Cooper DeJean, the rookie defensive back for the Philadelphia Eagles, is gearing up for his preseason debut after recovering from an offseason hamstring injury. He has been given a heavy workload in practice, playing as a nickel safety and platooning as a nickel substitution against the first-team offense. The Eagles are planning for DeJean to make his premiere in the final preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings.
DeJean’s return to the field comes at a crucial time, as Thursday’s practice was converted into a walkthrough, leaving only Saturday for the coaching staff to evaluate his fit in the defense before the regular season begins. Despite dealing with injuries, DeJean was highly regarded by the Eagles’ general manager, Howie Roseman, who traded up to draft him. Roseman believed DeJean was one of the best defensive players in the draft and even considered taking him in the first round. Along with the signing of safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and the reinstatement of cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, the Eagles have given new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio a range of options to improve their secondary.
During DeJean’s absence, Quinyon Mitchell stepped up and played as a formidable nickel cornerback. However, with DeJean’s return, the Eagles may be able to free Mitchell from this role and allow him to focus on playing outside cornerback. The challenge for DeJean now is to prove himself within a small sample size of plays and show that he is prepared to start in Week 1. His performance in joint practices with the New England Patriots has been limited, with only individual drills and a few snaps per practice period. Eagles passing game coordinator Christian Parker believes DeJean has proven himself mentally but needs to demonstrate his physical abilities on the field.
DeJean acknowledges that there is still some rust to shake off but sees this as a valuable learning opportunity. He has been working closely with veteran slot receiver Britain Covey, who has helped him adapt to the speed of the NFL. DeJean’s relationships with teammates like Covey and Reed Blankenship have helped him open up and feel more comfortable within the team.
Despite the challenges, DeJean has a versatile skill set and is willing to contribute wherever he is needed. He may initially play as a nickel cornerback, but the Eagles ultimately drafted him as a cornerback and would like to see him get reps in that position during practices. DeJean’s experience as a punt returner in college may also come into play, as he averaged 13.1 yards per punt return and had a 70-yard touchdown.
As the Eagles prepare for their final preseason game, the coaching staff will closely evaluate DeJean’s performance to determine if he is ready to start in Week 1. Veteran cornerback Darius Slay is confident that DeJean will be prepared, as he plans to mentor the rookie and help him with film studies. The Eagles are excited about DeJean’s potential and believe he can make a significant impact on the field.
In other news from the Eagles’ training camp, quarterback Jalen Hurts threw his first interception of camp during Wednesday’s practice. Despite this, Hurts has shown impressive ball placement throughout the summer, particularly on deep throws. The interception by Darius Slay prevented Hurts from achieving perfection but did not dampen his spirits. The Eagles also saw strong performances from cornerback Eli Ricks, who made an interception and nearly had another, and running back Kenneth Gainwell, who excelled as a pass-catcher in the absence of Saquon Barkley.
Lastly, the Eagles released tight end C.J. Uzomah and re-signed offensive lineman Jason Poe, indicating a potential shift in the tight end room. It remains to be seen who will secure a spot behind Dallas Goedert and Grant Calcaterra. The team also had several players sit out practice due to various injuries.
Overall, the Eagles’ training camp has been eventful, with the spotlight on Cooper DeJean as he prepares for his preseason debut and aims to make an impact as a rookie defensive back.