, just as Fangio had explained during the week.
The sheer volume helped create the split. The Eagles were on defense for 79 snaps and faced 74 plays, their second-highest total of the season behind only the Rams game, when they were on the field for 84 snaps.
They’ve now reached 70-plus defensive snaps in five of six games this year. Last season, that happened just six times in 17 games.
During the 2024 Super Bowl season, they did it only three times.
That workload has been a byproduct of more than just the defense’s own performance. The offense has been going 3-and-out too often, leaving the defense stranded out there and wearing down late.
Elsewhere on defense, Baun, Quinyon Mitchell and Drew Mukuba played all 79 snaps. Cooper DeJean was right behind them at 78, and Riq Woolen played 77.
The edge group had to absorb more strain than expected. Jalyx Hunt was already out with a knee/ankle issue, then Nolan Smith left with a concussion after just 14 snaps.
Jonathan Greenard also appeared to be on a pitch count. That left Arnold Ebiketie carrying a huge load with 72 snaps, or 91 percent.
Keyshawn James-Newby, a rookie in his first NFL game, played 48 snaps. Greenard logged 24, and Smith finished with 14.
Ebiketie’s 72 snaps were the most he has ever played in an NFL game. His previous high was 54. James-Newby’s number stood out too, given it was his first NFL action.
Inside, Jalen Carter was the workhorse at defensive tackle, playing 74 snaps for 94 percent. Jordan Davis had 41 snaps before leaving with an ankle injury; he said x-rays came back negative.
Moro Ojomo and Byron Young each played 32 snaps, and Ty Robinson added 15. Ojomo appeared to be laboring through the game.
The secondary also had a notable wrinkle. Marcus Epps returned from a groin injury but did not start, and his snaps were limited to special teams. Drew Mukuba and Cooper DeJean handled safety duties in the base package, while in-season addition Kenny Moore II took over as the other safety in nickel and played 48 snaps.
On offense, Tanner McKee and the entire line were on the field for all 64 snaps. Drew Kendall, who was active with a knee injury, did not play and was only available as an emergency option.
DeVonta Smith came back from a hamstring injury but didn’t see his usual workload. He played 42 of 64 snaps, or 66 percent, and still drew a game-high 14 targets. Makai Lemon led the wideouts with 52 snaps, followed by Smith, Dontayvion Wicks at 40, Darius Cooper at 39 and Elijah Moore at eight.
At running back, the injury mess got worse. Carson Steele went down with a shoulder injury, and Dameon Pierce ended up playing 61 of 64 snaps, or 95 percent.
That was easily the biggest workload of his career. His previous highs were 48 snaps and 79 percent.
At tight end, Dallas Goedert led the group with 52 snaps, which was 81 percent. Johnny Mundt played 19 snaps, E.J. Jenkins played four, and Zach Ertz remained on the practice squad and out of elevations, so he did not play.
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