Jihaad Campbell is happy, healthy and already climbing the depth chart

Jihaad Campbell is happy, healthy and already climbing the depth chart originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Based on the timeline defensive coordinator Vic Fangio divulged back in the spring, Jihaad Campbell shouldn't even be practicing yet. Fangio didn't expect Campbell back until August.

On July 26, Campbell already got some first-team snaps.

Campbell, 21, missed most of the spring after offseason shoulder surgery, but the Eagles' first-round pick from Alabama has been on the field for each of the first three days of training camp. And even though the Eagles have been listing him as a limited participant ... he certainly doesn't look limited.

I'm just blessed that I'm healthy right now," Campbell said after Saturday's practice. I'm really happy to be out here on the field and flying around with our defense."

Campbell even said when the Eagles put the pads on next week, he'll be able to participate.

It has been just three non-padded practices so there are some caveats of importance, but Campbell has stood out for the right reasons through these three sessions. He looks like a first-round pick and he appears to be trending toward not just being ready for Week 1, but being an important piece of the Eagles' defense.

With Nakobe Dean on the Active/PUP as he rehabs the torn patellar tendon injury that ended his 2024 season in the playoffs, Zack Baun has mostly been lining up next to Jeremiah Trotter Jr. with the first-team defense. Campbell has mostly been lining up next to fellow rookie Smael Mondon with the second team. But on Saturday, deep into some practice periods, Campbell got on the field to face the Eagles' starting offense.

Probably just the beginning.

To be fair, Trotter has been solid. Fangio can trust him and if the Eagles had to go into the season with Trot as the starter next to Baun, they'd be fine. But there's just no denying the upside the Eagles' defense has with Baun and Campbell patrolling the middle of the field and it seems like just a matter of time before we really start to see that combination in training camp.

Even though they're competing, Trotter has been a helpful voice to help Campbell in his first training camp. And the second-year backer from Clemson has been impressed by his new teammate.

I feel like he's instinctual. He's a big, fast linebacker," Trotter said. I feel like he has all the tools you'd want in a linebacker. I feel like there's a lot of parts of his game he does well."

Campbell has been learning both of the Eagles' inside linebacker positions; the Eagles like their players to have some versatility. But as much as the Eagles talked up Campbell's ability to rush the passer, that's clearly secondary in training camp. He has been working some with outside linebackers coach Jeremiah Washburn after practices but hasn't taken a snap on the edge yet this summer.

For now, Campbell is an inside linebacker.

I think the biggest thing is just focusing on the now, focusing on being a great linebacker," Campbell said. And then on the side, after practice, just get a couple reps in with my pass rushing ability and making sure I'm taking the right steps in that."

The Eagles felt lucky to land Campbell after moving up just one spot from 32 to 31 in April and it seems obvious that injury concerns pushed Campbell down into their range. But the Eagles cleared him medically and even though they knew he was rehabbing that shoulder, they didn't expect it to hinder his career-long term.

During the spring, when he was sidelined, Campbell used his time to dive deep into the playbook and take as many mental reps as possible so he wouldn't be behind when he returned to practice. That plan has seemingly worked out.

And Campbell is already making an impression on his veteran teammates.

Man, he electrifying," Nolan Smith said. He really remind me of myself if I played inside linebacker. He's just electrifying and, man, he got a quick step, he got a job, he got good hands. Typical SEC inside linebackers, man. We blitz them guys and I watched him play and I was 100% happy when he came here."

Fangio has been in the NFL for decades and linebacker has been his speciality. He has coached some great ones throughout the years.

Last week, Fangio was asked what he needs to see from a young linebacker before increasing their role and he pointed at instincts, play recognition, diagnosing and reacting. Fangio wanted to see how quickly Campbell would come along in those areas in particular.

Most of my instincts are God-gifted abilities that I display out on the field here every day," Campbell said, as much as I can."

Over the next few weeks, Campbell is going to get a lot more chances to show it.