A True Newb

PHILADELPHIA – Going into Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio intended to find some snaps for rookie outside linebacker Keyshawn James-Newby.

James-Newby, a 2026 seventh-round pick honing his craft and developing on the Eagles’ practice squad, was making his NFL debut, though a shortage at the position expedited a role on defense.

The Eagles entered the game with four available edge rushers – Jonathan Greenard, Nolan Smith, Arnold Ebiketie and James-Newby – with Jalyx Hunt and A.J. Epenesa sidelined from injuries. The numbers at the position dwindled as the game unfolded, with Smith forced out early with a concussion and Greenard, dealing with an ankle injury, coming up gimpy following a play early in the second half.

Aside from a cameo role from Greenard, Fangio leaned heavily on Ebiketie and James-Newby the rest of the way. Ebiketie, 27, isn’t light on experience, appearing in 73 games (12 of which he started). The fifth-year pro averaged 457 defensive snaps a season over his four years with the Atlanta Falcons, so undertaking an expanded role in a pinch didn’t require much of a leap. Ebiketie, who on Sunday accounted for 72 of 79 snaps, has also factored into the Eagles’ pass rush rotation this season, accumulating 203 snaps through six games.

The latest example of next-man-up in a season marred by attrition, James-Newby answered the bell amid challenging circumstances, finishing with the second-most snaps at the position.

“We were planning on playing Keyshawn a little bit in the game,” Fangio said Wednesday, “but then when Nolan [Smith] went down and JG’s ankle started bothering him, he went from a handful to close to 50.”

Eagles rookie EDGE Keyshawn James-Newby is learning on the fly. 

James-Newby logged 48 snaps, to be precise, the same number played by linebacker Jihaad Campbell and far exceeding the totals for interior linemen Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo. For perspective, James-Newby bested his preseason high in snaps – by a fairly sizeable margin.

“You never know what’s gonna happen, so you always have to be mentally prepared for anything,” he said Thursday. “I was mentally prepared to the best of my ability, and I was ready.”

Presumably, there were more than a handful watching last Sunday who were unfamiliar with his name, but James-Newby has worked away from the public eye.

In practice, James-Newby reps with the scout team, his primary job description focused on preparing the starters for the upcoming matchup by providing quality looks. Replacing the reps on game days are the mental ones James-Newby gets throughout the week watching film and sitting in meetings.

Perhaps most importantly, James-Newby seems to have made a bit of an impression on Fangio during their months of working together. The veteran coordinator on Wednesday acknowledged the 24-year-old’s athleticism and speed – James-Newby boasts 4.5 speed – and expressed optimism for “steady progress” with more on-field experience.

A common sentiment from Eagles reserves is that they prepare like starters, to ensure the standard is maintained. It requires tunnel vision focus, keen attention to detail and commitment to the process, factors that helped position James-Newby to adapt at a moment’s notice.

“I’m impressed, for it to be his first game,” Ebiketie said this week. “And every time you gotta go out there for the first time, I don’t think he was expecting to play that many snaps and I just looked at him. I know the more reps you get sometimes, like, the technique tends to go out the window, and it was just a matter of keeping him calm.

“Just take a deep breath, understanding [you] might not have nobody else coming out there to save you. You’ve just gotta dig deep and find a way to go out there and make plays.”

Following the game, James-Newby reverted back to the practice squad, continuing to serve the role he’s filled all season. He lockers beside another 2026 draftee in safety Cole Wisniewski – a fellow seventh-round pick – another member of the practice squad. The rookie tandem experienced its first taste of regular season NFL action, as Wisniewski was also elevated for the Panthers game.

The numbers game might necessitate a different roster decision for Monday night, but James-Newby might have to play for at least another week.

While Smith mends from a concussion, Jalyx Hunt has been a limited participant in practice as he works his way back from a gruesome-looking injury to his knee and ankle. Greenard, dealing with an ankle injury, didn’t practice Friday. His availability for Monday night is up in the air. As for Epenesa, the veteran continues to participate in a limited capacity with a back issue.

With so much uncertainty, James-Newby becomes almost a necessity to have available and on hand. And if he does in fact get the bump, the only guarantee is that James-Newby will be prepared for the opportunity.

In many ways, James-Newby has already defied the odds. He began his collegiate career at Montana Tech in 2020, where he compiled nine sacks over two seasons (his first season was cancelled due to the pandemic). James-Newby then transferred to Idaho, producing 15.5 sacks in two years, including a career-high 10.5 in 2024. His final season brought him to New Mexico, where he totaled nine sacks and an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl.

Production notwithstanding, however, James-Newby was selected with the 252nd overall pick. As a late Day 3 pick, the odds of merely sticking around – let alone contributing – are miniscule. To separate from other contenders, one must showcase a set of tools worth developing and remain consistent on a daily basis.

That James-Newby has already logged significant snaps in a game speaks to the attrition on the roster, sure, but also drives home the value of being prepared and pouncing on an opportunity when it’s presented. Still, James-Newby downplayed the notability of his unique set of circumstances, instead choosing to remain present in the moment and to keep pushing forward.

“Whether you’re first or seventh or a free agent, everyone has odds to beat,” he said. “So, it doesn’t really matter where you’re at, you know? Everyone has odds to beat, and so, I don’t really look at it like that. I just take it kind of by the day. I can’t look in the future. I can’t look in the past. I just gotta continue forward and just take it day by day.”

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