Linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. was benched in favor of veteran linebacker Eric Wilson, who had replaced Cashman for the previous four games. Pace had started all five games entering Sunday, when coaches instead opted for a trio of Cashman, Wilson and safety Josh Metellus at inside linebacker.
Pace, the third-year defender, had a team-worst 10 missed tackles through five games, according to Pro Football Focus. He maintained roles on special teams, like kickoff and field-goal block units, but did not play much, if at all, on defense against Philadelphia.
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores is known to adjust roles based on game plan, and Pace said he’s hoping his involvement returns.
Cashman, playing for the first time since Sept. 8 when he suffered a hamstring injury against the Bears, returned to his spot in the middle of the defensive huddle, relaying play calls from Flores to the rest of the group. He finished with four tackles and a hit on Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Cashman also had some encouragement to offer Pace before kickoff.
“He’s done a lot of wonderful things here and he will continue to do great things,” Cashman said. “I just told him to keep plugging away, don’t get discouraged. I actually shared some stories with him about myself and my journey and other guys I’ve played with. Not going to name names, but I’ve played with guys who ended up being All-Pro and were kind of in similar situations as him.”