The one thing we all know that makes a cornerbacks life easier is a good pass rush. The Eagles have had a good to very good D line for years, and Josh Sweat is here to make sure that tradition continues. But the path to get there was filled with many obstacles.
In September 2014, during his Senior year at Oscar Smith High School in Chesapeake Virginia, Josh went down with an injury that has been described by all as gruesome, devastating and potentially career ending. The possibility of amputation due to the severity of knee and arterial damage (which can cause no blood flow to the lower leg) was also discussed by the Doctors upon his arrival at the hospital.
Sweat stated “The bottom of the leg would’ve died if it didn’t have enough blood, arteries can be repaired, but if it’s damaged too much, then you have to remove it.”
Josh said that these things were told to him before any tests had been run, and thankfully didn’t prove to be true. He stated he was stubborn when he was told the information and that he didn’t ever really believe it, a trait he uses to his advantage while persevering through negativity for those who ever doubted his ability to make it to the NFL.
2014 Oscar Harris Head football Coach echoed Josh’ tenacious work ethic as well as the unfortunate injury. He told The Virginian-Pilot “It’s frustrating because he represents everything good about football, He’s also one of the best kids I’ve ever come across in my life. Nobody works harder and does more for his team.
After the injury Sweat was confined to a wheelchair for two and half months, but started his rehab 2 weeks post op. He began the long road to recovery and intense rehab like he does everything else, full steam ahead. Josh also researched workouts that could assist in a faster healing process.
While rehabbing, Sweat managed to be present throughout the football season with his High School teammates. He watched from the bench during the games and he even managed to walk with the players, on crutches, for Senior night. There was never a doubt in his mind that he wouldn’t be back on the field.
Sweats father, William Washington stated back in 2015 “It was never an Oh my God, I’m hurt. We didn’t go through that he (Josh) never had that down moment, people talk about that, but he’s never had that down moment. He’s always knew he would get himself back together. He knew he would play again.”
The positive attitude, hardwork and determination paid off. Josh enrolled with Florida State in January of 2015, and by the start of their season he was back doing what he loves, playing football.
According to his college coaches, from the first day on the field, Josh never practiced or played with any trepidation of re injuring himself.
His 2015 Head Coach, Jimbo Fisher “Major injuries like that are much more mental than they are physical, It takes courage. That’s a courageous young man.”
Josh played his entire college career at Florida State where he amassed 14.5 sacks, 29 tackles for a loss and even 1 int in his 35 collegiate games. He had played himself back into reaching his dream of making it into the NFL and started preparing for the draft.
Almost four years after the injury, team doctors for most Pro franchises were reviewing the medicals on his knee as well as watching his performance at the NFL Combine. Pre-draft Josh stated the importance of that day in Indianapolis “When I went to the Combine, I checked out and there’s nothing wrong. But I knew that coming into it. If I ran fast and jumped high, the odds would be in my favor.”
Many teams left impressed and all that left to do was wait to see which franchise he would be playing for.
The Philadelphia Eagles selected Josh in the fourth round with the 130th overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft. The Team and fans have been happy they did. Sweat has been improving year over year since he arrived. After only playing 68 snaps in 2018 due to an ankle injury, he collected 4 sacks in 2019 and last season (2020) he finished with 6, one every 70.2 snaps. (per Pro Football Focus)
Many players and coaches on the Eagles would be surprised if he didn’t reach double digits this season.
Josh has been dominating in the 2021 training camp. Whether he has a hand on the ground or standing to rush for the first time in his NFL career, he has been causing problems for every OL he has faced.
Many of his teammates have taken notice:
Jalen Hurts “Athleticism off the charts. Even when I played against him at Florida State, when I was at Alabama, he was circled on the scouting report. The length he has, he can be disruptive, especially in the read-option game.”
Jordan Mailata “Sweat is a damn good defensive end, He’s going to be a threat this year.”
Andre Dillard “The dude is an animal”
Ryan Kerrigan “ He is going to be a problem for years to come”
Lane Johnson “He’s been getting a lot of sacks in training camp”
Brandon Graham “Sweaty, I know he’s coming. He’s the future. I can see it.”
The coaching staff sees it too. Josh has been working with new Eagles Defensive Line Coach Tracy Rocker this training camp, and the improvement has been evident. Never one to take all the credit for his hard work alone, he stated he has learned from every coach he has worked with over the years and put them all into his game.
“I took something from every single one of (defensive line coaches), each one of them taught me something different.”
Learning and putting what he knows to practice in games has come to fruition. The sky is the limit for a man who just 7 years ago didn’t know if he would ever walk again, much less play football.
Many have noted that Sweats’ career has paralleled that of Brandon Grahams’ in that they both overcame injuries and continue to exceed and improve due to their unrelenting work ethic. Could the Eagles have another Super Bowl hero in the making on their roster? The Eagles Brass and Nation of fans certainly hope so. Josh has plenty of motivation this season as he is playing for an extension or second contract. Most doubt that runs through his mind as much as creating havoc for the opposing offenses he will face. He has overcome so much that he doesn’t Sweat the small stuff.
***UPDATED BELOW 9-18-21***
Josh signed a new contract with the Philadelphia Eagles worth a reported $40 million with a max value of $42 million and $26.92guaranteed.
David
Thank You for reading
Follow me @PHLEagleNews
Josh’ High School, Oscar Smith, is currently raising money to help purchase items for the football team not covered by the school’s athletic budget such as Uniforms, pre-game meals, summer practice bus transportation and field marking paint for the practice and game fields, just to name a few. If you could help with a donation or just forward the information on so it may find someone who can it would be greatly appreciated. Thank You as always!