**PHILADELPHIA —** The [Philadelphia Eagles](https://www.pennlive.com/philadelphiaeagles/) came out of their embarrassing loss to the Dallas Cowboys worse for wear with a major injury in the secondary. But Tuesday provided positive news on the injury front ahead of the Eagles’ Black Friday game against the Chicago Bears.
Eagles safety Reed Blankenship is expected to play against the Bears, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said at his Tuesday press conference.
Blankenship, a captain and a key cog in the defense, exited in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 24-21 loss to the Cowboys with what was later reported as a thigh injury.
Blankenship will have a new starting safety next to him.
Andrew Mukuba, the promising second-round rookie, suffered a fractured ankle that will land him on the injured reserve. The news was first reported by [NFL.com](https://x.com/RapSheet/status/1993044312700158385?s=20).
Mukuba was coming on strong before suffering the injury at AT&T Stadium. It will be determined during surgery whether there is potential for the former Texas standout to return this season.
“He’s been playing a lot better,” Fangio said of Mukuba, the No. 64 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, “avoiding the big negative plays and playing to his ability.”
In Mukuba’s place, Sydney Brown will start opposite Blankenship at safety. Brown entered training camp with an opportunity to earn the starting role but lost out to Mukuba. The 2023 third-round pick out of Illinois has a big opportunity ahead of him.
“He’s been doing a good job in practice with the reps that he does get,” Fangio said of Brown, who has played only 86 defensive snaps this season. “He’s done a good job staying in-tune in the meetings and the walkthroughs. And I’m excited to see how he does.