Rodney McLeod Late to Revenge Tour, but Playing Well in Indy
PHILADELPHIA – Rodney McLeod is a little late to the revenge tour of former Eagles earlier this season.
There was a four-game stretch where the tour included Jalen Reagor, Carson Wentz, Doug Pederson, and Zach Ertz in consecutive weeks from Weeks 2 through 5.
Feels like forever ago, perhaps.
Now comes McLeod’s turn when the Eagles (8-1) visit the Indianapolis Colts (4-5-1) on Sunday (1 p.m./CBS) in Week 11.
“Rodney brings a lot of leadership to any team that he's on,” said Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni on Friday. “He's a great person, great player, great leader, super smart, and you can see that he's identifying plays that are coming and that he's a step quick to it because of how his accelerated vision works and how smart of a football player he is.
“So, we need to know that, and we do know that and have to make sure we put some seeds of doubt in his head. So, a lot of respect for Rodney. Look forward to saying hello to him after the game, but he's playing good football.”
McLeod is wearing a new number in Indianapolis, exchanging his Eagles 23 for a Colts 26, but he is still playing at a high level, still playing every snap, and still a leader in the secondary.
The Eagles chose to move on from him during the offseason, opting to re-sign last year’s running mate Anthony Harris, who was released at the end of training camp, signed to Denver's practice squad, and, on Nov. 8, added to the Broncos’ 53-man roster.
McLeod's imprint on this current 8-1 Eagles team is still felt, though.
“Rod was a great leader, great teammate, just a great person,” said Eagles safety Marcus Epps. “It was great being here with him. Since I got here, he was always super helpful, passing along information, so I’m real close with him. It’s different seeing him on the other side, but it will always be cool to see him.”
Epps became the starter with McLeod moving on, and he has played every single defensive snap this season, all 609 of them.
That’s what McLeod did in Philly, and as played 100% of the snaps for the Colts over the previous eight games. He, of course, helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl in 2017.
“It’s too difficult to name just one thing (McLeod helped him with), but just how he carried himself as a player, as a teammate, as a leader,” said Epps. “Then just on the field, it was everything from learning the playbook to learning how to play certain coverages. He was always passing along knowledge, which he didn’t have to do.”
McLeod, now 32, has one interception, 51 tackles, and three passes defended.
Epps, by comparison, is third on the team in tackles with 52. He has yet to intercept a pass and has four passes defended. He is also nearly six years younger than McLeod.
Both McLeod ad Epps will be free agents at the end of the season provided neither gets an extension in the next couple of weeks.
Ed Kracz is the publisher of SI.com’s Fan Nation Eagles Today and co-host of the Eagles Unfiltered Podcast. Check out the latest Eagles news at www.SI.com/NFL/Eagles or www.eaglesmaven.com and please follow him on Twitter: @kracze.
