Expectations for Jeremiah Trotter Jr. as Starting LB

Philadelphia Eagles fans had been calling for third-year linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. to replace the inconsistent Jihaad Campbell in the starting lineup for several weeks. Now it appears likely the two will be playing together on the same defensive unit.

Standout Eagles linebacker Zack Baun was placed in concussion protocol on Wednesday and did not practice on Thursday. Though he is listed as questionable as of Thursday evening, Baun would only be eligible to play once he receives full medical clearance to return to football activity. Therefore, it stands to reason Baun’s availability this Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams is in serious jeopardy.

If Baun is not available, the Eagles may elect to insert Trotter into the starting lineup. If that happens, Trotter would be making just the third start of his career and first start this season. Trotter is primarily a special teams player and has logged just six defensive snaps through the first three games of 2026. So what can we expect to see from Trotter if the seldom-used backup plays extended time on Sunday?

At six-foot and 225 pounds, Trotter is on the smaller side when it comes to other NFL players at his position. He also is on the slower side when it comes to his 40-yard dash time of 4.82 seconds. As far as strength is concerned, Trotter benched 225 pounds 21 times in pre-draft workouts. By all accounts, Trotter appears to be a fairly average player. This explains why he has been a career backup to this point.

However, Trotter has made a name for himself on special teams as a diligent worker with terrific instincts, a nose for the ball, and a high football IQ. He has 61 career tackles, three quarterback hits, and a half sack in very limited playing time since entering the league in 2024. As a rookie, Trotter recovered a fumbled kickoff return against Green Bay in the playoffs, his biggest play to date. In three years at Clemson University, Trotter logged 13 career sacks.

Getting to the passer is something the Eagles desperately are in need of, though it remains to be seen if Trotter can consistently fulfill that role at the NFL level. While backups are typically the favorite player on every team, it is possible that Trotter’s hard work has finally met an opportunity he can seize. A solid, steady performance Sunday can go a long way toward stemming the tide for a subpar Eagles defense.