Linebacker T.J. Edwards surprising glue to Eagles defense

By Sean Barnard | Last updated Sep 30, 2022 3:00 PM ET

There was a great deal of buzz surrounding the Eagles' defense heading into the season. The additions of players like James Bradberry, Kyzir White, Haason Reddick, and Nakobe Dean all increased the belief in the defense which allowed 22.6 points per game in 2021. However, it has not been any of the new additions who have changed the outlook of the unit as fourth-year linebacker T.J. Edwards has emerged as the glue of the Eagles' defense.

After going undrafted in 2019, the Eagles signed Edwards to a training camp deal and he made the 53-man roster. The Wisconsin product played in all 16 games as a rookie including four starts. He has continued to progress throughout his time with the Eagles and was second on the team in tackles with 130 in 2021. However, the Eagles’ linebacker unit ranked 29th according to Pro Football Focus last season and was labeled the biggest weak point of the Philadelphia defense.

With another year of experience under his belt and increased competition for minutes, Edwards has taken his game to another level. Through three weeks, he has tallied 27 total tackles, three tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, two passes deflected, and a sack.

The Eagles have not had a linebacker make a Pro Bowl since Jeremiah Trotter in 2005 but Edwards is doing his best to change this. He also has fit in nicely alongside Kyzir White and the duo has been in the mix for seemingly everything the Eagles have done defensively.

White spoke highly of his linebacker partner saying, “He’s a smart player, undrafted guy, blue-collar guy, not really that well-known, still earning his respect, but he can do it all, and I feel the same about myself. I feel like we’re both underdogs. I feel like our whole room is underdogs,” per Reuben Frank of NBC Sports Philadelphia. While many have been critical of rookie Nakobe Dean not receiving time. the fact of the matter is Edwards and White have been too good to take off the field.

Through three games, Edwards has played all but eight of the Eagles' 207 defensive snaps. He has been a vital part of a unit that has allowed just 50 total points through the first three games of the season. There is still plenty of time left in the season and the defense is still to have tougher defensive tasks than they have had thus far. However, Edwards deserves a ton of credit for the impact he has brought to the Philadelphia defense this year and looks to be every down-linebacker the team was searching for.

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