Eagles’ defensive collapse shows why they need player on IR to return as soon as possible

LANDOVER, Md. – The Eagles’ edge rushers have held their own since defensive end Bryce Huff was placed on injured reserve Nov. 26 following surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist.

During that span, defensive end Josh Sweat and linebackers Nolan Smith and Jaylx Hunt combined for 3.5 sacks, while forcing opposing quarterbacks to release the ball quickly.

They hadn’t been great, but they have done enough as the Eagles reeled off 10 wins in a row.

But in the second half of Sunday’s 36-33 loss to the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium, the Eagles’ pass rush was all but invisible. Quarterback Jayden Daniels was 24-for-39 for 258 yards and five touchdowns, including the game-winning TD pass with six seconds remaining.

Daniels threw a pair of interceptions, but he was sacked just once — for three yards in the first half — while also rushing for a team-high 81 yards.

When the game was on the line and the Eagles were blowing several leads, he was barely touched.

Smith recorded the sack in the first quarter, but pass rush faltered after Sweat suffered an ankle injury, forcing him to miss a significant number of snaps before later returning to the game.

Already thin at defensive end with Brandon Graham on injured reserve because of a triceps injury, the Eagles will need Huff — signed to a three-year, $51.1 million contract this offseason — to be the impactful player they envisioned at that price. Not only must he pressure quarterbacks, but his presence should also help give much-needed rest to other edge rushers dealing with the wear and tear of the season.

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The Eagles have managed a three-man edge rotation since Huff’s absence, a strategy that has mostly worked — highlighted by a 27-13 victory over against the Pittsburgh Steelers, when the defense was on the field for just 41 snaps.

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio expressed confidence in that approach during his availability last Tuesday: “I’ve seen it done personally,” Fangio said. “There’s no reason why you can’t.”

But the plan unraveled with Sweat sidelined, forcing Fangio to turn to defensive end Charles Harris. Claimed off waivers from the Carolina Panthers the same day Huff went on injured reserve, Harris had been used sparingly before Sunday, appearing in just four snaps against the Panthers and none against the Steelers. Against the Commanders, Harris failed to register a sack or a tackle.

Once Huff returns, it should lead to more production, with four capable players providing pressure, with the push from the defensive tackles.

Before his injury, Huff had 2.5 sacks, three hurries, and eight pressures — numbers well below the pace of the 10 sacks he posted last season with the Jets. However, he had been improving, notably incorporating a four-point stance to enhance his explosiveness off the snap.

After injuring his wrist before a Nov. 3 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, Huff played with limited effectiveness, relying on just one good hand for pass rushing. With the injury addressed, the Eagles hope Huff can deliver quality snaps, allowing for better rotation among edge rushers and helping the team avoid late-game lapses like Sunday’s.

“I was trying to progress and find ways to use my hand, but it got to the point where I really couldn’t,” Huff told reporters Friday. “I figured I might as well get the surgery done to get back in time for the end of the season and the postseason.”

Huff is currently within his 21-day practice window and could return as early as next Sunday afternoon when the Eagles face the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field.

In the Week 10 matchup against the Cowboys, Huff had his best game of the season, recording a sack, a hurry, and a tackle while holding his own against the run. A similar performance, combined with a well-rested Smith, could mean added pressure on Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush from the left side of the defensive line.