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New York Times
01-08-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Eagles training camp: Drew Mukuba returns with limitations, highlights from quasi-scrimmage
PHILADELPHIA — On an unseasonably brisk morning on the first day of August, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni was under the weather himself. He missed his scheduled pre-practice press conference. He was still inside the NovaCare Complex, a team official said, meeting with trainers to ensure he'd be at practice at all. He emerged a few minutes before practice began. It was a fairly significant practice. The Eagles spent the majority of their second full-pads practice in team drills, a series of game-like simulations a week ahead of their first preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Advertisement Eagles rookie safety Drew Mukuba returned to the field Friday after missing three practices with a shoulder injury. The second-round pick did not participate in team drills. He wore a helmet, shoulder pads and shorts and was only involved in warmups and individual drills. He did not leap for or catch any passes in coverage, as other safeties did. He appeared to wave off coaches in an apparent signal that he did not want to aggravate his shoulder. Still, Mukuba's return is notable. A one-week setback may not prevent him from playing in Week 1, especially if he's available for all three preseason games. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio had been deploying Mukuba in dime packages in addition to rotating at safety with Sydney Brown in their position battle. Brown has now absorbed all non-base package reps at safety in four practices opposite Reed Blankenship, including a two-play sequence on Friday in which Brown played opposite Cooper DeJean. Fangio places a high value on physical reps. Brown, who spent the majority of 2024 recovering from an ACL tear, is further familiarizing himself with the system that may afford him his best opportunity to start. 'I think physical reps are something you just can't replicate unless you're out there,' Brown said. 'And that was something that I lost last year. So when I tried to come back, I just — I just wasn't ready. I wasn't ready. That's what it was. And that's my honest opinion on it. I think the coaches would tell you the same. The fact that I'm able to, like I said earlier, have a full OTAs, get the reps there, have the summer to study the system, have the summer to get my knee right, get my body right, and then obviously have this — there's nothing better than being out here practicing hard and summer football, that's what training camp's about. So again, like I said, my goal out of this entire thing is just to build confidence in myself, build confidence in the coaches and me, and just build that trust and respect so that when the bullets start flying on what, Sept. 4th (Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys), I'm ready to roll.' Starting fullback Ben VanSumeren and rookie cornerback Mac McWilliams were added to the injury report Friday. VanSumeren injured his left ankle on Thursday while engaging rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell during a run play. McWilliams, who practiced Thursday, has a quad injury, according to the team. McWilliams had been spending the majority of his time with the second-team defense, but he'd logged snaps with the first-team unit at both nickel and cornerback. Parry Nickerson filled in for McWilliams at nickel with the second-team unit on Friday. Advertisement Starting linebacker Zack Baun missed his third straight practice with a back contusion. Starting wide receiver DeVonta Smith missed his fourth practice with back tightness. Starting edge rusher Nolan Smith missed his third practice with a concussion. Wide receiver Terrace Marshall (knee) and tight end E.J. Jenkins (hamstring), who'd been playing with the second-team units, have now both missed two practices. DeVonta Smith warmed up with the team and ran sprints with a trainer. Nolan Smith attended practice in sweats. DeJean has now finished his second week playing safety in base packages. That does not preclude him from playing cornerback in base, as he did during OTAs. But Fangio is at the very least narrowing DeJean's on-field focus to safety for the moment. Fangio voiced his desire on Tuesday that DeJean get more looks at safety. The 11-on-11 drills on Thursday and Friday supplied them. During the first series of 11-on-11 drills, the first-team defense played base five times. Jalen Hurts struck Ainias Smith for a moderate gain along the left sideline with DeJean closing. DeJean also subbed in for Reed Blankenship for two plays, playing opposite Sydney Brown. DeJean was further challenged in both the run game and the passing game in subsequent series. He quickly closed along the left edge and met Saquon Barkley near the line of scrimmage. DeJean, playing safety, stayed with Ainias Smith, who attempted to beat him deep by pulling a stop-start, double-move toward the goal post. On a third-and-4 situation on the final first-team series of practice, Brown struck Jahan Dotson on a first-down crosser with DeJean trailing. Such signs point toward DeJean indeed becoming an every-down defender for the Eagles. He is not expected to again be their full-time punt returner. DeJean returned a team-high 21 punts for 211 yards in 2024. Special teams coordinator Michael Clay still includes DeJean in return drills. But it's likely that the team's punt returner originates from a practicing group that's included Ainias Smith, Dotson, Taylor Morin and Giles Jackson. Clay was asked whether he expected DeJean to be their full-time punt returner. 'Once we get closer to the regular season, we'll have a better feel,' Clay said. 'But as of now, do I feel it? Probably not. But you never know what's going to happen. You never know if he wants to be out there and if the player wants to be out there, he wants to be out there. But for right now, let me get these young guys, see if they could catch a couple punts out there.' Advertisement Reed Blankenship reminded onlookers why he's entering his fourth year as a starting safety by breaking up a deep pass to A.J. Brown within the left side of the end zone during 11-on-11 drills. Blankenship, 26, is entering the final year of a one-year contract extension he signed in April 2024. His four interceptions last season were second only to C.J. Gardner-Johnson's six, and he ranked fourth on the team with six passes defended. Gardner-Johnson's and Darius Slay's offseason departures made Blankenship the most tenured Eagles defensive back remaining. His friendship with DeJean and mentorship with the rest of the room embody the player-led leadership the organization aims to foster. Blankenship is also burgeoning into a more vocal on-field presence. Barkley is noticeably more engaged in playful trash talk, and it's often Blankenship who's the defender returning fire. The two sparred verbally after they collided during a run in open space. Barkley later jawed at Blankenship after scoring on both a short-yardage run and subsequent two-point conversion. Will Shipley flashes as a pass-catcher: Eagles running back Will Shipley got ahead of rookie linebacker Campbell and reeled in a touchdown catch during the first series of 11-on-11 drills with the first-team units. This was essentially a continuation of what transpired in Monday's practice, when Shipley twice shook free from Campbell for catches during one-on-one coverage drills. Fangio was not concerned about Campbell's performance in one-on-one drills. Fangio called those 'teaching drills' and said 'for an inside linebacker, he needs to show his improvement 11-on-11.' Shipley is proving to be a particularly shifty back. A fourth-round rookie in 2024, Shipley was the team's third option behind Barkley and Kenneth Gainwell. Within 65 total offensive snaps, Shipley had 30 carries for 82 yards and four catches for 35 yards. The 5-11, 209-pound Shipley, who totaled 2,747 rushing yards and 602 receiving yard in three seasons at Clemson, is expected to secure an increased role in 2025. Kelee Ringo's inconsistency continues at cornerback: The cornerback battle between Kelee Ringo and Adoree' Jackson continues. Ringo spent three defensive series with the first-team unit during Friday's practice. Jackson spent two series with the first-team unit. Ringo was flagged for pass interference after engaging Jahan Dotson on a deep ball without turning his head during an 11-on-11 drill with the first team unit. Earlier, with the second-team unit, Elijah Cooks caught a slant for a two-point conversion with Ringo in coverage. Smael Mondon Jr. impresses with first-team units: Rookie linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. spent the first series of team drills during Friday's practice with the second-team defense. But Mondon spent three of the final four series with the first-team defense, playing next to Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Mondon holds his own between the tackles as a run-stopper, and he revealed he can be reliable in coverage. The 6-3, 230-pound fifth-round pick kept pace with Barkley on a deep throw to the left side of the end zone, then broke up the pass with a well-timed swat. D-line depth draws attention: The first-team rotation for the Eagles' defensive front appears to be set: Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo at the interior with Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt along the edge. The Eagles still must identify depth along the interior. Byron Young, 24, hasn't played in a game since the Las Vegas Raiders released him in 2023. The Eagles claimed Young off waivers in August 2024, but he spent a portion of the season on injured reserve. Young has been rotating with the second-team defense during training camp. During a goal-to-go situation against the first-team offense, Young knocked down left guard Brett Toth (subbed in for Landon Dickerson) on the way to defending the run. In the next series, Ty Robinson, a fourth-round pick, swept past Kenyon Green along the way to a run stop with the second-team unit. Advertisement Trevor Keegan struggles with snaps: The 2024 fifth-round pick skipped several snaps too low while playing center with the second-team offense during Friday's practice. Keegan was visibly frustrated after a low snap on a third-down situation killed the play. Backup center Drew Kendall, a fifth-round rookie, later subbed in. Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland met with Keegan along the sideline, appearing to coach him to slow down his process. Indeed, it appeared Keegan was rushing through the snap and into his blocks. It should also be noted that Thursday's rain affected the field conditions. The damp grass was torn in spots, an adjustment for a second-year lineman still within his first two weeks at center. Stoutland was complimentary of Keegan's progress on Tuesday. 'He's doing a really good job of it,' Stoutland said. 'I'm impressed with his advanced knowledge. He must have been paying attention and not just listening to the guard play.'
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eagles' 12 most intriguing players in 2025: Is No. 11 already losing his position battle?
PHILADELPHIA − If the Eagles were convinced Sydney Brown could take over at safety after they traded away C.J. Gardner-Johnson, would they have drafted Drew Mukuba in the second round? Then again, would the Eagles have traded Gardner-Johnson if they didn't think Brown could take over? After all, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman made it a point to say that Brown was an early-round draft pick (third round, 2023), and that it was time for him to get an opportunity. Advertisement And then the Eagles drafted Mukuba on April 25. Technically, Mukuba was taken with the last pick of the second round, No. 64 overall, while Brown was taken with the first pick of the third round, No. 65 overall. So the draft position is basically the same. But if Brown was looking for a ringing endorsement that he is the front-runner for the starting safety job next to Reed Blankenship, he didn't exactly get one from defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. And yet, the Eagles need him to fill the void left by Gardner-Johnson, who had 6 interceptions last season. That's why Brown is No. 11 in our list of 12 most intriguing Eagles heading into the start of training camp on July 22. We're counting them down each weekday from No. 12 to No. 1. The series began July 7 and will culminate with the start of camp. Advertisement "It's a competition that is going to take a training camp and a few preseason games to sort out," Fangio said. "And Tristin (McCollum) is in that, too. Sure, but Brown has two full seasons of experience, while McCollum was undrafted and spent time on the Eagles' practice squad until last season. Mukuba, meanwhile, is not only a rookie, but considered undersized for a safety at 5-foot-10, 186 pounds. Yet Fangio quickly discounted Brown's experience, especially because Brown suffered a torn ACL in the season finale of the 2023 season. He wasn't cleared to return until Week 6 of last season. Then he was used primarily on special teams, while McCollum served as the third safety. Sydney Brown #21 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts after forcing a fumble in the first quarter of a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lincoln Financial Field on Nov. 3, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. "Well, his experience came in '23, not '24," Fangio said about Brown. "Last year at this time, he wasn't doing anything, and didn't do anything really until the middle of October. So he lost all this time last year − training camp, early part of the season, and really never got many reps with us defensively. Advertisement "Yes, he was sitting in meetings, but that only goes so far. You've got to get out there and experience it, and build on it, and he lost that last year. So he's going through that process now, and he's doing fine." And the Eagles do have options. Mukuba played nickel at Clemson before transferring to Texas, where the Longhorns used him at safety. In addition, Fangio had said that Cooper DeJean could play safety when the Eagles are in base defense, then move to nickel. But the Eagles were in base defense for only 12% of the time last season, so somebody would still have to play the bulk of the snaps. Advertisement Celebrate the Eagles' Super Bowl win with our new book The Eagles will certainly give Mukuba the chance to play nickel in training camp. If Brown proves himself, perhaps DeJean would play outside at cornerback, another position he played in college at Iowa. "For me, I'm an unselfish guy," Mukuba said about playing nickel. "I'm versatile, so whatever is needed at the time. Whether it's nickelback or safety, I'm just looking forward to it. Whatever the coaches feel is the best fit for the team, I'm willing to do that at a high level." Where does that leave Brown? We'll find out in training camp. Advertisement Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@ Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Read his coverage of the Eagles' championship season in 'Flying High,' a new hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Sydney Brown: Philadelphia Eagles safety in a position battle for 2025
