Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
The Philadelphia Eagles suffer a significant setback to their secondary with rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean sidelined for at least three weeks due to a hamstring injury.
DeJean, the team’s 2nd round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, sustained the injury during offseason training, as reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Injury Details and Recovery Timeline
Impact on the secondary and slot corner battle
According to Fowler, DeJean will start training camp on the non-football injury list (NFI) and will miss the first 3 weeks of camp. The Eagles are confident he’ll return quickly and contribute as expected this year.
DeJean’s injury could impact the secondary and slot corner battle. He was expected to compete for the starting slot corner spot alongside Avonte Maddox. With DeJean out, Tyler Hall will get an extended look and may win the job.
CBS Sports reported:
“At outside cornerback, very minimal. DeJean was in the mix for that job, but the Eagles have plenty of candidates for that spot in James Bradberry, Kelee Ringo, Isaiah Rodgers and first-round pick Quinyon Mitchell.”
Setback for DeJean’s development
Broader implications for the Eagles
The injury is a setback for DeJean’s development as the Eagles will have limited time to evaluate him in the early part of camp.
The team expected DeJean to get reps at outside corner, in the slot, and in certain subpackages during minicamp. However, they will be cautious getting DeJean up to speed, as hamstring injuries can recur if the player hasn’t recovered.
CBS Sports concluded:
“This is a setback toward DeJean starting Week 1, but he’ll still play a major role in the secondary this season.”
Despite the setback, the Eagles are still confident in DeJean’s ability to contribute this year. Injuries are part of the game and you need depth in the NFL.
The Eagles’ secondary will face a challenge during DeJean’s absence. With second-year safety Sydney Brown also starting camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, the team will need other players to step up.
The PUP list allows teams to manage player injuries while keeping roster flexibility as players on this list don’t count against the 53-man roster until the regular season begins.
