Vic Fangio confirms suspicion about Eagles’ pass rush, and the implications could be significant for 2026
Recently-acquired edge defender Jonathan Greenard might miss the start of the season because of a pec injury.
The Philadelphia Eagles got some discouraging news on the defensive front on Tuesday. Vic Fangio was asked about edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, who still hasn’t returned to the field after straining his pec, and whether the defensive coordinator is worried about Greenard missing the start of the regular season. His answer was blunt.
“Yeah,” Fangio said.
So at this point, I am not banking on Greenard to be on the field for Week 1. That means Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith are going to have to step up in a big way. Greenard is a guy the Eagles traded for, invested in not only for this season but for multiple years, and they’re paying him good money.
I’m not saying it’s another Bryce Huff situation, but you don’t want to get started off on the wrong foot. You don’t want a guy to get in his own head, and he kind of has the ability to get a little comfortable now that he’s gotten paid. I hope that’s not the case, and I think Fangio is just being honest because that’s who Vic Fangio is.
Eagles’ edge depth faces an early test
For the time being, Hunt and Smith are going to have to carry the load, along with some of the other rotational pieces Philadelphia has up front. But the Eagles need to get Greenard back on the field. That was a highlighted, important area to improve this offseason, and the front office tried to address it, but they’re off to a tough start through no fault of their own. The strained pec has kept Greenard sidelined throughout camp, and Fangio’s comments suggest there is no clear timetable for his return.
The Eagles made the trade for Greenard with the Minnesota Vikings because they needed a proven pass rusher who could complement the interior dominance of Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. Losing him for any stretch of meaningful games would put real pressure on a group that already lost Jaelan Phillips to the Carolina Panthers in free agency. Hunt showed flashes last season, and Smith has the athleticism to be a factor, but neither has been a consistent double-digit sack threat. That’s what Greenard was supposed to be.
Fangio keeps it real on Ty Robinson
Fangio also addressed defensive lineman Ty Robinson, who was an intriguing draft pick last year that had a lot of people excited. The reality? Robinson didn’t do much of anything during his rookie campaign. Fangio was completely honest about it, acknowledging that Robinson came to life in the first preseason game because he recorded a sack. Beyond that, Fangio’s assessment was as brutal as it gets.
“He’s been on life support since being here.”
That is about as blunt as a defensive coordinator can be about a young player. And you know what? I respect Fangio for saying it. He’s not going to sugarcoat things or hand out participation trophies. If Robinson wants to earn a role on this defense, he’s going to have to show it consistently, not just flash for one preseason snap.
The bigger picture here is that the Eagles’ defensive line depth is going to be tested early. Philadelphia needs some of these younger guys to step up before the games start counting. Fangio has the track record to get the most out of his personnel, but even he can’t scheme his way around guys who aren’t available or aren’t producing. Simple as that.
