Philadelphia, PA – July 8, 2025
They may be defending champions, but inside the NovaCare Complex, nothing is handed out — not even to the returning heroes. The Eagles' 2025 training camp is set to ignite with a fire that only true contenders can spark: position battles where pride, legacy, and the future are all on the line.
Forget the rings. Forget the banners. Right now, it’s about who earns the right to run with the ones.
And no battle is fiercer than what’s brewing at free safety. With C.J. Gardner-Johnson gone, the back end of Vic Fangio’s defense is wide open — and the competition is absolutely ruthless.
On one side, you have Sydney Brown, the 2023 fan favorite with unmatched intensity but recovering from a torn ACL. On the other, the Eagles’ bold new second-rounder Andrew Mukuba, a versatile chess piece out of Texas, already turning heads with his instincts and range. Lurking behind them is Cooper DeJean, the ultimate wild card who could line up anywhere from slot corner to deep third, and Tristin McCollum, quietly building trust inside the building.
“We don’t want placeholders — we want playmakers,” a team source told ESPN. And right now, no position demands more from its winner.
Further up front, things aren’t much calmer. At right guard, Tyler Steen is in the fight of his career. Once seen as a long-term fixture on the offensive line, Steen now finds himself in a dead heat to reclaim relevance after being overtaken by Mekhi Becton. With the franchise QB under center, protecting him isn't a luxury — it’s survival. And Steen knows it.
Even the quarterback room has its own storm brewing. Behind Jalen Hurts, Kyle McCord — the rookie with a point to prove — enters camp alongside Dorian Thompson-Robinson, as the Eagles begin reshaping their long-term backup plan. Don’t sleep on this one. Hurts is the face, but the depth behind him might decide a season.
But it all circles back to safety. That’s where the heat is real. Where jobs, careers, and reputations will be forged or forgotten.
This isn’t a training camp. It’s a gauntlet.
Stay tuned to ESPN — not all champions come back wearing crowns.
