Cooper DeJean didn't need much time to prove why so many scouts were high on him. The young cornerback has established himself as one of the best nickel cornerbacks in the league, shutting down slot receivers left and right.
That led some fans and analysts to urge defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to move him to the outside to start opposite Quinyon Michell. Kelee Ringo and Adoree' Jackson had struggled mightily there, and adding Michael Carter II to the mix would allow the Eagles to make this change, at least on paper.
However, that might not be in the team's best interests. As shown by Bob Sturm on X, DeJean struggled mightily on the outside in man coverage. He gave up a whopping 152 yards, five receptions, and one touchdown on six targets.
Eagles Can't Afford Cooper DeJean to Become a Problem
The Eagles moved DeJean to the outside when Jackson left the game with concussion symptoms in the third quarter. Carter II played in the slot, and it didn't take long before Brian Schottenheimer's team tried to make Philly pay for that.
Late in the third quarter, CeeDee Lamb manhandled DeJean for a 48-yard catch to the Eagles' 34-yard line to set up the Cowboys' second touchdown of the game. Then, in the following drive, George Pickens burned him for a 43-yard grab, once again overpowering him after contact. That drive ended with the game-tying touchdown:
Pickens had 52 receiving yards against DeJean, which, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, is the most he has given up to a receiver in a single game since he entered the league. It gave other teams a blueprint to beat him, and that might be a huge problem in the coming weeks, especially if Jackson has to miss time.
The Eagles lost both starting safeties, Andrew Mukuba and Reed Blankenship, to injuries. Blankenship might not miss time, but Mukuba left the game on crutches and a walking boot, so he's likely looking at a multi-week absence, if not a trip to the IR.
Considering that, the Eagles will need DeJean to shut down the interior of the secondary defense now more than ever. He has a 72.2 Pro Football Focus grade this season, which ranks 19th among 111 eligible players.
That's to say that the Eagles can't take any chances and try to make him something he's not. He's absolutely elite as a nickel cornerback, so they must keep him there. They will face another strong passing attack when they square off with the Chicago Bears next week, and they can't afford to have Rome Odunze or D.J. Moore torching him for big gains.