The Philadelphia Eagles overhauled their secondary in free agency and the draft, signing C.J. Gardner-Johnson and drafting Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in the first and second rounds. Their projected starting cornerbacks for the 2024 season include Darius Slay, Isaiah Rodgers, and Quinyon Mitchell (slot). Their projected starting safeties include C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Reed Blankenship.
Even though the Eagles drastically changed their secondary and attempted to trade him during the roster cutdown deadline, James Bradberry made the 53-man roster to serve as a backup safety. Bradberry, who turned 31 in August, converted to safety after predominately playing at cornerback in his first eight years.
The Philadelphia Eagles’ general manager had confidence in the transition
“James always has had really good football instincts,” he told reporters Wednesday. “When you see him play safety every day here and see his ability to diagnose his football instincts. I think for all of us, that’s a transition, that’s a different position than playing outside corner.”
“He’s got a skill set. It’s a long season,” he continued. “We already know that he’s had tremendous success in this league playing outside corner as well. With the goals that we have for this football team, having a veteran player like that on the roster that we know we can rely on when called upon, we felt like was important.”
Bradberry won’t see the football field in his new position for quite some time.
James Bradberry suffered a significant injury
Bradberry exited Wednesday’s practice with an apparent leg injury. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, he suffered a lower-leg injury involving his tendon. Although surgery isn’t required, he’s looking at a 6-8 week recovery time. There is a chance the Eagles place him on injured reserve.
#Eagles veteran DB James Bradberry suffered a lower leg injury during yesterday’s practice, sources tell me and @TomPelissero.
Although surgery is not required, the injury involves a tendon and recovery time for an injury of this nature is approximately 6-8 weeks. pic.twitter.com/GvIGxudgIr
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 29, 2024
James Bradberry isn’t the only defensive back injured
Sydney Brown injured his knee while covering a punt in the first quarter of their Week 18 10-27 loss to the New York Giants. An MRI confirmed that he had torn his ACL. Brown had a goal of being 100% for the start of training camp or Week 1.
However, that wasn’t the case. Brown started training camp on the active/PUP list and hasn’t practiced in their four and a half weeks of training camp but worked out off to the side. They placed him on the PUP list, and he will miss at least the first four games.
Who will serve as the backup safety?
Avonte Maddox will serve as the backup safety. Maddox (who turned 28 in March), their former starting slot cornerback, also fell out of the starting rotation due to the offseason acquisitions and switched to safety. He will serve as the emergency, fill-in safety.
Tristin McCollum will also serve as the backup safety. McCollum enters his third year in the league and his second in Philadelphia. He played 29 defensive and 59 special teams snaps in three games last season. He made the 53-man roster after having a strong camp.
