Welcome to The Linc, the daily Philadelphia Eagles links roundup at Bleeding Green Nation!
It’s been a weird season for Cooper DeJean, who was pretty awesome in his first two seasons for the Birds. The All-Pro defensive back is missing more tackles than ever (seven missed tackles in eight games this year, one away from tying his single-season career-high for missed tackles) and he’s been vulnerable in coverage (96.2 passer rating allowed after it was just 78.0 over his first two seasons). Seems like
the struggles could be a combination of him being more injured than we know … plus his new role splitting time between nickel cornerback and safety. The feeling here is that DeJean will rebound next season. It’s silly to get too down on him.
Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles news and links …
Struggling players at midseason: Is Justin Herbert broken beyond repair? Can DK Metcalf get right? – NFL.com
COOPER DEJEAN — What’s the problem? A first-team All-Pro selection in 2025, DeJean has struggled in his transition from nickel to safety this season. The Eagles have used the third-year pro as a starting safety in their base defense to leverage his athleticism, range and ball skills in the deep half. While DeJean has continued to make plays in coverage, particularly in the slot, he has struggled with his tackling in the hole from the safety spot. With a missed-tackle percentage of 21.3%, per Next Gen Stats, DeJean’s struggles with angles and wrapping up have contributed to the Eagles’ surprising defensive woes. Will he bounce back in 2026? DeJean is too talented to let his slump drag on through the end of the season. The athletic defender will eventually adjust to the different angles and figure out the contact balance needed to knock running backs off their pins in the hole. Whether he spends more time on the practice field hitting the tackling dummy or taking the “banana” route (an inside-out angle to the ball-carrier), DeJean will find a way to reduce his missed tackles with more experience and better technique. Given how quickly he became an NFL star as a slot defender, it is too soon to write off the 23-year-old as a failed safety.
Nick Sirianni explains decision for Eagles QB change – BGN
“Every second that goes by in a situation like that, that you can hold onto information as long as you possibly can, is a little less time for the opponent to get ready for the game. I know there’s a lot of interest in everything that you all want to hear, the fans want to hear. My job is to win football games, do everything we can do to help win football games, protect the guys here on this football team, and handle everything that I can inside.”
Fantasy football start/sit advice for Week 9 at QB, RB, WR, TE – SB Nation
Malachi Fields, Giants at Eagles. Will JJ McCarthy continue his strong play this week in Philadelphia? Maybe, but I do think he’s going to give his receivers chances to make explosive plays either way. And the Eagles pass defense has been bad this season. Philly has allowed the third-most receptions, second-most yards, third-most touchdowns, and the most fantasy points to wide receivers through eight games. Malik Nabers says he will play, but he is dealing with a knee injury that has kept him out of practice. Isaiah Likely is high on the pecking order as well, but the Eagles have been tougher on tight ends, allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points to the position.
Eagles’ Tanner McKee: Expected to suit up Sunday – CBS Sports
McKee is listed as questionable for Week 9 due to what the report notes is “a cracked rib sustained on the first drive” in Week 8, but it appears he is feeling good enough to suit up. Joe Milton is set to start for the Eagles, so even if McKee is in uniform as anticipated, McKee will open the contest in a reserve role.
Game Preview – NYG at PHI – Iggles Blitz
Milton is a good athlete so the Eagles could mix in designed runs or just go with RPOs. He has a big time arm so they could try to dial up more deep shots. None of this will mean much unless the Eagles OL does their part. They were not good enough last week. That has to change. The Giants run defense hasn’t been good this season. They don’t have good DTs. Saquon Barkley isn’t 100 percent, but he should play. He’ll have a chance to be productive if the guys up front do their jobs. A good run game would be a huge help for Milton. This really is a can’t lose situation if you think about it. If Milton plays okay and the Eagles win, you get to enjoy a W. If he stinks and the Eagles lose, you move closer to a Top 5 pick. The Eagles haven’t lost a home game to the Giants since 2013. We’ll see if that streak continues. Win or lose, let’s hope the Eagles entertain us for three hours.
Eagles vs. Giants score predictions: Why our beat writers like New York in NFC East clash – The Athletic
At 2-6, the Eagles are teetering on a lost season. Sunday’s game might be their final chance to convince anyone they still have a chance in the NFC East. Prediction: Giants 21, Eagles 19
Eagles notebook: What will the future hold for Drew Mukuba? – NBCSP
Vic Fangio doesn’t just dish out compliments so what he said about Drew Mukuba this week really stood out. What has Fangio made of Mukuba’s season so far? “Overall good,” Fangio said. “Again, some plays that he’d like to have back, but I think he’s a good young player that’s going to be a good player in this league for a long time.” For Fangio, that’s high praise. Mukuba is a second-year safety who has struggled at times this season. But Fangio’s saying he’s going to be a good player in the league for a long time didn’t go unnoticed. Especially not by Mukuba. “It just means that he has a lot of confidence and belief in me,” Mukuba said. “I’ve got to just feed off of that and keep building.”
Game Preview vs. Giants: Six storylines to follow Sunday – PhiladelphiaEagles.com
This game is big in the NFC East. This is the final game for the Eagles before the bye week and it’s crucial. It is the third straight game within the division, one the Giants lead with a 4-2-1 record. The Eagles are looking to get back in the win column and establish themselves in the division heading into the second half of the season. Any other storylines? There are always the numbers that matter – turnover battle, red zone, penalties, special teams hidden yardage – and don’t change week to week. Philadelphia has won 13 straight games (including playoffs) against the Giants dating back to the 2014 campaign. Former Eagles Special Teams Coordinator and Secondary Coach John Harbaugh has had early success with the Giants, as expected. New York is physical, fired up, and confident. The Eagles need to play 60 minutes of good football to win this game.
3 ‘things I think’ before Giants-Eagles: Critical 5-day stretch has arrived – Big Blue View
If the Commanders can defeat the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, it is possible Washington emerges as the biggest threat to the Giants in the division. A split of the Eagles and Commanders games wouldn’t be devastating, but it would make the path to the playoffs more treacherous for the Giants. Losing both games would bring serious questions regarding whether the Giants are actually ready to capitalize on the opportunity they have. In-between, of course, is the trade deadline. Will the Giants get Jonathan Taylor? A lesser back to supplement what they have? Help at defensive tackle? How much will they be willing to give up to get any of that? Buckle up, Giants fans. It is going to be a fascinating five days.
Cowboys two keys to beating Colts and keeping playoffs hopes alive – Blogging The Boys
The Dallas Cowboys have very possibly not yet defined what “rock bottom” could look like on this 2026 season, but any version of sinking lower than they are right now would involve a second straight loss to a losing team this upcoming Sunday afternoon. The Cowboys are at the Colts, who have not won in over a month. Many things about this matchup make it feel like it’s an opportunity sitting on a tee for Brian Schottenheimer’s team to get back in the win column, and just maybe make the run-in to Thanksgiving interesting. It’s time for our weekly look at how the Cowboys can keep alternating wins and losses by bouncing back in week nine, or how they could send this season farther down the drain with another bad loss.
NFL fined three Commanders defenders for actions in Eagles win – Hogs Haven
The NFL has fined Commanders defensive lineman Charles Omenihu and edge rushers Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson for infractions stemming from Washington’s victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 8. Omenihu was fined $14,926 for unsportsmanlike conduct, with the league citing a violent gesture the issue, with 6 minutes, 20 seconds left in the third quarter. Oweh was fined $17,911 for a hit on quarterback Tanner McKee using his body weight with 31 seconds left in the game. Chaisson was also fined for a hit on McKee, with a blow to the head and neck, with 10 seconds left in the third quarter.
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