Marcus Epps returned to practice this week and could provide the Eagles some stability at safety.
Dave Zangaro and Reuben Frank react to the news that Eagles DT Jalen Carter will miss week 14 due to injury.But as the veteran safety returns from Injured Reserve this week, the Eagles could be relying on him to start and bring some stability to the back end of their defense.
“Just doing everything I need to do to make sure I get my body right, back to where it needs to be,” Epps said on Saturday. “Just getting healthy and making sure I can come back and help the team in any way that they need me to.” The Eagles during this past week opened Epps’ practice window after he missed four games with a shoulder injury. Not only did defensive coordinator Vic Fangio say he expected Epps to play against the Chargers, but Fangio even said Epps is in contention to start. While Epps claimed he hadn’t been told anything, all signs are pointing toward Epps’ starting next to Reed Blankenship on Monday night against the Chargers. Sydney Brown got a spot start last week and had some struggles so it makes sense that the Eagles would turn to Epps, who had actually quietly passed Brown on the depth chart earlier in the season. And with rookie Drew Mukuba on IR, Epps could play a huge role the rest of the season. “He’s an experienced safety,” Fangio said. “He's got good instincts, got good feel for the game. We'll have to get a feel and a barometer about where he is at missing the last four or five weeks, whatever it was, where he couldn't practice anyway.”The Eagles brought Epps — who played in Philly from 2019-2022 — back in late August after he was released by the Patriots. At first, he was on the practice squad but after his elevations were used up, the Eagles promoted Epps to the active roster. This season, Epps has played just 15 defensive snaps, but he has significant NFL experience. Epps has played in 90 career games with 45 starts. He was a full-time starter for the Eagles during the 2022 Super Bowl season.“Ever since I got back here, anytime I’m out there with Reed, it’s easier, it’s kind of seamless,” Epps said. “We have that repertoire of playing together in the past. That definitely makes it a lot easier and makes it a smoother transition for me.” Back in 2022, Epps was a full-time starter and Blankenship was an undrafted rookie who carved out a role and eventually started four games. Those roles have reversed a bit now but they feel comfortable playing next to one another. After 2022, Epps signed with the Raiders and Blankenship became a full-time starter with the Eagles but that rapport was easy to find again. “Even though it’s been three years, you pick back up where you left off,” Blankenship said. “Especially a guy like him. He communicates really well. It’s like we didn’t miss a step.” In addition to Blankenship, fellow defensive back Cooper DeJean also pointed out Epps’ communication. That’s something Epps takes pride in because he said it prevents busts and giving up big plays.“Yeah, definitely,” Epps said. “You gotta be able to know what you’re doing and have that confidence in yourself and in the defense to be able to speak up and get guys on the same page and things like that. You have to kind of just know the pieces of the whole defense, of how the coverages and the systems work and what other people are doing as well to where you can grow and learn how to communicate and make sure everything is set up straight.” Epps, 29, is a Southern California native and expects to have a bunch of family and friends in the stands at SoFi Stadium on Monday night.“For me, I’m looking at it through a different lens,” he said. “I’m staying ready but I’m not really looking at it from a perspective of me and my career. I’m being where my feet are and looking at it from more of a perspective of like, ‘What can I do in the moment that the team needs me, my teammates need me, my coaches need me?’ It’s like I said, whatever I’m needed to do, I’m going to give my full effort toward.”
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