Marcus Epps didn’t just return to football this month - he fought his way back through 15 long, uncertain months to do it. And now, after everything he’s been through, he’s back in the starting lineup for one of the league’s most dangerous defenses.
It’s been a journey marked by grit, patience, and a whole lot of self-belief.
“I missed it,” Epps said at his locker on Wednesday. “I missed it so much.”
You could hear the weight in his voice - the kind that comes from being sidelined for nearly a year and a half. The last time Epps played before his return was back on Sept.
22, 2024. Fast forward to Dec. 8, 2025, and he was finally back on the field, starting at safety once again.
The injury that derailed his career came late in the third quarter of a game against the Panthers in Las Vegas. Epps brought down Diontae Johnson after a short pass from Andy Dalton, but the play ended with a torn left ACL. Just like that, his season - and what felt like his future - was on hold.
Surgery followed soon after. Then came the long, grueling recovery.
Epps signed with the Patriots in March, hoping to carve out a role. But after training camp, New England let him go.
That’s when the door opened for a return to Philadelphia - the city where he made his name during the Eagles’ Super Bowl run in 2022.
Back in Philly, Epps had to start from scratch. He joined the practice squad, played special teams for nine weeks, and then landed on injured reserve again.
But when Drew Mukuba went down and Sydney Brown struggled, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio turned to a familiar face. As soon as Epps came off IR, he was plugged into the starting lineup against the Chargers.
“If I'm being honest, there were a lot of days where I had doubts if I would ever get this opportunity again,” Epps admitted. “It was frustrating and it was hard, but I just stayed true to who I am.”
That mindset - staying ready despite the uncertainty - is what defines Epps. At 29, coming off a major injury, he knew the odds weren’t in his favor.
Teams don’t exactly line up to sign 30-year-old safeties with torn ACLs in their recent past. But Howie Roseman remembered what Epps brought to the table during his first stint in Philly.
And with the Eagles thin at safety, the fit made sense.
Now, Epps is back doing what he does best: playing smart, physical football. In his two starts since returning, he’s allowed just one seven-yard catch.
He’s recorded four tackles and played nearly every snap against the Chargers and Raiders. The numbers won’t light up a stat sheet, but his tape tells the story - steady, reliable, and right where he needs to be.
“I felt very clean the first couple games,” Epps said. “I just felt locked in.”
That’s not a phrase you throw around lightly after missing over a year of game action. But Epps isn’t just surviving out there - he’s contributing. He’s blended seamlessly into a defense that’s been firing on all cylinders, and he’s doing it with the kind of poise that comes from knowing what it’s like to have the game taken away.
“When you have it taken away, you appreciate it 1,000 percent more,” he said. “It just feels so good to be back.”
And here’s the thing - Epps isn’t chasing a contract or trying to prove something to the league. He’s simply embracing the moment.
He’s the lowest-paid starter on the team, playing on a veteran minimum deal with no guarantees beyond this season. But that’s not where his focus is.
“I’m just appreciating every moment,” he said. “Trying to stay locked in, stay in the moment. I’m not thinking about anything else - just taking everything day by day.”
It’s a mindset forged in the dark days - the lonely rehab sessions, the release from New England, the uncertainty of whether another snap would ever come. But through it all, Epps never stopped grinding.
“The hardest part of the last year and a half is not knowing what the future holds,” he said. “But no matter what, you’ve got to be the same person. You’ve got to put the same work in, whether things are going well or going bad.”
That’s the core of who Marcus Epps is. A sixth-round pick by the Vikings back in 2019, he’s never been handed anything. He’s carved out every inch of his NFL career through sheer effort and resilience.
“I don’t ever need somebody to get me up in the morning to go put some work in and grind,” he said. “I’ve always been a grinder. And the reason I’ve made it this far, honestly, is my work ethic.”
And that’s why, when the Eagles needed someone to step up, Epps was ready. Not just physically - mentally, emotionally, professionally. He was ready for the moment.
Now, as the Eagles push toward the postseason, Marcus Epps is right back where he belongs - on the field, in the fight, and making the most of every snap.