After Week 1 Struggles, Eagles Urged to Make Big Move With Ex-First Rounder

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It was anything but a smooth debut for Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Adoree’ Jackson. Once a first-round pick of the Tennessee Titans and later a reliable presence with the New York Giants, Jackson arrived in Philadelphia this offseason as one of the team’s marquee free-agent signings. With Darius Slay no longer in the picture, Jackson was expected to lock down the outside opposite rookie Quinyon Mitchell, while Cooper DeJean held down the slot.

Instead, Jackson’s first outing in midnight green was one to forget. Matched up against the Cowboys on Thursday night, he surrendered five catches for 103 yards on seven targets a brutal stat line that underscored just how badly he struggled. To make matters worse, he also lost contain on a long third-quarter run, compounding a forgettable night with a costly lapse in run defense.

The performance drew sharp criticism. By Saturday, NJ.com was openly suggesting the Eagles pull the plug, arguing that Philadelphia couldn’t afford to let one struggling corner derail their Super Bowl repeat hopes. Their recommendation? Turn to Jakorian Bennett, who’s had more time to get acclimated since arriving via trade from the Raiders in early August.

Cornerback Depth Suddenly a Question Mark

Jackson may have earned the starting nod coming out of training camp, but he hasn’t looked anything like the steady, reliable corner the Eagles thought they were getting. After four respectable years with the Giants, few doubted he’d at least be serviceable. But Thursday showed otherwise.

The Eagles did hedge their bets with Bennett, who rotated in for a few snaps against Dallas. He gave up three short receptions for just 20 yards, showing enough to make him a viable alternative should the coaching staff lose patience with Jackson.

Beyond that, though, Philadelphia’s depth at corner looks thin. Kelee Ringo remains more of a special-teams piece than a defensive option, while rookie fifth-rounder Mac McWilliams is still very much a project. There are creative ways to shuffle the secondary like sliding Cooper DeJean to the outside, plugging rookie Andrew Mukuba in the slot, and leaning on Sydney Brown again at safety but those are adjustments that come with their own risks.

Defense Needs to Tighten Up

The Eagles still managed to escape with a win over Dallas, thanks largely to some game-changing defensive highlights. But it’s clear that if they plan on making another run at a Lombardi Trophy, this defense will have to sharpen up especially on the back end.

For now, there’s no indication Jackson is headed to the bench. Still, his margin for error is shrinking. If he can’t settle in and deliver the level of play expected from a veteran starter, the Eagles may have no choice but to find another answer.