While he was playing Linebacker at the University of Wisconsin, TJ Edwards earned the reputation as a three down Linebacker who finished his college career with the Fifth Most Solo Tackles in Big Ten History (215). Edwards has taken the journey from star college defensive player to undrafted free agent to now in his third season with the Eagles making potentially the biggest special teams play of the season. Thanks to his efforts in Philadelphia's win over the Carolina Panthers, Edwards was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week!

Edwards has played the third most snaps on Special Teams for the Eagles this season (90) as part of the highly regarded unit led by first year Special Teams Coordinator Michael Clay. Because of the style of modern NFL Offenses, Edwards is not an ideal fit to be a consistent contributor in Jonathan Gannon's Defense that requires his Linebackers to be more athletic sideline to sideline and less downhill attack mode. Edwards played 44.4 Percent of Defensive Snaps last season under Jim Schwartz but this year he has only played 32 Percent of Defensive Snaps under Gannon's watch.

But Edwards has been a member of the Eagles Special Teams from day one his rookie season in 2019 when registered the second most Special Teams Snaps on the team (334) and the fourth most in 2020. So it is no surprise coming into this season to see as his role was diminished on the Linebackers Depth Chart that his role would grow again on Special Teams. They say "Practice Makes Perfect" and TJ Edwards came up big when his team needed him the most this past Sunday and he was honored by the NFL for it.

This is Edwards’ first-career Special Teams Player of the Week award and he is the first Eagles' player to earn the honor since punt returner Kenjon Barner in Week 5 of the 2017 season.  He is the also the first former Wisconsin Badger to win Special Teams Player of the Week since Troy Vincent when he played for Washington in Week 9 of the 2006 season.

Eagles vs Carolina Panthers, Oct 10, 2021

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