Section 215
Fansided

Disappointing Eagles Defender Appears to Be Demoted for Preseason Finale

The recent draft pick may have played his way off the two-deep.
ByMichael Bohlin|
Aug 7, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) runs for a touchdown past Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Kelee Ringo (7) after a catch during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Aug 7, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) runs for a touchdown past Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Kelee Ringo (7) after a catch during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

When you're the defending Super Bowl champions, there is a standard of excellence that is expected out of every player on the roster.

You don't get to the top of the mountain in the NFL by going through ebbs and flows when it comes to performance on the field. It appears as though one disappointing member of the defense is learning that lesson in real-time in Philadelphia.

With two preseason games in the books, Kelee Ringo has done very little to take advantage of the opportunity that was in front of him. After players like Darius Slay, James Bradberry, Avonte Maddox, and Isaiah Rodgers left the franchise in free agency, Ringo had a wide-open path to stroll into the starting lineup.

Now, that opportunity looks like it has passed him by as Ringo received zero first-team reps with the Eagles defense during Monday's practice session, according to Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports.

Eagles CB Kelee Ringo Appears to Be Demoted for Preseason Finale

Before his struggles this preseason, Ringo was far from productive during his first two seasons in Philadelphia. In 34 appearances, Ringo recorded 36 total tackles, one interception, and three pass deflections. In a reserve role, that can be passable. When you're looking to be a starter, however, you must produce more than that. Ringo simply hasn't done the job during the preseason.

With 2025 fifth-round pick Mac McWilliams seeing reps over Ringo in practice, the coaching staff is losing patience with the former Georgia Bulldogs standout. Given that the cornerback is still showing the same issues that were present during his collegiate days, the concern is legitimate. Longtime NFL analyst Greg Cosell detailed one of the biggest areas where Ringo is struggling during a recent appearance on the Ross Tucker Podcast.

"That speaks to one of the concerns that many had when Ringo came out of Georgia, which is why he was a fourth-round pick," Cosell stated when addressing his issues defending JaMarr Chase..."When he ran to the outside, first of all, it took him too many steps to stop. And because he has such stiffness in his core and his hips, he couldn't change direction. He couldn't transition and change direction to react to Chase when he cut back inside. So, you saw two of the issues that Ringo had coming out of Georgia that will crop up if he's the starting corner, opposite of Quinyon Mitchell. Which, my sense is, he may not be. You just saw those things on tape."

If this is plain to see for one of the most respected analysts in the game today, the Eagles coaching staff is certainly aware of these issues, too. That these issues still plague Ringo three years into his professional career is a red flag and may have just cost him his shot at being a regular in the secondary this season.

More Philadelphia Eagles News and Rumors:

Home/Philadelphia Eagles