The Philadelphia Eagles added insurance to their secondary before Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans.
Philadelphia elevated safety Maximus Pulley from the practice squad Saturday, a day after Andrew Mukuba was listed as questionable with a knee injury. Pulley will revert to the practice squad after the game unless the Eagles make a separate roster move. His elevation gives defensive coordinator Vic Fangio another safety and special-teams option while the team waits to determine Mukuba’s availability. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Pulley is an undrafted rookie from Wofford. He spent the summer with Philadelphia before signing with the practice squad following roster reductions.
Pulley has no regular-season NFL experience, making special teams
his clearest path to an active role. If Mukuba cannot play, Philadelphia would likely lean on veterans and established members of the secondary for most defensive snaps.
We have elevated S Maximus Pulley for tomorrow’s game. pic.twitter.com/XZJCEs13ou
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 19, 2026
Marcus Epps started beside Mukuba during Philadelphia’s 24-22 victory over Washington. Michael Carter II has also prepared at safety and can move between the back end and the slot. Nick Sirianni expressed confidence in Carter’s ability to handle the position if needed, noting that the veteran has worked throughout the offseason to prepare for multiple assignments.
Cooper DeJean offers another source of flexibility. He played all 70 defensive snaps against Washington and can align in the slot, at safety, or closer to the line of scrimmage depending on Fangio’s personnel grouping. Mukuba played 67 defensive snaps in Week 1. Fangio said the second-year safety’s communication was good, although not perfect, during his first regular-season start alongside Epps.
The Eagles face a Titans offense led by quarterback Cam Ward, whose arm talent and mobility require disciplined communication in the secondary. Ward completed 19 of 32 passes for 140 yards and one touchdown while rushing for 21 yards in Tennessee’s opener. Pulley’s presence also gives Philadelphia another option on its coverage units. The Eagles will need reliable tackling against first-team All-Pro return specialist Chimere Dike, whom special-teams coordinator Michael Clay identified as one of Tennessee’s most dangerous players.
Jonathan Greenard is the only Eagles player ruled out. Jalen Carter, Cooper DeJean, Hollywood Brown, and Elijah Moore received no game-status designations and are available to face Tennessee.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles elevate safety Maximus Pulley with Andrew Mukuba questionable
