January 17, 2025   5 MIN READ

‘Been Ready’

Baun: Trott Jr. Primed For Playoff

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PHILADELPHIA – Zack Baun didn’t flinch Wednesday when asked whether Eagles rookie linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is primed for what’s expected to be an extended defensive role in light of the season-ending injury sustained by Nakobe Dean last Sunday against the Packers.

“Yeah,” he said. “Trott is definitely ready.”

But Baun’s confidence hardly constituted one teammate propping up another.

As the Eagles’ first-team All-Pro linebacker explained, his conviction stemmed from daily observations.

“I’m practicing with him, I’m playing with him,” Baun added. “He’s been ready for a long time now. He’s really excited and I’m excited for him and Oren [Burks].”

The origins of the Trotter Jr. discourse can be traced to Tuesday, when defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, raising antennas, said, “Trott’s got a good future,” which “may be now.”

Jeremiah Trotter Jr. getty

GETTY IMAGES: With Nakobe Dean sidelined, LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is expected to see more playing time vs. Rams.

Without Dean, who’s shelved for the foreseeable future because of the gruesome knee injury he sustained, logic suggested Oren Burks would assume most – if not all – of the vacant snaps.

While the former could be true, the candid Fangio offered a glimpse into the inner workings of his mind, unveiling the possibility of a platoon situation, with Burks and Trotter Jr. each working alongside Baun against Matthew Stafford and an upstart Rams offense.

Fangio’s ringing endorsement wasn’t due to blind faith.

As Baun alluded to, Trotter Jr. has exhibited steady progression, boasting an innate ability to process a complex system that places considerable responsibility on the second level, complementing his instincts and sharp football IQ.

The words of encouragement were hardly lost on the rookie from Clemson.

“It definitely means a lot, just Coach Fangio saying that about me,” Trotter Jr. said. “It just shows the confidence that he has in my abilities and knowing that your coach believes in you that you could get the job done, especially right now, when the team needs it.”

“With Nakobe out, sadly, I’m gonna be praying for him, a speedy recovery. But just having that confidence from coaches definitely means a lot.”

When Burks entered on Sunday, the Packers pounced, attacking the linebacker – as any team would do to a replacement.

The results were favorable for the Eagles last Sunday, but Burks, who has 12 postseason appearances under his belt and started last year’s Super Bowl, is armed with savvy along with a week of preparation.

Burks will likely handle the lion’s share of snaps against a Rams offense that lacks for explosive playmakers.

Expect the Rams, when they do take to the air, to pepper the intermediary levels – specifically wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nakua.

A death-by-a-thousand-cuts approach by the Rams figures to place a spotlight on the linebacking tandem of Baun and Burks and/or Trotter.

And with offensive wunderkind Sean McVay calling plays for Los Angeles, one can expect plenty of pre-snap deception, which requires fundamentally sound, disciplined football.

“You gotta have your eyes right, for sure, the whole time,” Baun said. “There’s a lot of eye candy, motion – they’ll shift a guy and then they’ll motion a guy back – and it makes it really difficult on linebackers.”

Operating under the assumption that both linebackers, who have each repped alongside Baun in practice this season, will have a role, the question is how the Eagles would opt to distribute the snaps.

If they’re deployed situationally, it could perhaps telegraph the defense.

But even with Fangio planting the seed by suggesting that Trotter Jr. he could be in contention to start, the approach for Trotter Jr. is to be solely focused on preparation and honing details – like he’s done all season.

“Right now, I’m just trying to prepare like I need to prepare, just to make the most of any opportunity that I get,” he said. “That’s really up to the coaches and everything.

“But right now, just trying to make sure I prepare and if I get in there, make sure I do my job for my guys on the defense and just on the other side of the ball, just try to make impactful plays to help the team win.”

For Trotter, who finished third in special teams snaps, the playing time bump would be significant but hardly an opportunity he’s not quipped to handle.

Along with his instincts and ability to read and diagnose, the rookie also offers range and tenacity to flow to the ball.

Because he prepares as if he’s the starter, Trotter Jr. said he’s wired for the moment.

“I definitely feel like I’m ready,” he said. “Prepared every single week kind of like I was gonna start. Try to make sure I’m always on top of what I need to do in terms of mentally and preparation-wise.

“And I just try to look up to the veterans to see how they prepare as well. That’s really all you can do. And I have full faith in God that he’ll be with me and just guide me out there on the field.”

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.

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