Last season, the Eagles saw some of their young, hungry defensive players step up to deliver big performances late in the season and in the playoffs. That’s when fans started to learn who Jalyx Hunt and Moro Ojomo were.
In Los Angeles on Monday night and perhaps for the foreseeable future, a pair of veterans look to fill the void of key pieces missing to help Philadelphia’s defense continue to play at a championship caliber level.
Brandon Graham and Marcus Epps certainly are not new kids on the block. You go to any Eagles game or local bar and you’re bound to spot a few 55 jerseys in a crowd. Epps, although not a household name like Graham, played an integral role as one of the team’s starting safeties on the 2022 Eagles’ Super Bowl team, making six tackles in the 38-35 loss to Kansas City.
Both find themselves back with the Eagles as teammates taking much different routes to get here. Graham, 37, came out of retirement and rejoined the team in October. Epps, who spent four seasons with the Eagles from 2019-22, spent last season with the Eagles’ opponent on Sunday in Las Vegas before tearing his ACL in the first month of the season and then re-signing with Philadelphia this season.
For the 16-year veteran Graham, who has a few more grey hairs on the side of his beard than he did when he entered the league in 2010, he is also taking on a different position.
“I’m just trying to do everything I can for the team. I’m excited,” Graham said about playing defensive tackle against the Chargers in place of injured star defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
“I feel good. It was great being out there with the boys. It’s cool because me and Clint [Hurtt] already have a relationship so it’s an easy transition,” Graham said.
Vic Fangio was impressed with Graham’s performance, who played a season-high 30 snaps with over one-third of those coming at defensive tackle.
“BG is the ultimate pro,” Fangio said. “He’s got strength. He knows how to play. I think he will be better this week moving forward.”
While Graham is trying to take down opposing quarterbacks or stuffing running backs, Epps is providing the last line of defense alongside Reed Blankenship in place of the injured rookie Andrew Mukuba working his way back from a fractured ankle.
The safety, fresh off the IR last week, assumed the starting role over Sydney Brown and had a solid performance in coverage against a talented Chargers’ receiving corps.
“We have a lot of confidence in Marcus and that obviously dates prior to when he was here,” Nick Sirianni said. “We were really excited to get him back.”
“I thought he went in there and did a nice job for us. He operated well within the scheme, made some good plays, I was very pleased,” Fangio said.
Fangio continued: “He has a good knowledge of the game. Knows how to fit different plays whether it's in coverage or the run game. You can feel his experience, instincts, and knowledge.”
Between the duo, Graham and Epps have played in over 300 games, including the playoffs and Super Bowls. The two players they are filling in for have played in a combined 53 games.
Yet for Graham, he is becoming a student as much as he has been the teacher for the youngsters on defense.
“When I’m watching him [Jordan Davis], I’m learning as I’m going,” Graham said. “Because they’re the ones running everything over there. They know what’s going on. So, I’m just picking their brain and just asking them what they think when I go.”
The two veterans are hoping that whatever they have left in the tank, it’ll be enough to help the Eagles get back to a third Super Bowl in four seasons.
