Eagles' Linebacker Depth Looks a Little Iffy Following Kamu Grugier-Hill's Injury
The Eagles came into training camp with some question marks at the linebacker position, and now the uncertain depth in that personnel group will be tested with the news that Kamu Grugier-Hill will miss “multiple weeks” with a grade 3 MCL sprain. Doctor David Chao and Derrick Gunn over at NBC Sports Philadelphia are both saying 6-8 weeks, which would take us to the Atlanta, Detroit, or Green Bay game.
The good news is that Kamu describes himself as a “quick healer” who will be back sooner rather than later.
Said Grugier-Hill at last night’s open practice:
When something like that happens, you think the worst,” he said. “I’m so blessed it wasn’t anything serious in that aspect. It’s going to be like any other injury, you’ve got to work back into things, but I’m very confident I’ll be back to myself very soon
With Nigel Bradham already not practicing due to his toe recovery and Paul Worrilow back on the shelf with a setback following ACL surgery, the Birds’ LB list looks something like this, in no particular order:
- Zach Brown (veteran, 1st year with Eagles)
- Nate Gerry (played less than 150 defensive snaps last year, about 13% total)
- L.J. Fort (veteran, 1st year with Eagles)
- Alex Singleton (CFL guy who was a roster long shot)
- T.J. Edwards (undrafted free agent, first team Big 10 player at Wisconsin)
Gerry and Brown were the nickel linebackers at last night’s practice, so we’ll see if that continues through camp before Bradham returns. For what it’s worth, Brown played about 700 snaps last year, which amounts to almost 70% of the Redskins’ defensive plays. L.J. Fort played some 300 defensive snaps (29%) and 330 special teams snaps (73%) for the Steelers in 2018. There’s no lack of experience between those two, though this is their first year playing for a new team and a new coordinator.
Speaking of that coordinator, Jim Schwartz spoke about Grugier-Hill’s injury before last night’s open practice, with full quotes here after the jump:
Q. How do you plan to compensate for the loss of Kamu?
Schwartz: Just like any other position. You have to train your depth and guys need to be able to step up and make plays for you.
It’s still early enough in camp that there will be plenty of opportunities for people to show that they can be trusted to play whatever role we ask them to play.
Good news is we’ll get him back eventually.
It’s always worth reiterating that the Eagles play much more nickel defense than their 4-3 base, so two linebackers will be on the field the majority of the time (I think it’s close to 70% of a game they stay in nickel).
More quotes:
Q. How do you assess your linebacker situation beyond Nigel Bradham and I guess Nathan Gerry, guys that are at the top of the depth chart at this point?
Schwartz: I think, again, just depth chart-wise I think that’s probably one position where you guys, if you’re watching, you see so many different groups of guys. Obviously with Nigel not practicing right now it provides a lot opportunities for guys.
We have guys that were here last year. We signed some rookies. Even bringing in some vets like L.J. and Zach. All those guys have done good things. The biggest thing will be at the end of camp, at the end of our pre-season games, trying to figure out who fits best where and who can handle the role that’s required of them.
It hurts to lose Kamu just even for the little bit of time that we’ll miss him because he was having a good camp. He was one of those guys we talked about a couple days ago that it’s his third year in the scheme – really fourth year – but third training camp, and really developing and showing a mastery of what we’re doing.
It’s a little bit of a setback for him and us.
Q. When you’ve been rotating linebacker groups, it seems like it’s been Kamu Grugier-Hill and Nathan Gerry together and then Zach Brown and L.J. Fort together. Why are those the pairings and why do those two pairs complement each other well?
Schwartz: Well, it’s really not complementing each other. It’s just getting reps. Last practice it wasn’t that way and we have had other ones that haven’t. It’s been probably about 50% that have been the way that you’ve gone out.
A lot of guys are playing multiple positions. It’s just sort of the way it works. There’s really not a master plan behind it as much as just getting guys reps this time.
Q. Is there a silver lining? You mentioned last season with all the injuries in the secondary, and now CB Rasul Douglas and CB Avonte Maddox have shown up, who are self-assured. Nathan Gerry getting all the first-team reps that he has gotten, is that sort of a silver lining that maybe can be built on?
Schwartz: We won some important games down the stretch last year with Nate Gerry as a starting linebacker for us. So we’re certainly confident putting him in games, and he has confidence in himself. One thing about him is you know he’ll be ready.
But, yeah, short-term cost of having injured guys or having injured guys out and playing inexperienced guys, there are some start-up costs to that. But once you make it past that you’re able to gain from their experience.
From Nate’s case, Nate played a lot of snaps for us in the opener last year when Nigel wasn’t available. And then when Jordan (Hicks) got injured down the line, played some really important snaps.
So I don’t know how much — we haven’t paid that much of a price for him being on the field. He’s helped us win. He’s made some big plays. Like I said, he was a key part of the winning those games down the stretch that was able to get us to the playoffs.
Eagles vs. Titans on Thursday night, preseason football on tap.