The Eagles’ defense has spent the first two-plus weeks of training camp looking like the same problem it’s been for opposing offenses over the last two years: fast, physical and all over Philadelphia’s offense in practice.
But with the preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens approaching, one injury situation is starting to hang over the edge-rusher group. Jonathan Greenard, who has not practiced all camp because of a pectoral injury and is on the PUP list, still doesn’t sound close to returning.
Vic Fangio didn’t exactly pour cold water on that timeline.
"We ain't gonna see him for another couple of weeks at least."
Fangio also said Greenard will need time after that to get back into NFL shape, which makes it hard to see him as an immediate factor once he does return. That leaves the Eagles with a clearer opening for the players behind him, especially Nolan Smith Jr.
Smith has had a solid camp, but he hasn’t been stacking up the kind of splash plays Jalyx Hunt has. Hunt has been one of the louder stories of camp, reportedly blowing past tackles and flashing serious burst off the line. That kind of performance turns heads in any setting, and it matters even more when a veteran starter is still sidelined.
For Smith, the pressure is real. He was a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and was a key contributor during the Eagles’ Super Bowl run in 2024, finishing second on the team with 6.5 sacks.
Last season, though, was a rough step back. He missed four games with a triceps injury and finished with just three sacks.
The offseason didn’t exactly give him a clean runway, either. The Eagles picked up his fifth-year option, and then he was arrested.
So with Greenard not expected back anytime soon, Smith has a chance - and a demand - in front of him. He’s already been outshined by Hunt in camp, and if that gap keeps growing, the Eagles will need to see a different version of Smith before long.
In Other News...
Quinyon Mitchell Injury Suddenly Puts Eagles Cornerback Depth In Focus
A midweek practice scare briefly shifted attention to one of the Eagles most important young defenders, as Quinyon Mitchell left drills and did not return. The injury did not appear serious, but it was enough to interrupt the look Philadelphia got on the field and put the secondarys depth under the microscope for the rest of the session.
Mac McWilliams stepped in with the first-team defense in Mitchells place, a reminder that the Eagles are leaning on a cornerback group that is still sorting itself out. Behind Mitchell, the options include Jakorian Bennett, Jonathan Jones, Kelee Ringo and Tariq Castro-Fields, a mix that gives Philadelphia bodies but not a lot of certainty if the team has to stretch that depth further. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Camp Is Creating A Real WR3 Debate Behind The Stars
Training camp has a way of turning a depth-chart afterthought into a real talking point, and thats where the Eagles find themselves with their receiver group. With DeVonta Smith and Makai Lemon slowed by injuries, Darius Cooper has had more chances to work and has made the most of them, stacking up catches and looking noticeably sharper than he did a year ago. In a room built around stars, those extra reps matter, especially when the staff is trying to sort out who can reliably handle a larger role.
Marquise Brown was brought in to be part of the answer, but the early camp work has made this more interesting than a simple veteran-vs.-young-player competition. Cooper has shown encouraging timing with Jalen Hurts, and the more he keeps doing it in camp, the harder it is to ignore him in the conversation for the Eagles next receiver behind the top options. The question now is whether Brown can close that gap before the preseason picture starts to settle. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Already Face One Big Concern With Their New Pass Rusher
Jonathan Greenards first summer with Philadelphia has already taken an uneasy turn. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said the new pass rusher is expected to miss all of training camp because of a lingering pectoral injury, and Greenard has been on the Physically Unable to Perform list while staying involved in meetings and other off-field work.
The concern now is not just the injury itself, but the time Greenard is losing at a point when newcomers usually need every rep they can get. Fangio made clear the missed camp work matters for readiness, and the Eagles will have to wait and see how quickly Greenard can get back into physical drills once he is cleared. [Read more 🡒]