As the Eagles gear up for their Week 14 clash with the Chargers, the secondary might finally be getting some much-needed help - and not a moment too soon.
Veteran safety Marcus Epps has officially had his practice window activated, signaling he could be ready to return to game action soon. It’s a welcome development for a team that’s been limping through the season at the safety position. Between injuries, inconsistency, and some flat-out rough performances, the Eagles have been patching things together on the back end - and Epps’ return could bring some much-needed stability.
Let’s break it down: Andrew Mukuba is still on injured reserve, Reed Blankenship has been gutting it out through injury, and Sydney Brown’s role has been, well, a work in progress. That’s left the Eagles scrambling for answers in a unit that’s taken its share of hits lately. Enter Epps - a player who knows the system, knows the locker room, and knows what it takes to contribute on a playoff-caliber defense.
Epps isn’t just a familiar face. He’s a guy with 45 career starts under his belt, 25 of those coming during his previous stint in midnight green.
This season, he’s seen action in eight games, mostly on special teams (119 snaps there, compared to 15 on defense), and has racked up six tackles. He’s not a flashy name, but he brings experience, communication, and positional flexibility - all things this secondary could use right now.
To make room on the practice squad, the team released cornerback Parry Nickerson, a veteran who’s been with the Eagles since 2024. Nickerson last saw the field in late October against the Giants and appeared in five games this season, logging 72 total snaps - the majority of them on special teams. He registered two tackles and was part of last season’s Super Bowl-winning squad, but with the Eagles reshuffling their depth chart, his time in Philly looks to be over, at least for now.
Last week, with the secondary stretched thin, the Eagles elevated second-year safety Andre’ Sam to help plug the gaps. It was a necessary move, but not a long-term solution.
If Epps is ready to go, the Eagles suddenly have more options. They could reduce Brown’s defensive workload and shift him back toward special teams, where his athleticism still adds value.
It could also give Blankenship a chance to rest and recover instead of playing through nagging injuries.
Looking ahead to Sunday, the Eagles will face a Chargers offense that’s still dangerous, even with quarterback Justin Herbert dealing with a broken bone in his non-throwing hand. Herbert is expected to play, and despite the injury, the Chargers are putting up 224.7 passing yards per game - good for 12th in the league. That’s no small test for a defense that’s been leaking yards through the air lately, allowing over 245 passing yards per game across their last three outings.
So yes, the timing of Epps’ potential return couldn’t be better. The Eagles are still in the thick of the playoff race, and if they want to make a serious push, they’ll need to tighten up the back end of their defense. Getting a steady veteran like Epps back in the mix could go a long way toward doing just that.