Even with season over, Hicks impact sets tone for future

Three fumble recoveries, two interceptions — one for a touchdown — one sack, one forced fumble and 50 tackles, good for second on the team. All this from a third-round rookie.

Jordan Hicks was the unknown out of the Eagles top three draft picks in 2015. He has also been the biggest contributor.

So when Hicks left the game late in the fourth quarter with an injury, there was cause for concern.

On Monday, the Eagles worst fears were realized. Hicks will be out for the rest of the season with a torn pectoral tendon.

On paper, Hicks injury doesn't hurt the Eagles depth. Kiko Alonso returned this week. DeMeco Ryans will likely return on Sunday. They signed Emmanuel Acho to take Hicks' roster spot on Monday. There is no shortage of linebackers on the Eagles roster.

But Hicks was playing so far above expectations and so consistently, he was blossoming into a leader.

As a third-round pick, Hicks was mainly expected to blend in on the special teams force, to make the expected plays as a unit and get off the field. In Week 9, prior to his injury, he was the signal caller, the vocal leader of the defense. As a rookie.

The progression was impressive, and as he jumped in front of a pass for Darren McFadden, he made the biggest play of anyone on the defensive side of the ball this season. And a lot of the prior candidates involved Hicks already.

Matt Cassel thought he had Darren McFadden open by the sideline. Jordan Hicks had other ideas. PICK SIX! #PHIvsDAL https://t.co/OaHWp7DfjK

— NFL (@NFL) November 9, 2015

If not for the injury, he was quite possibly on pace to be the defensive rookie of the year. He was that good. 

If nothing else, the positives for Hicks are that this is not an injury that will derail his career the way an ACL or Achilles injury could. That said, to lose your best defensive player at this point of the season, especially after a huge victory, is a worst-case scenario.

Still, the Eagles have to love what they have seen from Hicks in his first nine games, especially in terms of his ability to step up and be a leader. To earn the respect of teammates, to the point where they were calling him Simba to Ryans' Mufasa, says a lot about his demeanor, his character and his leadership, even as a rookie.

He's got a bright future ahead of him and it seems pretty obvious now why the Eagles and Chip Kelly were so high on him from the start.

Kevin Durso is managing editor for Eagledelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.