When the Eagles get on the field Sunday night, Juqua Thomas, not Jevon Kearse should be the starter at left end and for good reason - no Eagles defender, not even teammate and NFL sack leader Trent Cole, is playing better football.

Kearse isn't through as many have speculated. Is he a $5.2 million talent right now? Hardly. But it's no coincidence the Eagles pass rush is better when he's in the lineup than not for the veteran still commands attention, if not the double teams of years past.

Thomas isn't strictly a relentless pass rusher. He's the best run-stopping defensive end though it would seem an underhanded compliment for a smallish group crafted to get after the quarterback.

The player Thomas is a lot like is William Fuller, roughly the same size and who played the run and the pass at a high level during a very successful tour with the Eagles.

Turn Thomas loose, give him more snaps and you just might get the same results.

Kearse's knee still isn't 100 percent from ligament damage.