The Philadelphia Eagles had one of the strangest NFL seasons in 2023. After starting the year out 10-1, they completely collapsed, didn’t win the division, and were bounced from the playoffs in the wild-card round. One of the units that struggled the most was the secondary. GM Howie Roseman set out to fix it in the NFL Draft. Many analysts believe he got a steal when Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean fell to the second round. However, the young star will have to wait to get on the field as the team put him on the non-football injury list on Tuesday.
Philadelphia Eagles Cooper DeJean Out
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported the Philadelphia Eagles placed Cooper DeJean on the non-football injury (NFI) list. It is a hamstring injury for the young cornerback that he got “when he was caught in an awkward position during offseason training.” It is unclear exactly what that means, but most likely, he injured himself in offseason workouts. Reports indicate he will be out for three weeks.
While this may not seem like a huge deal, as three weeks puts him back on the field before the season opener against the Green Bay Packers, as a rookie, training camp is extremely valuable. It is even more valuable for a player like Cooper DeJean because the team has been experimenting with his position, something he talked about last month.
“It’s been good. I’m just trying to take in and learn as much as possible right now, whether that’s inside or outside. I don’t have a problem with having a lot on my plate. I’m here to play football and learn football. The more positions I can learn, I feel like it helps me out on the field when I’m at one of those positions. Just knowing what those other positions are doing and where I can get my help.”
If he is unable to be on the practice field, it may mean he isn’t as big of a weapon for the Philadelphia Eagles. While the team still has Quinyon Mitchell on the field, there was hope that both of these young players could usher in a new era for the secondary. Some savvy veterans can help young players acclimate to the NFL, which they need to do soon so that last year doesn’t repeat itself.
2024 Outlook
The Philadelphia Eagles will be fighting with the Dallas Cowboys for the NFC East all season. Those are the two best teams in the division by far. For the Eagles, the biggest question is on their offensive line. Jason Kelce has retired, leaving a huge hole in the center of the line. It cannot be overstated how crucial he was for the offense. He would call out protections, which was a big reason why the “Tush Push” was an effective play. The team has weapons in AJ Brown, Devonta Smith, Saquon Barkley, and Dallas Goedert, but if Jalen Hurts doesn’t have time to throw, none of it matters.
The most disappointing thing about Cooper DeJean being out is we don’t get to see him on the field sooner. He was one of the most electric defenders in college football, and many fans were excited to see him at the next level. The hope is he can make a full recovery. Hamstring injuries are no joke and can linger if not given the full amount of time to heal. This is one injury to watch as training camp goes on and the season gets closer.
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