Two weeks before the kickoff of the NFL’s 106th season, even the Philadelphia Eagles have lineup decisions to make as the league enters the final weekend of its preseason.
The Eagles won the Super Bowl last season, but after five years with Darius Slay at one of the cornerback positions, Philadelphia is replacing the six-time Pro Bowler this season.
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said on Monday he doesn’t have a starter yet to go with Quinyon Mitchell as Philadelphia’s outside corners.
“I think all the guys are pretty even right now,” Fangio said. “And Jakorian (Bennett) just got here, you know, got a full week last week. Need to give him a full opportunity with the other guys. …
“I mean, they’re close. Usually it does become pretty obvious to everybody as to who’s going to win the job. That hadn’t happened yet. I think they all have done a good job in and of their own way, had good moments, not so good moments, so we haven’t reached that conclusion yet.”
In March, the Eagles signed Adoree Jackson, who has 82 NFL starts in eight seasons. In April, Philadelphia drafted UAB alumnus Mac McWilliams in the fifth round. On Aug. 6, the Eagles obtained Bennett, a former McGill-Toolen standout, in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders. And Philadelphia still had Kelee Ringo, who started five games for the Eagles over the past two seasons but has been dealing with a quadriceps injury at training camp.
Bennett started seven games for Las Vegas in 2024 before a shoulder injury ended his season early.
“Obviously, I see the opportunity,” Bennett said on Monday. “So I just got to go out there and just be prepared and just play like how I play.”
Bennett has had to play from behind in the competition for the corner spot.
“I’d be lying if I said it was easy,” Bennett said, “but I would say that they do a good job with helping me acclimate, and I feel like I’m a pro for a reason. Like, you know, I’m going to come in and do things the right way, and I’m just going to continue to keep chopping because I know all you can do is just take it day by day. You know, Rome wasn’t built in the day, so I know it’s going to be a process, but I’m looking forward to it and I’m just going to continue stacking.”
In his first action for the Eagles, Bennett had 35 defensive snaps and eight special-teams plays in a 22-13 preseason loss to the Cleveland Browns on Saturday. Bennett had two tackles on defense, one tackle on special teams and one pass breakup.
“I think it’s been good,” Fangio said about Bennett’s performance. “We could have played him in the first preseason game off of being here -- just what was it -- two days or three days max, but didn’t want to put him out there not knowing totally what to do. And he’ll get another good amount of reps this week.”
McWilliams has worked at slot corner, but he’s in the competition at outside corner, too, Fangio said, despite an injury that cost him some training-camp practice time.
“Mac had that injury, which held him out of practice,” Fangio said. “I don’t know the exact amount of days, but we’ll call it a week maybe, and I think it’s affected him. But, hopefully, he’ll feel more healthy this week and we can see the true version of him because I think there’s more there than we’re seeing and getting right now, and I think it’s probably more injury-related and missing time-related.”
McWilliams started Philadelphia’s first preseason game at slot corner. He played 65 defensive snaps and eight special-teams plays in the Eagles’ two games and had one tackle in each.
“Just me being a versatile guy, I feel like me moving outside was one of the coaches’ decisions,” McWilliams said, “and they felt like I needed to be there at the moment while we’re practicing right now, so I’m just taking everything in, getting my reps and making sure I focus on the criteria of just being a DB. …
“It’s a lot of versatile guys in the room, a lot of guys play inside and outside, so, you know, just taking whatever comes with it. Whatever the coach or whatever the team needs me to be, I’m going to be there for them.”
On Monday, Philadelphia worked another of their defensive backs at outside corner. The Eagles’ slot corner as a rookie, Cooper DeJean also had worked at safety in training camp before getting some outside work this week.
But for DeJean to stay outside, Fangio said, would take “someone to develop at the nickel position and someone not to develop at the corner position.”
The Alabama Game of the Week is the Philadelphia Eagles-New York Jets contest on Friday. The teams’ active rosters include 22 players from Alabama high schools and colleges.
The Week 3 preseason schedule (with all times Central and point spreads from BetMGM):
Thursday
Pittsburgh Steelers (-4.5) at Carolina Panthers, 6 p.m. (NFL Network)
New England Patriots at New York Giants (-6.5), 7 p.m. (Prime Video)
Friday
Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets (-1.5), 6:30 p.m.
Atlanta Falcons at Dallas Cowboys (-2.5), 7 p.m. (NFL Network, WBRC, WTBM 24.2, WAFF 48.3, WTVY)
Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans (-3.5), 7 p.m. (CBS)
Chicago Bears at Kansas City Chiefs (-1.5), 7:20 p.m.
Saturday
Baltimore Ravens (-2.5) at Washington Commanders, 11 a.m.
Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals (-2.5), noon
Los Angeles Rams at Cleveland Browns (-6.5), noon (NFL Network)
Houston Texans at Detroit Lions (-1.5), noon
Denver Broncos (-5.5) at New Orleans Saints, noon (WALA, WMPB 31.2, WBRC, WTBM 24.2)
Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers (-1.5), 3 p.m. (NFL Network)
Jacksonville Jaguars at Miami Dolphins (-3), 6 p.m. (NFL Network, WTTO, WDBB, WTVY 4.2)
Buffalo Bills (-2.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 6:30 p.m. (WFNA, WMBB)
Los Angeles Chargers (-1.5) at San Francisco 49ers, 7:30 p.m.
Las Vegas Raiders (-1.5) at Arizona Cardinals, 9 p.m. (NFL Network)
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at@AMarkG1.
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