Eagles surprise fans with defensive additions for Cowboys showdown

One of the surprise roster decisions by the Philadelphia Eagles last week was letting go of Safety Tristan McCollum, a player who was well-versed in Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio's system.

But instead of bringing McCollum back to the Practice Squad, the Eagles decided to sign a Safety with no expeience playing for Vic Fangio. A member of the 2022 Eagles team that lost Super Bowl 57, Marcus Epps was brought back to Philadelphia a week ahead of Opening Night.

When the Eagles traded CJ Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans, there were many questions about what the plan was for the Safety spot would be next to Reed Blankenship. The competition in Training Camp was between Rookie Andrew Makuba and third year Safety Sydney Brown.

This week, Head Coach Nick Sirianni and DC Vic Fangio refused to tell the media who was starting at Safety versus the Dallas Cowboys. Hours before kickoff, the Eagles added a new variable to the conjecture conversation.

Eagles Call Up Two Defensive Players From Practice Squad For Opening Night

When the 2025 edition of the Philadelphia Eagles take the field for Opening Night at Lincoln Financial Field, they will have two extra defensive players to face off with the Dallas Cowboys.

Marcus Epps is one of the two players called up from the Practice Squad for Thursday Night. This is surprising because of Epps has only been back in Philadelphia for seven days, and his role is unknown at this time. But he does have plenty of experience playing Special Teams during his three plus seasons in Philadelphia so that could be his role Thursday Night.

The other defensive player called up from the Practice Squad is Linebacker Patrick Johnson. Another player with extensive Special Teams experience, he also can be a depth pass rusher if the Eagles need him for some snaps on defense versus the Cowboys.

What makes these elevations surprising is that Britain Covey was not one of the choices from the Practice Squad. Covey would have been the obvious choice to serve as the Kick and Punt Returner for the Eagles on Thursday Night. Now that role falls to Jahan Dotson and Cooper DeJean.

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