Reed Blankenship is gone, period. That’s the cold, hard truth for the Eagles’ safety room, with the former “underrated” star now a Houston Texan after signing a three-year deal worth an average of $8 million per season. While Andrew Mukuba flashed before an injury paused his offseason and veteran Marcus Epps returns to handle meaningful snaps, the real intrigue kicks off right behind them.
Behind those established names, several players are gonna spend training camp absolutely battling for what could be one of the Eagles’ final roster spots. Andre’ Sam has already shown the Eagles aren’t letting him go easily. Last August, they waived him during final cuts, only to snag him back for the practice squad less than 24 hours later. He stuck around all season, eventually signing a reserve/futures contract in January. That sequence speaks volumes: the team has found reasons to keep Sam in the building, and now he’s got another shot to prove he belongs.
Then you’ve got Cole Wisniewski. He might not be the favorite to make the roster, but this dude brings a physical presence defensive coaches absolutely love. He’s a downhill defender, not afraid to deliver a hit, and plays with a consistent physical mentality. While his coverage ability has questions, his willingness to attack the run has already drawn comparisons to Reed Blankenship’s style. Players who tackle well and embrace that physical football often find a way to stick, especially in Vic Fangio’s defense.
J.T. Gray’s path to the roster is probably gonna look totally different. Yeah, he’ll compete at safety, but his biggest value could be on special teams. Gray has an insane resume as one of the NFL’s premier special teams contributors, with a First-Team All-Pro nod in 2021, two second-team All-Pro recognitions, and a Pro Bowl selection. Experience like that is impossible to overlook when final roster decisions come down, and if Gray makes the cut, it might have more to do with field position and kickoff coverage than his defensive snaps. And don’t sleep on undrafted rookie Kapena Gushiken, either. He’s probably the longest shot, but he’s already caught Vic Fangio’s attention, with the defensive coordinator affectionately calling him “Gush.” That little nickname tells you the rookie has made a positive early impression, despite a football journey that took him from Kamehameha High to Saddleback College, then Washington State, and finally Ole Miss in the SEC.
This training camp battle is far from settled, folks. Every one of these guys brings something unique to the table, and the Eagles have some seriously tough decisions ahead for those crucial reserve safety spots.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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