Eagles will rotate Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Jihaad Campbell vs. Panthers; Jalyx Hunt likely out
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said the report that Trotter was set to start ahead of Campbell last Sunday was "an out and out lie."
The scuffle on the opening kickoff that resulted in Jeremiah Trotter Jr. being ejected from the game Sunday not only left the Eagles down a key special teamer, it left Vic Fangio’s defense without a linebacker who was going to take on a more significant role.
Fangio Tuesday confirmed what Zack Baun said after the game, that the plan was to rotate Trotter and Jihaad Campbell at linebacker. Fangio, though, refuted what was mentioned on the television broadcast, that Trotter was going to be the starter, calling that “an out and out lie.”
But for the second season in a row, the Eagles will be taking some playing time away from Campbell, their 2025 first-round pick who was demoted last season when Nakobe Dean returned from his injury. Campbell, who was credited with five tackles in the Week 5 loss, played “OK,” Fangio said, but he has apparently not played well enough to not cede time to Trotter.
The plan, Fangio said, will be to rotate the two linebackers “by series, kind of” and not based on situations.
“Trot played good in the start that he had when Zack [Baun] was out,” Fangio said. “It was close. I just think he deserves playing time.”
Trotter, a 2024 fifth-round pick out of Clemson (by way of St. Joseph’s Prep), had a team-high 15 tackles in the Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams when filling in for Baun, who had a concussion.
The Rams feasted on both Eagles linebackers that game. Campbell allowed eight receptions on 12 targets for 80 yards while Trotter allowed seven catches on eight targets for 49 yards.
Asked if he was worried Campbell wouldn’t respond well to losing playing time, Fangio replied with one word: “No.”
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Hunt out, Greenard in?
Jalyx Hunt was spotted in the locker room with a walking boot on his left leg after spending several minutes on the field as the game hit halftime. The Eagles later ruled him out with ankle and knee injuries.
Fangio said that “it would be pretty miraculous” for Hunt to be healthy enough to play Sunday’s Week 6 game vs. the Carolina Panthers.
“But he’s the kind of guy … he’s going to be pushing the envelope to make the medical people clear him," Fangio said. “He’s not going to be one of those guys that’s going to be hesitant to come back.”
The Eagles haven’t gotten enough from their pass rushers: only three teams have fewer than their six sacks. Fangio often says that people harp too much on sack numbers, but the Eagles have a pressure rate of just 32%, which ranks 25th in the NFL.
The biggest issue there has been the availability of Jonathan Greenard, who missed all of training camp with a pectoral injury and then didn’t debut until Week 3. He played that game on a limited snap count and then was hurt in Week 4. Greenard, who signed a four-year deal worth nearly $100 million after the Eagles acquired him in a draft weekend trade, missed Week 5 with an ankle injury.
“Hopefully he’ll be ready to go this week,” Fangio said.
Hunt’s injury left the Eagles with just three active edge rushers in the second half: Nolan Smith Jr., Arnold Ebiketie, and A.J. Epenesa. If Greenard is unable to play, the Eagles have three edge rushers on the practice squad: Keyshawn James-Newby, Mason Reiger, and Joshua Weru.
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Carter’s cast will be smaller this week
Jalen Carter had his best game of the 2026 season, with five total tackles, two strip-sacks, and a batted pass.
Carter appeared to have more use of his right hand than in previous weeks. The cast protecting his fractured wrist “may have been smaller,”, but this week’s version will be even smaller, Fangio said.
“They had to protect it for four weeks,” Fangio said.
