Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio confirmed Wednesday that cornerback Cooper DeJean will remain in the slot for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams rather than shifting to safety.
The decision comes as the Eagles continue to evaluate their secondary after three weeks. DeJean has drawn attention throughout the offseason as a possible option at safety, yet Fangio opted against an immediate change.
“Cooper DeJean will stay in the slot,” The Athletic’s Zach Berman reported. The coordinator indicated the second-year player is performing adequately in his current role.
Fangio said DeJean is playing well. Fangio does not believe offenses are targeting the Eagles safeties.
Marcus Epps and Andrew Mukuba have handled the majority of snaps at safety. The team also inserted Michael Carter for a portion of the snaps in the most recent contest.
That rotation produced mixed results. Chicago’s Case Keenum completed 24 of 34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns against the Eagles defense.
Philadelphia has yet to record a turnover through three games. The lack of takeaways has left the secondary searching for more consistent disruption.
DeJean has allowed two touchdown passes while aligned in the slot this season. Opponents have completed 66.7 percent of passes against him, producing a 125.7 passer rating when he is the primary defender in coverage.
Those numbers reflect broader issues in the middle of the field. Limited pressure up front has allowed quarterbacks to release the ball quickly, reducing the time available for coverage adjustments.
Epps played 38 percent of the defensive snaps at safety in Week 3, while Carter logged 28 percent. The split marked a noticeable adjustment from the earlier rotation.
DeJean earned All-Pro recognition as a slot corner last season. Coaches have preferred to keep proven contributors in positions where they have already demonstrated high-level production.
The Eagles entered the season with questions about depth behind the starting corners. Early results have not resolved those concerns at safety.
Fangio has described the current approach as temporary. He has left open the possibility of further personnel tweaks depending on how the defense performs against the Rams.
Any larger realignment would likely wait until after Sunday’s results are evaluated. For the immediate matchup, the secondary will line up with DeJean inside and the existing safety tandem behind him.
