Eagles’ CB2 Spot in Flux Following Cowboys’ Game
Sep 4, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Adoree' Jackson (8) tackles Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) during the first quarter of the game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
It was clear in Thursday night’s contest between the Eagles and Cowboys that Philadelphia’s defense needs serious work. Just six seconds into the game, Jalen Carter was ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct, leaving the defensive line without its anchor. The line had already been searching for an edge rusher to step up during camp, but it was the secondary — not the front — that looked most vulnerable against Dallas.
With Darius Slay gone, second-year Quinyon Mitchell was the clear CB1, leaving the Eagles scrambling to find a reliable partner on the outside. Cooper DeJean was an internal option, but moving him outside would weaken the nickel spot where he thrived last season. On Thursday, Vic Fangio kept him at nickel, and DeJean played almost every defensive snap there.
The offseason signing of Adoree’ Jackson seemed to settle CB2, especially after Jakorian Bennett — brought in just before the opener — failed to distinguish himself in camp. But against the Cowboys, Jackson was exposed early and often. He spent much of the night shadowing CeeDee Lamb, who torched him for over 100 yards. Within three minutes of play, Jackson’s blown coverage helped Dallas reach the red zone.
On that play, Jackson had outside leverage with safety help inside, yet overcommitted inside anyway, allowing Lamb to separate with ease. The pattern continued: Jackson sat in soft coverage, and Cowboys receivers picked him apart with comebacks and slants.
When Jackson briefly exited, DeJean and Bennett rotated opposite Mitchell. Bennett played seven snaps, allowing three catches on three targets along with a defensive pass interference call. While his coverage was a touch tighter than Jackson’s, he didn’t look like a long-term solution.
That leaves the Eagles with a glaring CB2 problem. Unless Howie Roseman makes a move for a proven starter, Fangio may be stuck week-to-week, weighing whether to ride with Jackson or see if Bennett or Kelee Ringo can step up.
The numbers were brutal: Jackson finished with a 32.4 PFF grade (49th among corners), giving up six catches on eight targets for 106 yards and 36 yards after the catch.
Still, there’s a silver lining. It was Week 1, and Carter’s early ejection threw off the entire defensive game plan. The Eagles generated 12 pressures but no sacks, putting even more strain on the secondary. Jackson may not be the long-term answer, but with time — and perhaps some help from the front office — Fangio can stabilize the position. For now, Jackson will likely hold CB2 until someone proves they’re ready to take it from him.
Sean Regenye
Sean Regenye is a sophomore broadcast journalism major at Penn State University. He is a die-hard Philly sports fan and loves baseball, especially the Phillies.
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