PHILADELPHIA – The Eagles' win over Carolina on Thursday night was a prime example of why the team never traded or released linebacker Mychal Kendricks over the summer.

The Eagles absorbed Kendricks' $6.6 million salary cap hit this season, an exorbitant amount for a linebacker who played just 27 percent of the snaps last season, even with little expectation that the percentage would rise this season.

After all, Kendricks was considered by many to be expendable in an Eagles defense that figured to play in nickel coverage about 70 percent of the time. In those instances, Kendricks would come off the field for an extra defensive back, while the other two linebackers — Jordan Hicks and Nigel Bradham — would stay on the field.

But on Thursday, Hicks left the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury and didn't return, and Bradham left for a few series in the third quarter with a shoulder injury. So there Kendricks was, playing every down in the second half.

He finished with 15 tackles in the Eagles' 28-23 win over the Panthers. That was just two tackles less than Kendricks' career high, set in 2013, when he was playing practically every down.

"He’s been playing tremendously this year, man," Bradham said about Kendricks. "I think moreso, it’s confidence and being comfortable with the defense and understanding. It’s his second year in it, so everything is a lot smoother for him. He’s reacting, not reading as much.

"Everybody knows that Mychal Kendricks is an unbelievable athlete. There’s no question about that. I think, for him, it’s just getting confidence and keeping it."

It's also getting the opportunity. Kendricks has earned some of that with his play. But some of it has also come because of necessity. Hicks also left the Sept. 24 game against the Giants with an ankle injury. Kendricks played 70 percent of the snaps against the Giants, and 67 percent against the Panthers.

Kendricks, the Eagles' second-round pick in 2012, had played practically every down when healthy in his first four seasons. That was before Jim Schwartz took over as defensive coordinator in 2016. When Schwartz arrived, the Eagles signed Bradham as a free agent.

"I am getting a lot more opportunities," Kendricks said after the game Thursday. "When I get my opportunities, I take advantage of them. Stepping up to the plate when I got my opportunity [Thursday] was cool. A lot of things came my way and it just worked out that way.”

During the summer, Kendricks didn't see it working out that way.

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He didn't hide his dissatisfaction when training camp began in late July, even admitting that he had asked for a trade during the winter.

Kendricks often gave his refrain that "we're all renting space here" whenever he was asked if he expected to be traded before the regular season started.

The Eagles never obliged him because they knew they might need him. That has proven to be true this season. Schwartz praised both Kendricks and Bradham for filling in for Hicks against Carolina. Bradham moved into Hicks' middle linebacker position, while Kendricks took Bradham's spot.

"A couple of times this year that they've had to step up for Jordan, both of those guys have stepped in, and tackled well, and been active and done a lot of things for us," Schwartz said. "[Kendricks] has also been a good blitzer for us. However we get it done, that's our objective ... We need to keep our standard high, and those guys have kept our standard high."

It's not known if Hicks will be able to return when the Eagles play next, against Washington on Monday night.

If he can't, Schwartz has confidence that Kendricks can fill in. Some of that is natural because Kendricks is more comfortable in Schwartz's system. But Schwartz has also adapted a bit to suit Kendricks' style as more of a blitzing linebacker.

"I bet you it's really fast for [players] in the beginning — a guy in the first year in a program," Schwartz said. "But it's not his first year. It's his second year in the system, and he is a veteran player."

And right now, Kendricks is invaluable.

Smallwood back at practice

Running back Wendell Smallwood returned to practice Tuesday after missing the last two games with a knee injury, and said he was "full go." It was a light practice for the Eagles. But Smallwood wouldn't commit to being able to play Monday night. The Eagles will begin their week of practice on Thursday.

Smallwood said the knee injury happened during the Oct. 1 game against the Chargers, but he managed to stay in the game. He said his right knee then swelled up, the same knee in which he suffered a sprained MCL late last season that forced him to miss the final three games.

"I’m working towards that," Smallwood said about playing against Washington. "I felt good today. Hopefully, later on this week, I’ll get even better as the week goes and I’ll play Monday."

Wing tips

Right tackle Lane Johnson returned to practice after missing the game Thursday night with a concussion. That would indicate that Johnson has made it through the NFL's concussion protocol ... Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins and defensive end Chris Long were excused from practice to attend the NFL's owners meeting in New York. The national anthem protests were discussed there.

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.