The Philadelphia Eagles' secondary has been a talking point for all the wrong reasons this season. Other than Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell, most of the pieces have either struggled or had to be moved around.
That was the case with Andrew Mukuba. The rookie safety had some big moments, but also others where he looked unprepared. To add insult to injury, he fractured his ankle, and despite being eligible to come off Injured Reserve, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio just confirmed that won't be the case, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane. That's bad news for Mukuba, but great news for Marcus Epps.
Marcus Epps Needs to Make the Most of This Opportunity
Epps went from being an afterthought and a depth piece earlier in the season to starting in the past couple of games. He had games with just a handful of snaps, but in Mukuba's absence, Epps has played in 97 and 93% of the defensive snaps.
He's piled up four total tackles (all solo) during that span, and while those numbers may not necessarily pop off the page, the fact that Fangio has turned to him and feels comfortable leaving the rookie off the field speaks volumes about the way he feels for him.
Marcus Epps hasn't played enough snaps to be eligible for a ranking, but his Pro Football Focus grade of 67.9 is solid for a rotational depth piece. Also, with the Eagles potentially letting Reed Blankenship walk away in free agency, Epps has the perfect opportunity to showcase his skills, make a case for himself, and convince GM Howie Roseman to bring him back. If anything, it shouldn't require a large financial investment to get Epps to stay in the City of Brotherly Love, and that would still allow this team to bring back Nakobe Dean and/or Jaelan Phillips.
Also, while Fangio has had some tough love for Andrew Mukuba at times, he has also shared plenty of praise for him and his continuous growth. Mukuba should continue to be one of the foundational pieces of the defense for years to come, thus making Epps a potential insurance policy at a low price next season.
Epps will now have three more games and the playoffs to showcase his skills. He hasn't looked out of place with an extended opportunity, and with Fangio's defense tightening up when it matters the most, he could make a big name for himself this season.