The most surprising news from Eagles training camp isn’t about a new star signing, but about a rookie finally stopping what he did last year. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has made it crystal clear: Jihaad Campbell’s days of rushing the edge are effectively over. This move shifts the rookie linebacker back to the inside, a spot where he can focus on his growth rather than splitting his time. According to Bleeding Green Nation, Fangio noted that while Campbell had some chances outside, those reps actually held back his development as an inside player.
Campbell missed the entire offseason program and has only had one training camp practice so far. It’s too early to say if he’ll make a huge leap in his second year, but the coaching staff knows his future role. Fangio admitted that some of the outside work was valuable, yet the rest wasn’t great for the young player’s long-term progress. The defensive coordinator explained that the team might ask Campbell to move outside a few times, but there will be no long-term cross-training there. He wants Campbell to master the inside linebacker spot first.
That’s the whole point.
The Safety Battle and New Faces
While Campbell finds his spot, the safety room remains wide open. Fangio wouldn’t say that veteran Marcus Epps has the starting job locked up, even though he’s been with the first-team nickel group. Cooper DeJean has been working with the base group, creating a real fight for the top role. The DC also praised Michael Carter, who is doing fine in the mix. “But, [Michael] Carter’s doing fine too. It’s competition,” Fangio said, highlighting the depth at the position.
The defensive line faces its own changes due to injuries and new schemes. Jonathan Greenard is expected to miss most of camp because of a pec strain (a pesky issue that’s already cost him reps). Even though he’s a veteran, the Eagles are asking him to drop back in coverage, a new skill set he hasn’t used often. Those missed reps in practice could matter later in the season. Fangio believes Greenard can handle the new tasks and sees him doing well in meetings, but live reps are still missing.
Why This Matters
This shift for Campbell is a huge deal for the Eagles defense because it stops a player from being a jack-of-all-trades. Trying to play both inside and outside often leaves a player knowing neither role perfectly. By focusing on the inside, the team gives Campbell a clear path to become a starter. Fangio thinks the player has a great work ethic and the right demeanor to succeed. “He’s got a great work ethic, demeanor, and he just picked up yesterday where he left off last year,” the coordinator said.
The team also has high hopes for Jalyx Hunt, who is entering his third year and could be an exceptional player. With Greenard out, AJ Epenesa steps up to fill the gap. Fangio gave Epenesa a rare public compliment, telling him in front of the whole team that he did a nice job with new tasks. Staying healthy is the main goal for Nolan Smith, who had a choppy year due to injuries. The Eagles need their young defenders to stay on the field if they want to win.
If the team can keep its key players healthy and let Campbell grow inside, the defense could look much sharper. The coaching staff is confident Campbell will step up when the time comes. The focus now is on getting everyone ready for the season without rushing the process. Fans will see a defense that is more focused on its core roles rather than trying to do too much at once. The next step? Preseason action.
