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Vic Fangio Says Greenard Needs Practice, Not Excuses
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- Vic Fangio Says Greenard Needs Practice, Not Excuses
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Vic Fangio did not mince words on Tuesday when he addressed the lack of production from Jonathan Greenard. The defensive coordinator stated plainly that the veteran pass rusher has had "next to none" of the practice time required to succeed. This is not a mystery to the coaching staff, and it is certainly not a secret to the fans watching the Eagles struggle on the edge.
The numbers tell the sad story so far. According to Yahoo Sports , Greenard has played in five games but recorded zero sacks and only two tackles. He produced no pressure during the 27-10 loss to Washington on Sunday night. In exchange for a 2027 third-round selection and a 2026 third-round pick, the Eagles acquired a player with 12½ sacks in 2023 in Houston. That production has vanished, and the reason is now clear.
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The Practice Problem Is Real
Fangio broke down the timeline for everyone to see. Greenard missed all of training camp and the first two weeks of the regular season due to injury. He started practicing later, but was put on a strict pitch count before getting hurt again in a game where he played only 19 plays. He missed the following game and has been limited since. Fangio told reporters that watching film or walking through plays simply cannot replace actual reps on the field. "Practice is important for everybody," he said, noting that even a veteran like Greenard needs that time to find his groove in the system.
This is a hard pill to swallow for a defense that needs a spark. The Eagles have relied on simulated pressure rather than consistent disruption from their edge defenders. Without Greenard getting healthy and getting reps, that gap remains wide open. The team cannot expect him to perform at a high level without the physical repetition that builds instinct.
Bye Week Won't Fix The Gap
Some fans might hope the upcoming bye week offers a chance to catch up on missed work. Fangio shut down that idea immediately. He explained that most teams do not practice during the bye, meaning Greenard will not get extra time to learn the system. The only real benefit of the break is that it might help his body heal from the ankle issue that has plagued him all season.
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The focus now shifts to the next game on Sunday, Nov. 8, against the New York Giants. The Giants possess a "really good offense" with skill at the receiving position, according to reports. They have a lot of the same offensive looks they ran in Baltimore and Kansas City. The Eagles need Greenard to be healthy and disruptive against that attack. If he cannot get on the field and play without injury, the trade for him will become very hard to defend.
Fangio also touched on the team's recent loss, calling it a "tough loss" where they failed to win low-scoring games they have won in the past. He acknowledged that the run defense has lacked consistency and that improving his play-calling and coaching duties is necessary. The players must execute, but they cannot execute what they have not practiced. Greenard is still finding his way, and the clock is ticking on the regular season.
