Saquon Barkley has grabbed plenty of the attention at Eagles training camp, but he’s not the only former Penn State player making noise in South Philadelphia.
Tariq Castro-Fields, another ex-Nittany Lion, has been one of the more interesting names at the Jefferson Health Training Complex as he fights for what would be a tough roster spot. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio singled him out Tuesday morning.
“He’s done a good job of competing,” Fangio said. “He’s been around for a while, so he knows the deal. He’s out here with a purpose.”
That praise came before Castro-Fields hit a snag in practice. During Tuesday’s session, he suffered an injury and went to the medical tent, though he later came back out and returned to work. With the Eagles set to open preseason play Saturday against the Ravens, his status is one to watch.
The challenge in front of him is steep even if he’s healthy. Philadelphia is expected to keep only five or six cornerbacks, and the top of the depth chart is crowded.
Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean and Riq Woolen are locks. Jonathan Jones and 2025 fifth-rounder Mac McWilliams have also stood out, Kelee Ringo brings major special teams value, and Jakorian Bennett remains in the mix.
Still, Castro-Fields has put himself in the conversation with a strong camp. Last week, he broke up a pass intended for second-round tight end Eli Stowers and intercepted rookie Cole Payton during 11-on-11 work. On Monday, that momentum showed up in the rotation when he got second-team reps over Ringo while Jones dealt with a shoulder injury.
If he can stay on the field, Castro-Fields could have a chance to carry that practice momentum into Saturday’s preseason game in Baltimore, close to home for the Maryland native.
Castro-Fields starred at Riverdale Baptist High School before signing with Penn State in 2017. He played 52 games for the Nittany Lions, made 30 starts and earned All-Big Ten honors as a senior.
His pro path has taken some turns. After running a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, he was drafted by the 49ers in the sixth round in 2022.
San Francisco cut him, and he then signed with Washington, where he played 10 games over two seasons. He was briefly with the Panthers in 2024 before landing on the Eagles’ practice squad, where he has spent most of the last two years.
Castro-Fields has yet to appear in a regular-season or playoff game for Philadelphia. If his camp keeps trending the right way, that could change in 2026.
In Other News...
Quinyon Mitchell Injury Suddenly Puts Eagles Cornerback Depth In Focus
A midweek practice scare briefly shifted attention to one of the Eagles most important young defenders, as Quinyon Mitchell left drills and did not return. The injury did not appear serious, but it was enough to interrupt the look Philadelphia got on the field and put the secondarys depth under the microscope for the rest of the session.
Mac McWilliams stepped in with the first-team defense in Mitchells place, a reminder that the Eagles are leaning on a cornerback group that is still sorting itself out. Behind Mitchell, the options include Jakorian Bennett, Jonathan Jones, Kelee Ringo and Tariq Castro-Fields, a mix that gives Philadelphia bodies but not a lot of certainty if the team has to stretch that depth further. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Camp Is Creating A Real WR3 Debate Behind The Stars
Training camp has a way of turning a depth-chart afterthought into a real talking point, and thats where the Eagles find themselves with their receiver group. With DeVonta Smith and Makai Lemon slowed by injuries, Darius Cooper has had more chances to work and has made the most of them, stacking up catches and looking noticeably sharper than he did a year ago. In a room built around stars, those extra reps matter, especially when the staff is trying to sort out who can reliably handle a larger role.
Marquise Brown was brought in to be part of the answer, but the early camp work has made this more interesting than a simple veteran-vs.-young-player competition. Cooper has shown encouraging timing with Jalen Hurts, and the more he keeps doing it in camp, the harder it is to ignore him in the conversation for the Eagles next receiver behind the top options. The question now is whether Brown can close that gap before the preseason picture starts to settle. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Already Face One Big Concern With Their New Pass Rusher
Jonathan Greenards first summer with Philadelphia has already taken an uneasy turn. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said the new pass rusher is expected to miss all of training camp because of a lingering pectoral injury, and Greenard has been on the Physically Unable to Perform list while staying involved in meetings and other off-field work.
The concern now is not just the injury itself, but the time Greenard is losing at a point when newcomers usually need every rep they can get. Fangio made clear the missed camp work matters for readiness, and the Eagles will have to wait and see how quickly Greenard can get back into physical drills once he is cleared. [Read more 🡒]