Jihaad Campbell wasn't supposed to be here. Not yet. Draft night felt like the bottom of the ninth for Eagles fans. Eagles brass scrambled, phones burning... they were desperate to move up the board. That familiar Eagles draft-night itch was back. Then, finally, a deal with the Chiefs.
Number 31. The pick? Campbell, the local kid with first-round talent but a medical chart that scared off half the league. Talk about a South Jersey curveball landing right in the heart of Eagles Nation. And suddenly, the narrative also flipped.
Jihaad Campbell's Admission
Campbell, defying the cautious timeline set by DC Vic Fangio, is already flying around Eagles training camp. "I’m just blessed that I’m healthy right now," Campbell declared after a recent practice. "I’m really happy to be out here on the field and flying around with our defense." Forget August; he's taking first-team snaps now.
His presence, even limited, sends shockwaves. This isn't just participation. It's nothing less than a statement. The guy who racked up 117 tackles and five sacks at Alabama looks every bit the steal Philly hoped for. How quickly can this talent translate?
Teammates aren't holding back praise. "Man, he electrifying," gushed pass rusher Nolan Smith. "He really remind me of myself if I played inside linebacker... Typical SEC inside linebackers, man." Fellow linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. sees it too: "I feel like he’s instinctual. He’s a big, fast linebacker... he has all the tools you’d want in a linebacker." But Campbell credits natural ability.
"Most of my instincts are God-gifted abilities that I display out on the field here every day," he added. With Nakobe Dean sidelined, opportunity knocks early. Campbell, diligently learning both inside spots, seems poised to answer. Can he seize a starting role by September?
Meanwhile, as we talk of September... an Eagles linebacker from a different era closed his chapter.
The Changing of the Guard
Former Philly stalwart Jordan Hicks announced his retirement. He was a key part of the 2017 Super Bowl run until injury struck.
"After 23 years of playing football, I’m officially retiring from the NFL," Hicks shared. "Football has given me more than I could have ever imagined." His departure leaves a stark void for the Browns. Especially paired with Cleveland losing Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. And it highlights the brutal churn of NFL rosters. Hicks' Philly legacy?
A Cowboys tormentor whose career was too often sidelined by the injury bug he dodged later on. And back in Eagles green, Campbell represents the thrilling opposite: potential unleashed sooner than anyone dared dream. However, the injury woes linger.
Vic Fangio watches closely, valuing instincts and play recognition above all. Campbell’s early flashes suggest he possesses those in spades. The pads come on next week—the real test begins.
Campbell’s accelerated arrival injects pure electricity into an Eagles defense craving dynamic playmakers. His health, once the big question mark, now fuels big expectations. While Hicks rides off into retirement, Campbell sprints onto the field. It embodies the Eagles' aggressive bet on elite talent overcoming risk. And as Campbell laces up his cleats, the Eagles' draft gamble looks smarter by the day.
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