Cooper DeJean Takes on New Role as Safety for Philadelphia Eagles
Cooper DeJean is stepping into a new role with the Philadelphia Eagles, as he begins taking reps at safety during training camp.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio confirmed that the second-year player will be integrated into the team's base defense, a shift from his previous position in the slot. DeJean practiced at safety on the first day of camp and had already seen action in that role during offseason workouts.
"The primary motive is that we'd like to have him be part of our base package, and I do believe he can play safety," Fangio stated. "It's new for him, so we're going to give him some work there."
With C.J. Gardner-Johnson traded to the Texans, the Eagles have an open starting position alongside Reed Blankenship, who also co-hosts a podcast with DeJean. The competition for this spot is heating up, particularly between rookie Andrew Mukuba and third-round pick Sydney Brown, but the coaching staff is keen on keeping DeJean on the field.
Interestingly, the Eagles rarely utilize base defense, having done so less than 10% of the time last season. In nickel formations, DeJean excelled as a cornerback, earning top grades from Pro Football Focus and not allowing a single touchdown in coverage.
"When we're in base, I have to come off the field. Find a way to stay on the field and just trusting the coaches and them putting me in the right position," DeJean explained. "Just trusting those coaches to put me where they think I fit best, where I can impact the defense."
The 22-year-old expressed no strong preference for his position within the defensive backfield, having trained in various roles last season. "I knew there was a chance that I could play any of those three positions," he noted.
DeJean also shared insights about the similarities between playing nickel corner and safety, emphasizing that the key difference lies in making calls and observing the game from a different perspective. "I love a challenge. I did a little bit in college, switching back and forth," he said. "It's about learning the techniques of each position, not so much the playbook."
Wide receiver A.J. Brown has set high expectations for DeJean, aiming to help him achieve All-Pro status. Brown even dubbed him "All-Pro Coop," a nickname that initially surprised DeJean. "I thought he was crazy, but when he explained it to me, he's trying to speak it into existence for me," DeJean remarked.
As the Eagles navigate their roster changes following the departures of Darius Slay and Isaiah Rodgers, DeJean's role remains uncertain. He and Quinyon Mitchell are returning starters, while Kelee Ringo competes with veteran Adoree' Jackson and rookie Mac McWilliams for outside positions in nickel formations.
Fangio indicated that DeJean will continue to take reps at both cornerback and safety throughout training camp. "It's going to be an evolution, and a lot of it will be dependent upon how well we do at those positions with the other guys," he said.
The defensive coordinator aims to observe how younger players develop during camp, hoping that second and third-year athletes will step up this season. "We have a lot of battles going on for starting jobs in the different packages," Fangio added. "We've got some good players battling for it, and it will be interesting."
In a surprising turn during Day 1 of training camp, rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell participated in practice despite earlier expectations that he would be sidelined until August due to a shoulder injury. Fangio expressed his delight at Campbell's presence on the field. "It was good to see him out there. I wasn't expecting him out there," he said.
Overall, while no major developments emerged from the first practice session, Fangio noted that Campbell's progress is encouraging as training camp unfolds.
