Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean before action against the Carolina Panthers at Lincoln Financial Field.
Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The Philadelphia Eagles fell behind the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7 Monday Night Football action as Nick Sirianni's team lost a receiver to an injury. Vic Fangio's defense attempted to pick up the Saquon Barkley-led offense but gave up a pair of touchdowns to star wideouts CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.
Lamb's touchdown came in the back-right corner of the end zone against Eagles DB Cooper DeJean, a play that shed light on a troubling statistical trend.
DeJean has allowed four receiving touchdowns on 40 targets this season after allowing one touchdown on 125 targets in the 2024 and 2025 seasons combined. NFL legend Peyton Manning rubbed salt in DeJean's wound after Lamb's touchdown as he described what happened.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Cooper DeJean has allowed 4 Rec TD on 40 targets this season after allowing 1 Rec TD on 125 targets in the 2024 and 2025 seasons combined. 😬 https://t.co/fSFHq8RS59
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) October 27, 2026
DeJean is a playmaker whose interception return touchdown from Super LIX's win is the stuff of legends. He struggled in man coverage, but continued to fight, bolstered by his teammates in a close game.
The Eagles got a hyped Tanner McKee pregame speech before the game and took his words to heart as they continued to strike back after the Cowboys attempted to run away with a big lead. McKee had 63 yards passing as of the two-minute warning of the first half while Barkley led the Eagles with 50 yards and a touchdown.
Rookie Makai Lemon announced himself to a national audience with one catch for 21 yards as he and McKee found a connection. Yards per play were almost identical between the two teams, but the Cowboys had more yards before halftime as Prescott continued to tap into his connections with Lamb and Pickens.
DeJean and Fangio's defense did their best to hold off the Cowboys' attack before halftime, and appeared content going in down three points. DeJean's career is taking a detour, but he still has the talent to bounce back and become one of the NFL's better defensive backs again.