ClutchPoints
As the Philadelphia Eagles prepare to face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season, Vic Fangio already has a decision to make.
After beginning the season with Adoree’ Jackson as his CB2, the veteran defensive coordinator will be waiting with bated breath to see if the veteran cornerback will be available to play at Raymond James Stadium, facing off against a Todd Bowles team that has had Nick Sirianni’s number his entire coaching career in the City of Brotherly Love, or if he will have to go to his bench against Baker Mayfield, Emeka Egbuka, and Chris Godwin, who will be making his 2025 debut.
Fortunately, after Jackson struggled over the summer, both at camp and during the preseason, Howie Roseman traded for Jakorian Bennett to serve as the new CB2 in wait… at least until he got hurt helping to recover the blocked field goal on the final snap of Week 3 and has landed on IR with a pec injury.
No, when the Eagles take the field in Week 4, they will almost certainly be starting Kelee Ringo opposite Quinyon Mitchell at perimeter cornerback, with rookie fifth-round pick Mac McWilliams serving as the primary backup inside and out.
Earlier this summer, had fans been informed that Ringo would be starting in Week 4, they wouldn’t be surprised, as he was earning quality marks during minicamp and looked like the heir apparent to take over the starting spot vacated by eventual Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Darius Slay. Ringo is somehow still younger than Mitchell despite being a third-year pro, has all the athletic gifts in the world, and, after learning from Slay in 2024, seemingly had everything he could need to become a great starter.
Unfortunately, Ringo just never got it together, struggling mightily in the preseason against top-tier wide receivers like Ja’Marr Chase before crucially losing the trust of Fangio, as his zero defensive snaps through Week 3 clearly highlight.
Will Ringo put it all together in Week 4 against a Buccaneers team that will be getting back Godwin but will be without Mike Evans? He will certainly have opportunities to, as Mayfield will be targeting him early and often during the afternoon showdown. But the Eagles didn’t need to be in this situation. No, after turning in a quality campaign in 2024, the Eagles really should have ponied up a few million dollars to lock up Isaiah Rodgers, who could be absolutely balling out in midnight green once more, instead of on a team Philadelphia will play in Week 7 and could theoretically face in postseason once more early next year.
In Week 3, Isaiah Rodgers turned in one of the single greatest games by a defensive back in NFL history.
Facing off against Ja’Marr Chase and the Cincinnati Bengals with Jake Browning under center, Rodgers absolutely stuffed the stat sheet in only his third game in purple and yellow, forcing...
