All smiles, Rodney McLeod addressed the media on Friday expecting to make his 2021 debut on Sunday against Kansas City. That's good news for a defense that will welcome back McLeod's leadership and all-around ability, no matter how many reps he's able to play in his first game back.

"I feel ready to go. Trusting the plan that was put in place by doctors, trainers, and really have just been getting myself back in football shape over this past month," McLeod said. "I'm at a point where I feel good, I look good in practice, and I'm ready to go out there and compete and help this football team.

"I had a good week of practice. I'm super-excited and I can't wait."

McLeod said he pushed himself hard to get back on the field as soon as possible, but not to push too hard to "not be selfish." He knows the Eagles have 14 games remaining in the regular season. There is plenty of time to help the defense and do what he can do to help the Eagles win football games.

McLeod suffered a torn ACL in last December's win over New Orleans at Lincoln Financial Field. In his absence, the Eagles used K'Von Wallace and Marcus Epps alongside starting safety Anthony Harris, a former teammate of McLeod's at the University of Virginia. The two will be reunited on the field against Kansas City and its explosive offense.

"This is a great test for what they do. They stretch the field. They're a very skilled group. They're labeled as one of the best, so it's a challenge for us defensively, particularly in the secondary," McLeod said. "We're going to have to cover well and we're going to have to show up and make plays. The teams that have made plays against them have put themselves in chances to win. For us, it's just doing our job each and every play.

"We're up for the challenge."

McLeod said he and Harris "fit well together" and that the two are "very interchangeable" and that their personal relationship off the field will help them on the field.