Darius Slay is highly impressed with Eagles rookies Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell, calling the duo his children
Philadelphia saw how last season ended and decided to break from the usual script this past April, drafting Quinyon Mitchell in the first round and Cooper DeJean in the second round, solidifying their secondary for years to come.
The Eagles started the season out 2-2. Still, the lights went on defensively when Cooper DeJean entered the starting lineup following a training camp and preseason that saw the rookie out of Iowa miss time with a soft tissue injury.
Mitchell has been lights out from Day 1, and both players have made Philadelphia’s veteran and captain, Darius Slay, very happy. Talking to John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia after practice on Friday, Slay jokingly referred to the young duo as “his children,” praising both players.
Talking with Darius Slay in the Eagles lockeroom, he looked over at Cooper DeJean talking to the media. Slay says he calls Coop and Quinyon Mitchell his kids.
“They are my children.” He is so impressed by the Eagles rookies.
Big matchup vs CeeDee Lamb tomorrow pic.twitter.com/fhTOQ3eBEc
Among NFL CBs with 100+ coverage snaps, Cooper DeJean ranks 2nd in PFF coverage grade (85.3), trailing only Zyon McCollum (85.7). Quinyon Mitchell ranks T-5th among NFL CBs with nine forced incompletions (including a team-high 6 PDs), behind Denzel Ward (14), Paulson Adebo (12), Carlton Davis (10), and D.J. Reed (10).
Mitchell has held opponents to a 53.7% completion percentage and 76.1 passer rating.
Are the Philadelphia Eagles playing today? Here’s a look at the schedule and the games to come.
Will the Eagles be on the field today in Week 10 of the NFL schedule?
Philadelphia is in Dallas on Sunday to face the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in an intriguing NFC East matchup that could provide offensive fireworks for Nick Sirianni’s squad.
The Eagles are 6-2 and have won four straight games after defeating the Jaguars at Lincoln Financial Field in Week 9.
Do you remember the last time Washington and Pittsburgh played?
“When they last met” is an ongoing series during the NFL season, recalling the preceding game between Washington and the next opponent on the Commanders’ schedule.
Washington 23, Pittsburgh 17 – Week 13, December 7, 2020
After falling behind by 14 points in the second quarter, Washington stormed back to defeat Pittsburgh 23-17 at Heinz Stadium in Pittsburgh.
Entering the game at 4-7, Washington quickly found themselves down to the undefeated 11-0 Steelers when Ben Roethlisberger connected with Diontae Johnson from three yards and then James Washington from 50 yards.
But a Dustin Hopkins 49-yard field goal with only:01 remaining in the half not only got Washington on the scoreboard but also seemed to ignite the team.
Washington drove 82 yards in 14 plays on their next possession, drawing to within 14-10 when Peyton Barber scored from one yard.
On the first play of the final quarter, Matthew Wright’s 37-yard field goal extended the Steelers lead back to 17-10. But that would be the last time the Steelers would score, as Washington dominated the rest of the way.
Driving 53 yards in eight plays, Alex Smith’s 15-yard touchdown to Logan Thomas tied the score with 9:08 remaining.
A nine-play drive followed, resulting in a Hopkins 45-yard field goal for a 20-17 Washington lead with 2:04 on the clock. After a Jonathan Bostic interception, Hopkins’ 45-yard field goal closed out the scoring for Washington.
The game also turned the seasons of the two teams. Washington would go forward and win the NFC East, while the Steelers never recovered, losing four of their final five in the regular season and then also their first-round playoff game to the Cleveland Browns.
Adam Schefter is reporting that Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons will play against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 10
The Dallas Cowboys will be without Dak Prescott for the remainder of this season, but their best pass rusher is returning to the lineup.
Micah Parsons returned to practice fully this week, and Adam Schefter reports that the All-Pro pass rusher will play against Philadelphia in Week 10.
Micah Parsons will make his return to the Cowboys’ defense Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, per ESPN’s @toddarcher. Parsons missed the last four games with a high left ankle sprain suffered in Week 4 against the New York Giants. pic.twitter.com/FOIqAQikrs
Parsons returned to practice in a limited fashion throughout the week, giving him a chance to play Sunday for the first time since sustaining a high-ankle sprain in Dallas’ Week 4 win over the Giants.
The Cowboys’ defense is currently tied for the fewest sacks in the NFL (18.0) through nine weeks.
Parsons has one sack on the season, but he’s had five quarterback hits, 15 quarterback hurries, and 21 quarterback pressures in four games.
Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean have been standouts for Eagles defense during the four game winning streak
The Eagles are 6-2 and on a four-game winning streak, and a significant factor in the improvement of a much-maligned defensive unit starts with the law firm at linebacker. During the NFL off-season, the Devin White signing was supposed to transform Philadelphia’s defense. At the same time, Zack Baun was labeled a low-budget signing that could translate into the former Saints pass rusher having a hybrid and versatile role for Vic Fangio’s unit.
Fast forward to Week 10, and White spent the first month of the season as a healthy scratch before getting released and signing with the Texans. Baun hit the ground running and has been a high-value signing that could become a long-term extension. Nakobe Dean started the season off slow after rehabbing from a foot injury. After a few weeks of terrible tackling, he’s looked like the player Philadelphia and other teams coveted coming out of the University of Georgia.
This season, Baun is ranked first among NFL linebackers in Defensive stops (37), and he’s second in passer rating allowed (73.3).
Since Week 6, Baun has posted 36 tackles (23 solo) with one tackle for loss, one interception, and one forced fumble. During that same stretch, Nakobe Dean has combined for 34 tackles (20 solo), three tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, one interception, and one fumble recovered. In Week 9 vs. Jacksonville, Baun and Dean became the first Eagles linebacker duo to each record an interception in the same game since Carlos Emmons and Jeremiah Trotter in the “Pickle Juice Game” during the 2000 season at Dallas.
The Commanders have a plan for the “terrible towels.”
Former Washington Redskins head coach Otto Graham was credited with saying, “Don’t throw in the towel, use it for wiping the sweat off of your face.”
Sunday’s battle between the 6-2 Steelers and the home team Commanders (7-2) looks to be a tough contest. The Commanders have yet to face a defense as good as the Steelers, and the Steelers’ defense has yet to face an offense as efficient as Washington’s.
Speaking of towels, the Steelers have been known for some years to have their fans show up in attendance with their gold towels to wave during the game, exhibiting their support for the Steelers (black and gold).
Former Redskins running back Brian Mitchell (1990-99), now an employee of 106.7 The Fan in Washington, evidently was the originator of the idea, calling upon the organization to supply burgundy towels to create some more home-team atmosphere at Northwest Stadium, Sunday.
“I need whoever the powers that be — I need you all to get burgundy towels to every fan coming into the stadium,” Mitchell said, underscoring the need to keep the Commanders’ presence strong. “We know the Steelers are going to come with their yellow, so we’re going to mix them together. It’s going to be burgundy and gold all through the stadium.”
On Wednesday, the Commanders emailed fans announcing the towel giveaway with an exciting message: “These giveaways steel the show! We’ll be handing out limited-edition rally towels and Salute to Service hats presented by Verizon this Sunday for our game against the Steelers. Let’s Command Our House and create a home-field advantage by packing Northwest Stadium with burgundy.” (Fox 5 D.C.).
Tim McManus reports that Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is dealing with a mild ankle injury ahead of Sundays’ game vs. the Cowboys
The Eagles are taking the field for their final practice of the week, and all eyes will be on quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Hurts sat out practice on Wednesday, and was a full participant during Thursday’s session. ESPN’s Tim McManus reports that Hurts has been dealing with a mild ankle injury for weeks now.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said quarterback Jalen Hurts was limited in practice earlier this week because he was “dealing with the ankle” – which was different than what was listed on the injury report.
Hurts was listed Wednesday with a “rest” designation. He did not participate in individual drills during the portion of practice open to media, instead taking the role of spectator as Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee went through drills.
McManus labeled it a “lower leg soreness” and that his limited practice Wednesday was for load management purposes, with the Eagles playing two games in a span of five days against the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders. McManus reports that Hurts was held back from dropping and planting during the individual periods but did throw the football later Wednesday during team walkthrough.
Hurts ranks 5th overall in total touchdowns (18), behind Baker Mayfield (25), Lamar Jackson (22), Joe Burrow (21) and Josh Allen (20). Furthermore,he is tied for the most 20+ yard passing TDs (7) in the league.
Over his last four games, Hurts has completed 60-of-83 (72.3%) attempts for 844 yards (10.2 avg.), 6 TDs, 0 INTs and a 128.8 passer rating,
while also rushing for 159 yards and 6 scores. Hurts is the only NFL quarterback since Week 6 to record 10+ total TDs (12) and 0 giveaways.
The Commanders host the Steelers in Week 10 and there are three reasons for optimism heading into the matchup.
The Washington Commanders host the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday at 1 p.m. EDT in Landover, Maryland. Northwest Stadium will be filled to the brim with fans, and while the vast majority will be donned in burgundy and gold, Steelers fans are known to travel well, and we’ll likely see plenty of Terrible Towels in the stands as well.
However, it might not be as much of a mix as it has been in previous years since the Commanders are playing so well this year. Jayden Daniels is regularly discussed as a top Rookie of the Year candidate, and there have even been whispers of MVP votes. Daniels’ skill players and his line are playing at the top of their game, the defense just got a lift, and special teams have been consistent all season.
There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic as a Commanders fan, but we’ve narrowed it down to three ahead of this week’s matchup against the Steelers.
Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Commanders swept the Giants, hold the top spot in the NFC East
The Commanders swept the Giants this year with their win last week. It’s the first time since 2021 that the Commanders have accomplished that task, and while the Giants are having a rough go of things, the Commanders can build off of that win.
They currently hold the top spot in the NFC East, with the 6-2 Philadelphia Eagles right behind them. They are second in the NFC and fourth in the entire NFL. It’s been a long time since that has happened, and the Commanders aren’t slowing down.
The Commanders’ sweep of the Giants gives them huge momentum, which should have them feeling confident and executing plays at a high level this week at home.
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
The defense just got a boost in a critical spot
The Commanders’ secondary has been the weakest link of the defense in 2024, and this week, that secondary got a massive boost with the acquisition of cornerback Marshawn Lattimore. He may not play this week for a variety of reasons, but knowing he is there should give the rest of the defense some confidence, especially if they can keep it together against Russell Wilson and the Steelers this week.
Lattimore played his entire career in New Orleans until this week. Now he will don new colors and be part of a team that’s actually winning games. And the Commanders’ secondary gets a solid veteran who can help them continue those winning ways, even if he doesn’t play on Sunday.
Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Jayden Daniels gets better every week
It’s hard to ignore that Jayden Daniels continues to impress us every single week. Every week, we expect the rookie to make some “normal” rookie mistake that creates a challenge he has to overcome, and it never happens. Sure, he makes mistakes—everyone does—but he hasn’t made any crazy mistakes that cost his team a win.
Washington has the eighth-ranked passing offense and second-ranked run offense. The Steelers have the fourth-ranked run defense, and their passing defense is middle-of-the-pack. Because Daniels is a dual-threat quarterback, he needs to be extra aware of where TJ Watt is on the field because Watt can sniff out the ball like no one else and make whatever adjustment needs made to get there. Daniels’ saving grace will be his legs this week, not that he will run the ball often, but there will be plenty of times he has to move.
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown was a full participant in practice on Thursday after suffering a knee injury in win over Jaguars
The Eagles are just days from traveling to Dallas for a big game against the Cowboys. A.J. Brown looks primed for a massive performance after initial questions about his availability.
Brown left Philadelphia’s win over the Jaguars with a knee injury deemed less severe than initially thought.
Brown has 23 catches for 444 yards (19.3 avg) and three touchdowns in five games played, and he’d likely be nearing 1,000 yards for a third straight season if not for missing three games.
Philadelphia is getting healthier. Brown, Dallas Goedert (hamstring), Darius Slay (groin), Jalen Carter (shoulder), and Landon Dickerson (knee) all participated this week.
Smith was one of a dozen Eagles with an injury designation on Wednesday, as players like Jalen Hurts, Mekhi Becton, and Fred Johnson returned to practice.
A.J. Brown has logged a full daily practice, setting the All-Pro up to be active for Sunday’s big game.
UPDATE:
DeVonta Smith (hamstring) returned to practice on a limited basis, and A.J. Brown (knee) was a full participant after being limited on Wednesday.
Outside linebacker Nolan Smith (groin) and Ben VanSumeren (concussion) returned to limited practice after not practicing a day earlier. Offensive tackle Fred Johnson (knee) remained limited.
