Cooper DeJean Facing Lengthy Absence After New Injury

Eagles fans eager to see rookie CB Cooper DeJean at training camp will have to wait a while longer, as the former Iowa star reportedly suffered a hamstring injury during the team's break and will be out for the next three weeks.

DeJean broke his fibula in college in November of 2023 but fully recovered from that injury, so this is a new ailment. Alongside fellow rookie Quinyon Mitchell, DeJean is expected to help transform Philadelphia's secondary after a disappointing 2023 campaign, though at this point the hamstring issue is not expected to sideline DeJean into the regular season.

Nonetheless, he'll miss valuable reps at camp as the Eagles look to return to the Super Bowl thanks to a series of offseason moves.

Eagles News: CB Cooper DeJean Sidelined for Three Weeks With Hamstring Injury

The Eagles plan to primarily deploy DeJean on the outside but he displayed impressive versatility throughout college, capable of handling slot assignments or even dropping back as a safety.

He's an elite return man as well, potentially setting him up to play a multifaceted role on both defense and special teams. DeJean's injury will likely sideline him for the rest of training camp and possibly all of the preseason as well.

Philadelphia takes on the Baltimore Ravens on August 9, the New England Patriots on August 15, and the Minnesota Vikings to conclude the preseason on August 24. Three weeks from the injury report puts DeJean's theoretical return around August 14, meaning in all likelihood DeJean's first game action could come in the preseason finale.

During his junior year at Iowa, DeJean recorded 41 tackles, five deflected passes, and a pair of interceptions while showcasing his lockdown cover skills. His development is critical to building a more respectable pass defense, making it vital that he gets mental reps while recovering from his injury.

After ranking 19th in opponent yards per pass attempt (6.7) last season and falling apart toward the end of the year, the Eagles knew they needed massive improvement in the secondary. DeJean's draft selection is meant to solve that problem, so fans should hope he recovers as quickly as possible.

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