A Name Heard in the Tunnel
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — "Joshua."
That name bellowed from the bowels of Gillette Stadium after the Eagles' preseason loss to the New England Patriots on Saturday night. As rookie edge rusher Joshua Weru left the stadium, his teammates were shouting praise, celebrating the Kenyan native's first NFL sack — even if it won't count in the standings.
Weru, who had never played American football before this season, beat Patriots sixth-round offensive tackle Dametrious Crownover on the outside shoulder, turned the corner, and brought down rookie quarterback Behren Morton. The moment was special, though the sack technically doesn't count because it was a preseason game.
"It was just unreal," Weru said in the locker room. "I just thank God for this whole process and getting to this point. I'm just grateful for everyone who's kind of let me get to this point."
From International Pathway to Preseason Flash
Four months ago, the Eagles signed Weru as an undrafted free agent through the NFL's International Player Pathway Program. At the time, he seemed like a long shot to make the league. After two straight weeks of standout play, that's no longer the case.
Last week, Weru recorded a quarterback hit against the Ravens. This week, he took the quarterback to the ground. The progression has been swift for a player whose physical tools are remarkable: 6-foot-4 and 244 pounds, with a 4.45-second 40-yard dash, a 41.58-inch vertical jump, and an 11-foot-2 broad jump at his pro day.
"I was just happy," Weru said. "I think I tired myself out more celebrating than actually running after to get the sack. I mean, it's just all the work that we've been putting in and all the support that I've been getting from my coaches, players. You saw how happy all of the people in my [edge rush] room were for me. You can see how much it means to them, like my development."
Teammates, Coaches Weigh In
Weru's teammates have taken notice. Eagles edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie called him a "freak athlete" with all the tools, while linebacker Chance Campbell highlighted his dedication: Weru stays early and late, and he asks questions.
His rapid development hasn't come without growing pains. Earlier in training camp, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said that Weru and the Eagles' seventh-round pick Uar Bernard "are light-years away" from making an impact. But Weru's recent flashes suggest he's closing that gap quickly.
Weru himself acknowledged there's still work to do, saying he "almost ran off the field" after the sack and needs to focus on punt returns. Yet for a player who took up the sport just months ago, the trajectory is striking — and the Eagles may have found a bargain in an undrafted free agent from halfway around the world.