ClutchPoints
When it comes to training camp, Philadelphia Eagles fans are always looking for the next great breakout star.
Sometimes, these players show up, show out, and become franchise heroes, with Corey Clement going from RB5 coming out of camp to a key cog in a Super Bowl win. Othertimes, they become a trivia question, with fans quizzing each other on the likes of Ifeanyi Momah, Henry Josey, or JaCorey Shepherd.
In 2025, there are plenty of interesting breakout candidates, with fans rapidly falling in love with Elijah Cooks before he even plays a game in Midnight Green, Terrace Marshall Jr. potentially finally putting it together at the NFL level, and Montrell Johnson Jr. dubbed a player to watch since Howie Roseman signed him as a UDFA out of Florida.
But what about the players who aren’t quite hitting expectations? What about the prospects fans had high hopes for who, for one reason or another, aren’t where they are supposed to be on the pre-preseason depth chart? Well, while there are plenty of players to be excited about on the Eagles heading into 2025, there are a few who are worth keeping an extra close eye on, as they might need some major performances to get where they need to be.
In the NFL, the best ability is availability.
After making headlines for being among the seeming 32 2025 second-round picks who held out for some form of guaranteed contract this summer – Mukuba got $7.1 million over his rookie deal – the safety out of Texas has been largely unable to practice for the Eagles during training camp as he prepares for a highly anticipated rookie season, being limited with a shoulder injury.
Now granted, as Vic Fangio told reporters earlier in the week, Mukuba can still get reps in his system even if he isn’t 100 percent, but mental reps and physical reps are not the same, and as a result, the clearest path to the field is strong efforts at the NovaCare Center and in the preseason.
“Yeah, I mean he just has to pay attention to meetings to get mental reps, but there’s no replacing physical reps,” Fangio told reporters. “Meetings and mental reps are good, but the value of them compared to physical reps is night and day.”
With Mukuba out, the Eagles have been trying a number of different options deep next to Reed Blankenship, from playing nickel cornerback Cooper DeJean at the spot in the base defense, to giving fellow Day 2 pick Sydney Brown some run, and even giving larger looks to deep reserves like Tristin McCollum and Andre’ Sam, neither of whom are guaranteed a spot on the 53 man roster. While Mukuba could still win the job opposite Blankenship and has all the tools to be a player this fall, the fact that he isn’t practicing fully yet has opened up the door for other players to take on big roles while he remains on the bench....
