Exterior linebacker Jaelan Phillips’ made a significant influence in his Philadelphia Eagles debut, serving to his new membership to a 10-7 highway win in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
Phillips paced all Eagles edge gamers with 52 snaps and racked up seven pressures, six tackles, two quarterback hits and a fumble restoration. His stuff on 4th-and-1 with 1:30 remaining led to a Josh Jacobs fumble that sealed the win.
“This complete week we have been telling him we belief him, after we get on the market we’re all as one,” defensive sort out Jalen Carter mentioned. “He got here out, confirmed out, he acquired the fumble, he acquired some pressures, and he had a hell of a recreation.”
Phillips was acquired from the Miami Dolphins in change for a third-round decide final week in entrance of the commerce deadline. He referred to as it “actually the best factor that has occurred to me in my complete life, in all probability.” That feeling of gratitude stayed with him for his journey to Inexperienced Bay.
“That is the primary time shortly that I acquired a bit emotional earlier than a recreation. This stage — it is my first time in Lambeau — and strolling out of that tunnel, it does not get higher than that,” he mentioned. “I felt wonderful vitality from the fellows. There may be simply an air of confidence and everyone performed collectively. We had an important recreation, clearly, tremendous gritty.”
The protection held Jordan Like to 176 yards on 20-of-36 passing whereas sacking him thrice and registering eight quarterback hits. The Packers had been held scoreless via three quarters for simply the third time below Matt LaFleur.
Philadelphia wanted a pass-rush enhance, significantly on the skin. Coming into the sport, the since-retired Za’Darius Smith nonetheless led all Eagles edge gamers with 1.5 sacks. Normal supervisor Howie Roseman acquired aggressive and made the transfer for Phillips and helped persuade Brandon Graham to come back out of retirement. The Eagles additionally acquired Nolan Smith (triceps) again from harm.
It is now trying like a formidable group. Smith had a sack and two quarterback hits and Jalyx Hunt (sack, 2 TFL) made some noise to affix Phillips, who did not take lengthy to acclimate to his new surroundings.
“We’d like him,” Graham mentioned, “and I am blissful that he is on our staff.”