The Philadelphia Eagles picked up a 24-20 victory over their hated NFC East rival, the Dallas Cowboys, in Week 1, but it wasn't the type of dominant effort that pundits and fans expected.
The secondary, in particular, left fans with more questions than answers. Whether it was Adoree' Jackson's lackluster play and the even more perplexing grade he gave his performance, or Sydney Brown being relegated to the second unit at the free safety position, this looks like an area that will need to be addressed sooner rather than later.
With that being the case, former Eagles draft pick Jalen Mills, who had 49 starts during his tenure in Philadelphia, has seemingly offered up his services to the franchise in hopes of securing a reunion.
Jalen Mills Hints at Potential Eagles Reunion in Social Media Post
Mills has spent more than half of his professional career in the City of Brotherly Love after spending his first five seasons in the NFL as a member of the franchise. After spending the 2024 campaign with the New York Jets and being among the final cuts made by the Houston Texans this past August, Mills is angling for a reunion with the franchise that originally drafted him in 2016.
With Mills having no work responsibilities this past Sunday, he was planted on the couch watching the action across the league like the rest of us. In response to a fan suggesting he needed to return to Philadelphia and sign with the Eagles, the veteran defender seemed more than open to the idea, responding, "Philly need a safety?"
Rookie free safety Andrew Mukuba saw the bulk of the action against the Cowboys, leading to questions about Sydney Brown's place on the roster. While Brown was a third-round pick by the Eagles in 2023, an ACL injury suffered at the end of his rookie campaign led to a dip in production this past season, seeing action in 11 games and less than 100 total snaps. The presence of Mukuba only adds another barrier to Brown rejoining the starting lineup.
Given the fact that Mills was a fan favorite during his time in Philadelphia, and Brown has already been paid all the guaranteed money as part of his rookie contract, a reunion wouldn't be the most shocking outcome if Brown continues to struggle to find his way onto the field.
This past season, Mills appeared in nine games for the New York Jets, starting in eight of them, recording 44 total tackles and one interception. Despite being unsigned at the moment, the former LSU Tigers standout is still capable of playing some good football.
Fans shouldn't expect the Eagles to kick Brown to the curb in the immediate future, though. He will get another chance to prove his worth to the franchise this Sunday when Philadelphia squares off against the Kansas City Chiefs in a Super Bowl rematch.