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T.J. Edwards' Role may Grow, as Linebackers Aim to Play Better

Coaches called out the position group for having to improve, and an UDFA may get the nod to help that along
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A target was drawn on the backs of Eagles linebackers this week, by none other than their head coach and defensive coordinator.

Both Doug Pederson and Jim Schwartz said the team must get better play from its linebacker group. They made the comments after the team released one of its starters at that position in Zach Brown, and did so knowing that there was a good chance another starter, Nigel Bradham, would miss Sunday night’s game in Dallas with an ankle injury.

Bradham missed his second straight practice on Thursday and was seen limping out of the locker room on Wednesday, though he was not wearing a protective boot.

“When a coach calls out a position group specifically, you’re not just going to sit back and say, ‘Oh whatever,’ so we really have to look at ourselves and do better,” said linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill. “We’ve been losing games. Every position can do a little better in their own way. Linebackers have their own battles, so we just have to get better every week.”

The linebackers have talked a bit among themselves about playing better, but as Grugier-Hill said: “We’re all professionals here. We know the deal. We aren’t like little kids who have to get sit down and have a conversation. We’re pretty smart guys. We can figure it out for ourselves.”

Pederson mentioned the possibility that there could be more playing time in the offing for T.J. Edwards and Duke Riley. Also, Alex Singleton was promoted from the practice squad on Wednesday night.

Riley fell out of favor in Atlanta and lost his starting job, so he and a sixth round 2020 draft pick were traded to the Eagles in exchange for safety Johnathan Cyprien and a seventh-round 2020 pick on Sept. 30.

The role of middle linebacker could land in the lap of Edwards, who was signed as an undrafted free agent right after last spring’s NFL Draft concluded.

If so, then Nate Gerry and Grugier-Hill could be used on the outside. Edwards’ special teams snaps would then be reduced, with Singleton picking up some of them.

The last time Edwards was inside the home of the Cowboys, AT&T Stadium, he was a starting linebacker in his redshirt freshman year for the University of Wisconsin.

The Badgers entered the 2015 season ranked 20th in the nation. Their opponent in that season’s first game – the Advocare Classic - was the University of Alabama, which was ranked third and led by Derrick Henry.

It didn’t go well for Edwards and his teammates. Henry rushed for 147 yards and three touchdowns to begin a season that ended with him winning the Heisman Trophy before ultimately getting drafted by the Tennessee Titans.

Edwards can only hope things go better Sunday against Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott.

Somebody will have to step up to bring Elliott down.

When Bradham injured his ankle against the Vikings, Edwards stepped in and played 10 snaps. He made four tackles on those snaps.

“T.J. is a smart player,” said Grugier-Hill. “He came in and immediately we all knew that he was going to be something special; his instincts. He was going to fit right in and he was going to make it. We knew before training camp he was going to make the team already.

“He was an undrafted guy and for undrafted guys like that, it’s a battle to make the team but we could tell right away.”

Edwards has had six games to grow, while seeing the NFL game up close as a special teamer.

“It’s definitely different playing special teams, kind of really my first time being a core teamer in a sense,” said Edwards. “I played punt in college but never really did anything else. I notice how fast things happen and how you have to be on top of your keys every single play and read them fast.

“I think that first game I was almost like all over the place, eyes super wide and just running, a little reckless. Now it’s starting to slow down and starting to see more things so it’s getting better in that respect.”

There could be a chance to see exactly how much better on Sunday night.