He Eaglesleading 10-0, had just defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars midway through the second quarter, and the defense retreated to the sideline to get some rest and talk about the series. At one end of the bench, running backs Brandon Graham, Nolan Smith and Josh Sweat were chatting and forming a sort of semicircle.

To Sweat’s right, facing forward and out of the conversation, was Bryce Huff. Jacksonville had played 15 plays to that point and Huff had yet to see the field. When the Jaguars were on offense, Huff stood on the sidelines with his helmet atop his head. The Eagles didn’t call his number until less than four minutes remained in the first half, and he pressured Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence into an incomplete pass on their first play.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said afterward his team’s victory 28-23 that Huff was dealing with an injury that appeared before the game.

“His hand was bothering him and he was getting treatment in the locker room after warmups and we were trying to protect him there,” Sirianni said of Huff’s limited use.

” READ MORE: Eagles grades: Saquon Barkley, linebackers get high marks; Nick Syrianni not so much

After his only play in the first half, Huff didn’t appear to see the field again until Jacksonville’s final drive. He finished the game with just six plays.

Huff declined to speak after the game when approached by a pair of reporters and said he would speak “later in the week.”

Injured or not, Huff hasn’t been the player the Eagles thought they were getting when they signed him to a three-year, $51.1 million contract this offseason in hopes he could be an every-down edge rusher and fill in. the production they would eventually lose when they traded Haason Reddick. He entered Sunday with just 1½ sacks after recording a career-high 10 sacks last season. And he came into Sunday having participated in more than 50% of the defensive plays in a game just twice. He played just 38% of the snaps in last week’s win at Cincinnati.

Sunday’s moment was even more interesting because of what awaits us. The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, and acquiring some pass-rushing help is something the Eagles could consider even as their four-game winning streak has coincided with their pass rush coming to life.

The defense recorded five sacks against the Cleveland Browns, eight against the New York Giants, one against the Bengals and two on Sunday. The Browns and Giants have had a tough time blocking most of the fronts they’ve faced. The Jaguars, like the Bengals, are in the middle of the pack when it comes to allowing sacks, but they were lower with some linemen before Sunday’s game ended.

” READ MORE: The talent of Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith rescued the Eagles against the Jaguars

If the Eagles are a team with serious Super Bowl aspirations, it’s not yet clear that they have a pass rush worthy of competing with the best teams in the league.

“I think our group is good,” said running back Josh Sweat, who had both sacks Sunday and leads the Eagles with five. “Obviously I’m not going to come in and say we have to get this or that. The way we are coming together is something special for sure. We don’t have any weak links; especially our two and three are stepping up.”

But Sweat said he knows he can’t control what general manager Howie Roseman does. “Whatever they do, it’s what they do,” Sweat said.

Some potential trade candidates have already been transferred. Kansas City traded for Josh Uche from New England. Detroit is expected to acquire Za’Darius Smith from Cleveland. Others could be available, such as Chase Young (New Orleans Saints) and Azeez Ojulari (Giants).

Sweat said having a new edge rusher in the mix wouldn’t bother him.

“I’m trying to win,” he said. “I don’t care about that. At the end of the day, that will help us too. Go double his (ass), let me go free.”

” READ MORE: Jalen Hurts saves Nick Sirianni’s bacon in messy Eagles win over Jaguars and Doug Pederson

Sweat said he thought the Eagles could have had more sacks against Jacksonville, but “they started making mistakes later.”

Regarding Huff, Sweat said: “He got pressure. He almost got that firing. I don’t know what the plan was for him. I’m sure there’s a reason (he didn’t play much). I leave that to them. I’m pretty sure we’ll take it out again for a little longer, but I don’t know what’s going on. “He made his plays when the time came.”