Eagles’ Vic Fangio says safety starters are staying put, won’t increase Cooper DeJean’s snaps at the position

Cooper DeJean isn’t moving to safety on a full-time basis any time soon.

The play of Eagles starting safety Marcus Epps is under scrutiny following the Eagles’ 24-20 victory over the Tennessee Titans, particularly in regard to his missed tackle on Titans running back Tyjae Spears’ third-and-22 rushing conversion late in the game.

Epps and Andrew Mukuba, the starting safety tandem, were credited with three missed tackles apiece on Sunday in Nashville, according to Pro Football Focus. The database also put the blame on Epps for conceding Titans receiver Elic Ayomanor’s 29-yard reception in the second quarter on third-and-13.

But Vic Fangio responded with a blunt “no” on Wednesday when asked if he would consider moving DeJean — who starts at safety in place of Epps in base defense — to safety full-time.

Rather, Fangio didn’t express long-term concern about Epps in the role. He acknowledged that the 30-year-old safety “had some plays that he would like to have back,” both against the run and the pass. But the Eagles defensive coordinator didn’t seem to be completely out on Epps as a starter.

“He’ll bounce back,” Fangio said.

Still, Fangio said that “there’s a chance” that he could lean more on Michael Carter II, the 27-year-old defensive back. Carter has primarily played at nickel cornerback throughout his career, but he competed with Epps for the starting safety job in training camp.

The Eagles are also reportedly signing 31-year-old defensive back Kenny Moore to the practice squad. Moore, who spent nine seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, has primarily played nickel cornerback. He does have some safety experience, too.

Fangio wouldn’t confirm that the Eagles were signing Moore, let alone describe his prospective role in the defense.

“I’ve never laid eyes on him,” Fangio said. “Never watched him play, so we’ll see.”

The last time the Eagles faced the Chicago Bears in Week 13 last season, the Bears rushed for a whopping 281 yards and two touchdowns on 47 carries.

Kyle Monangai and D’Andre Swift led the way with 130 yards and a touchdown and 125 yards and a touchdown, respectively, on the ground.

Fangio isn’t flushing that game. In fact, he said he will include plays from the Eagles’ last outing against the Bears in this week’s cut-ups of the offense.

“We got to play it better, obviously,” Fangio said of the Bears’ Week 13 output in the run game. “They are one of the better running teams in the league. Got a really great O-line, great backs. Their scheme is good. We’re going to have to play it a whole lot better.”

The Eagles will need to clean up their tackling if they want to fare better against the Bears this time around. Last week against the Titans, the Eagles missed 12 tackles, according to PFF.

“We missed a little bit more than we normally do,” Fangio said. “Missed a couple critical ones there. Just got to close space a little bit better, and we got to do it better.”

While the Eagles are preparing to take on the Bears’ sound rushing attack, they might not have to prepare for quarterback Caleb Williams. The 2024 first-round pick out of USC is “week to week” with a hamstring injury, according to Bears head coach Ben Johnson. Backup Tyson Bagent is in concussion protocol, paving the way for Case Keenum to take QB1 reps at Wednesday’s practice.

But Fangio said he’s not necessarily operating under the assumption that Keenum will start on Monday night.

“Don’t have enough information yet,” Fangio said. “We’re preparing for Chicago’s offense. I don’t think their offense will change a whole lot schematically. So that’s what we’ll prepare for.”

After sitting out the first two games, could Jonathan Greenard make his Eagles debut against the Bears?

The 29-year-old outside linebacker has been practicing as a limited participant since the season began after he was sidelined throughout training camp due to a pectoral strain.

Fangio said Greenard has a “better chance [at playing] than last week,” but he added that he wants to see how the veteran edge rusher will fare in practice this week before making a decision on his prospective role on Monday.

Even if Greenard is able to play, don’t expect him to take on the majority of snaps in his first game back.

“He’s definitely not ready for a full workload,” Fangio said. “He’s not only coming off inactivity; he’s coming off an injury. And his injury for a good bit, I don’t know, first four to six, seven weeks, he really couldn’t do a whole lot conditioning-wise either. So he’s nowhere near ready for full load.”

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