Moving away from all the talks about the Philadelphia Eagles' offense struggling at training camp, the defense deserves to get some love. There's been one standout from Tuesday's practice that got people's attention: Josh Uche.
The free-agent edge rusher had a stellar practice, which is now putting him in the conversation for a high rotation spot. CBS Sports Eagles reporter Jeff Kerr shared Uche's practice performance and his current standing on the depth chart.
"Uche has had a strong start to camp, which continued in Tuesday's practice. The padded practice showcased how fast Uche can get to the quarterback, as the pass rusher forced Hurts to roll to his right on a pass that resulted in a throw away. In an actual game, Uche arguably may have gotten to Hurts. His quickness on the edge is evident.
Later in the practice, Uche beat Eagles right tackle Darian Kinnard for a sack when he was on the second team. Uche has earned some first-team reps and appears to be the top option behind Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt at pass rusher."
Uche could be playing more in 2025 than some expect in Philly
The former second-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2020 has had a mixed bag of performances in his career. Uche's best year came when he racked up 11.5 sacks during the 2022 season. It's been pretty quiet for him since last year with the Kansas City Chiefs; he had just 10 tackles in six games.
Entering training camp, Smith and Hunt were seen as the starters off the edge, while newcomers Uche and Azeez Ojulari were going to be the backups. There has been more buzz around Uche, as he could end up getting more playing time due to his impressive performance.
His potential has always been evident, but his biggest challenge is maintaining consistency. Last year was tough for him since he was traded mid-season from New England to Kansas City, so he never really found a spot on the Chiefs' already established defense.
A change of scenery has been good for Uche, and the Eagles are happy to have the talented edge rusher. He could end up being a stellar depth player for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio in 2025.
