What happens when Eagles LB Jordan Hicks is out?

The Eagles were fortunate that linebackers Jordan Hicks and Nigel Bradham both played 16 games last season. Their injury histories suggest that's far from a guarantee, and the Eagles need to prepare accordingly.

This week's practice sessions offer a good opportunity for that preparation because Hicks is sidelined with a groin injury. Hicks assured that he will play Week 1 against Washington – "I'll be there," he said – but if the game were Monday, he would not have played. And the Eagles experimented with one lineup adjustment that could help get more talent on the field if Hicks went down this season.

The Eagles' top three linebackers are Hicks, Bradham, and Kendricks. But the defense spends most of the game in the nickel formation, when Hicks and Bradham are on the field. In the nickel, Bradham and Kendricks play the same spot. Hicks' role is harder to replace, because he's responsible for making the calls and setting up the defense. That seemed to be why when Hicks missed last Thursday's preseason game, Najee Goode stepped in for Hicks in the nickel and not Kendricks.

However, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz moved Bradham to Hicks' spot during practice on Sunday so Bradham and Kendricks can play together. It puts greater responsibility on Bradham's shoulders, but it would allow the Eagles to get Kendricks on the field. With three interceptions and a sack in three preseason games, Kendricks is showing that the Eagles need to consider ways to get him on the field.

"It's our responsibility to get the guys that can best produce on the field," Schwartz said. "He's certainly forced himself into that conversation."

The question only comes up if Hicks goes down during the season. If Bradham were to suffer an injury, Kendricks could replace him with little adjustment required. But because of Hicks' role, the Eagles would need to determine if Bradham can play "MIKE" linebacker, and if they don't want that move, who else can do it. Goode and Joe Walker are the other top candidates on the roster. The Eagles kept Stephen Tulloch active throughout last season as a reserve even though he didn't have special-teams responsibilities because he would have been needed at middle linebacker if Hicks was out.

"It's a challenge getting everyone lined up," Hicks said. "Processing what's about to happen, going through the anticipation of the play and diagnosing. And especially going from SAM to MIKE, the reads are different, the feeling is different. Nigel is an unbelievable player and an unbelievably smart player. …You're getting everyone aligned, and everyone's following you and looking to you to make the call – and make the correct call. It's just got to be second nature."

The reserve linebackers represent one of the most intriguing roster competitions during the final week of the preseason. Goode, who is the top reserve, has not made the team on the final cut-down day the past two seasons because the Eagles have released him, only to quickly bring him back. Contract guarantees are part of the reason, but his ability to play multiple linebacker spots and special teams might make him too valuable to cut this summer. Goode has a hand injury that is keeping him out of practice this week.

Kamu Grugier-Hill and Nate Gerry are converted safeties with athleticism and special-teams value. Gerry, who has a hamstring injury, was a fifth-round pick, which helps him on cut-down day. Grugier-Hill was with the team all of last season and has taken Bryan Braman's responsibilities on special teams. Walker was slated to be the team's backup middle linebacker last season before a knee injury and fits the team's profile at the position. Villanova product Don Cherry has had a good summer, too.

But the top linebacker to enter the lineup if something happens to Hicks or Bradham should be Kendricks. Kendricks once appeared on the verge of becoming a Pro Bowler and signed a lucrative contract extension, but he played a career-low 27 percent of the defensive snaps last year and requested a trade during the offseason. He's entering another year as the third linebacker on a team that usually plays only two, but his production this summer has been noticed.

"I don't know if you could have any more production than him in the preseason. Good gracious," Schwartz said. "A little bit of it is being opportunistic, but he's been in the right spots. When he's gotten those tipped balls — there's a certain aspect of I want to say luck of getting a tipped ball. But he's been where he's supposed to have been, and that's why the tipped balls have come right to him. I think that's good."

Schwartz said Kendricks has also rushed the passer well, which has been his strength since entering the league. Schwartz doesn't blitz frequently, which seemed to make Kendricks less valuable in Philadelphia. But if Schwartz has more confidence in his cornerbacks, he would feel more comfortable sending extra rushers. And both Schwartz and coach Doug Pederson have lauded Kendricks' attitude and focus this season. Hicks, who has been his teammate since 2015, said Kendricks is as "locked in as I've ever seen him."

"We need him to play like that," Hicks said. "He's really going to help our defense a lot."

Finding a role for Kendricks seemed to be the impetus for trying Bradham in Hicks' spot this week. It doesn't matter as much if Hicks is in the lineup, which Hicks said he'll be in Week 1. But it's a long season, and the Eagles are preparing contingencies.

"Our job, as a team, our job as coaches, is to be ready to be able to figure out a lot of different ways to go," Schwartz said. "And particularly a lot of times inside the game it's hard to do that. But when you have a week of preparation, you can mess with your lineup a little bit more."