Eagles mean darkhorse solution for uninhabited starting safety job

After the unexpected offseason trade that sent veteran C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans, we understand the Philadelphia Eagles will be breaking in a brand-new starting safety together with Reed Blankenship in 2025.

Protective organizer Vic Fangio said that it will take most of training camp and the preseason to select CJGJ’s replacement, acknowledging that third-year pro Sydney Brown and second-round novice Andrew Mukuba are amongst the leading competitors for the job.Fangio made

sure, however, to include a 3rd player’s name into the discussion, meaning a possible darkhorse starter that couple of are talking about.

“Tristin remains in that, too,” Fangio stated, describing Tristin McCollum, a former undrafted totally free agent out of Sam Houston State who was amongst the surprise stories of last year’s training camp.If we found out anything from Fangio’s media accessibilities last year– they’re a should watch for Eagles fans, especially throughout the regular season– he does not just state things to appease a press reporter’s question. His responses are usually brief, blunt– and truthful. From Quinyon Mitchell’s fast ascension up the depth chart, to Zack Baun’s position modification, to Cooper DeJean’s sluggish start during training camp, the Eagles basically followed through with everything Fangio informed the media in 2024, that makes his unprompted mention of Tristin McCollum notable.McCollum balled out in Philly’s three preseason game, ranking amongst the group leaders in total takes on with 17 while including a pair of pass breakups and one take on for loss. He survived cut-down day as a reserve security and carved out a weekly function on unique teams throughout the Eagles’go to Super Bowl LIX. He didn’t play a ton on defense– simply 251 overall snaps

— but he was able to get his feet damp while plainly standing out of Fangio and Philly’s choice makers.McCollum will need to earn his roster area when again, as the team included some competition in previous first-round pick Lewis Cine and undrafted rookie Andre ‘Sam, who was supposedly among the group’s standout players on defense throughout OTAs. But we understand Fangio enjoys McCollum, and another monster preseason could quickly keep him in the mix for broadened reps along with Blankenship in 2025. MORE EAGLES NEWS: