Jalen Hurts has been slinging it a bit too much in training camp, not always to his own guys, and everyone’s talking about it. The Eagles just wrapped up their final camp practice on Wednesday, and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio dropped some seriously interesting insights, especially on Hurts’ string of interceptions. Turns out, Fangio isn’t sweating it one bit and actually sees a silver lining for the defense.
Fangio’s Wild Take on Hurts’ Picks
Yeah, you read that right. Fangio’s out here saying all those camp interceptions from Hurts are a *good thing* for the defense. Wild, huh? He actually thinks the whole situation isn’t something to worry about for the QB heading into the season. “He’s learning a new offense,” Fangio explained. “He’s trying things, seeing what’s available and what isn’t available. I don’t think that’s going to carry over [to the regular season].” So, the man is basically saying Hurts is pushing the envelope, testing the limits of the new scheme, and figuring out what flies and what gets picked off *before* it counts. That’s a pretty calculated risk, and if Fangio is right, it means the Eagles are going to be sharp when it matters.
The Grind for Roster Spots Is Real
Beyond Hurts’ daring throws, Fangio also spilled the tea on the intense battles for those final roster spots. He’s not quite made up his mind yet, noting players absolutely can sway decisions in the final preseason game on Friday night. But, at the end of the day, it’s up to Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni to make the final calls. Two guys who could seriously benefit from that last preseason showing? Safety Maximus Pulley and defensive back Kapena Gushiken.
Fangio stressed how big special teams is for these bubble guys. He said, “Special teams does play a factor. The last few spots are always a story in and of itself. It might be a guy that’s not ready to play, and you might not think he’s ready to play the entire year, but you want him. Sometimes that happens. Sometimes it’s a guy that you think can help us in a pinch if we need it. As I said, special teams is a big thing. Just numbers, too. There’s minimal numbers you need at every position.” He detailed needing five or six defensive linemen and eight to nine outside and inside backers minimum.
The competition at safety between Marcus Epps and Michael Carter is still super tight. Carter’s doing a good job, but Fangio admitted it’s all new to him and he needs more exposure and reps, though Fangio believes he can get the job done eventually. Shoutout to Andre Sam, too, who Fangio says provides solid depth. “He knows our defense from the safety position. He’s reliable in that regard. He’s trustworthy, and I think he’s a guy that will have a spot somewhere along the line, but we like him,” Fangio praised.
Over at cornerback, Fangio is happy with the depth, feeling comfortable with Quinyon Mitchell and Tariq Woolen. He’s hoping to get Jonathan Jones back from injury soon. Mac McWilliams has made strides despite an injury, and Kelee Ringo is also stepping up. They’ve still got to fill that sixth CB spot, so Friday night is huge. Speaking of Woolen, Fangio noted his camp was “Overall, good. He’s had his moments where he can get a little sloppy. We need to eliminate those and hopefully once the regular season starts, that will happen. We like him.”
It’s all on the line this Friday night in that final preseason game. Every snap, every tackle, every return will determine who gets to stick around and who’s looking for a new home. What a high-stakes finish to camp!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleeding Green Nation.
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