When asked if rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell will be on the field for almost every play in the Eagles’ season opener against the Packers and if he is prepared for that responsibility, Vic Fangio answered bluntly:

“Yes and yes,” the defensive coordinator said on Monday.

The Eagles have not officially announced their starting players for the positions that were up for grabs before training camp, including cornerback. However, Fangio confirmed that Mitchell “will be seen a lot” on Friday night at the Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil. Fangio also suggested that the first-round pick from Toledo could play multiple positions, as he has done in training camp, at least early in the season.

The defensive coordinator gave Mitchell multiple assignments over the summer, having him play both in a familiar lineup on the outside and in the slot, a position he hadn’t tried before. But Fangio said he saw Mitchell pick up the nuances of both positions “pretty quickly,” allowing him to be on the field more often.

As training camp progressed, Mitchell rose in the ranks and became the outside cornerback. Toward the end of training camp, he took several reps on the perimeter opposite Darius Slay with the first-team base defense. When the team played nickel, Mitchell moved inside and Isaiah Rodgers often took his spot on the outside.

“I think for him personally, it would be good to settle into one spot because even though we’re very happy with his development and his ability to learn, he’s still a beginner,” Fangio said. “And I think if he could settle into one spot, that would be to his advantage, but we might not be able to do that.”

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Mitchell, 23, said he feels well prepared for his NFL regular-season debut. He acknowledged that learning the intricacies of the slot was difficult at first, but now he’s “got it down.” Mitchell expressed his eagerness to show his coaches that their trust is in the right place in the form of a heavy workload.

“It just means a lot to me,” Mitchell said. “It just means that I’ve been working hard and stuff, and I just have to keep my foot on the gas.”

DeJean delays

Meanwhile, fellow rookie defensive back Cooper DeJean has been back in training for about three weeks after missing most of training camp with a hamstring injury. Fangio acknowledged that DeJean is behind in his development due to the circumstances.

“I think he’s as prepared as he can be, but still not where he should be,” Fangio said.

DeJean managed to return in time for the final preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings, playing 45 of his 47 defensive snaps in the slot. It was his first game since Nov. 11, since his college career at Iowa, when he broke his leg in practice. The second-round pick had been rusty in some areas of his game, particularly in coverage.

“I learned a lot,” DeJean said. “I think there are a lot of things I need to improve on. You can tell I haven’t played in a while. Some things I did well, some things not so well. But it’s good to have that tape to go back and see where I can improve and really focus on that during practice.”

While Fangio said DeJean still needs further development, the 21-year-old cornerback said he is feeling “great” after his injury and will be ready for Friday’s game if he is needed.

“I’ve been getting a lot more reps since I’ve been back,” DeJean said. “So I’m getting more and more comfortable out there on the field, which is good. And these guys have helped me with that.”

Possible pitfalls

Some offenses excel at passing, some at running, and some at both. According to Fangio, Green Bay falls into the latter category.

Through the end of the 2023 season, the Packers were humming in both aspects of their offense, going 6-2 in their final eight games. During that span, they averaged 123.3 rushing yards and 261 passing yards per game, an improvement over their averages in the first nine games (102 rushing yards, 208 passing yards).

Consequently, the Packers also boasted a strong play-action game that forced the defense to account for the threat of the run game. Green Bay finished the season ranked ninth in the league with 118 play-action passing attempts and eighth with 1,105 play-action passing yards. Fangio said that defending the play-action game well is paramount for the linebackers, but his group didn’t see “a lot of that kind of play-action” in training camp.

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Quarterback Jordan Love gives the offense another edge thanks to his ability to extend plays, Fangio added. The second-year starter amassed 200 scramble yards (No. 13 in the NFL) in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus.

“They’re really tough to defend,” Fangio said. “They run and throw equally well, and when you add an athletic quarterback, it’s going to be exciting all day long.”

Mailata captain for the first time

The Eagles announced their seven-man captain’s roster for the 2024 season on Friday. The group consists of Lane Johnson, Jalen Hurts, Brandon Graham, Jordan Mailata, Jake Elliott, AJ Brown and Slay.

Mailata, the 27-year-old left tackle from Australia, is the only one in the group to be a first-time captain. He said he was both shocked and honored when he learned of his selection from his colleagues at a team meeting. But the award doesn’t change his approach as a leader.

“I want to keep doing what I know and what I believe in,” Mailata said. “There’s a reason your teammates vote for you. I’m not going to change anything else. I’m just going to keep doing it.”

“But I have to say one thing: The fact that they are watching me now is a highlight. So I want to continue to be the best example, on and off the field, and continue to hold everyone accountable.”