It is always difficult to judge how good or bad a player is during his first year in the league. So many factors go into a prospect's success, so it sometimes takes athletes a year or two to get acclimated to the speed and physicality of the sport.
One of those acclimation factors is injuries.
Some rookies get hurt during their first season and struggle to make much of an impact afterward. Others come into the NFL nursing injuries they suffered during the last college football season.
That latter setup is the case with Philadelphia Eagles first-round rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell.
The former Alabama star won't be ready to get on the field until late into training camp as he recovers from shoulder and knee injuries.
While that could be an issue for other teams, it isn't for the Eagles. Philadelphia's defense is among the best in football. That allows them to be patient with their coveted young star.
Even if Campbell is frustrated himself.
"Every athlete can vouch for this, but we always feel like 'dang I wanna get back out there,'" Campbell said during DeVonta Smith's celebrity softball game over the weekend. "God has a story for everybody, especially for my journey. I got hurt. It's just all about rehab and taking it one day at a time. Just trusting in God's faith and God's journey, so I can be the best version of myself.
"The biggest goal is to get back, get back healthy, making sure I'm strong and have a good mentality going into camp."
Campbell can be an impactful player in Philadelphia's defensive scheme when healthy.
He has the size, speed, and athleticism to be one of the game's finest young linebackers. …
Eventually.
If Campbell can get and stay healthy, he may show precisely why the Eagles selected him as the first linebacker taken in the first round in close to half a century.
But for now? Patience.