The Philadelphia Eagles secondary has been like a New York City turnstile this season. People go through and disappear below ground, then they’re gone.
Nickel cornerbacks Zech McPhearson and Avonte Maddox were the first two to make the journey. Gone for the year.
Safety Justin Evans became the latest, though he was only put on injured reserve, so, depending on a potential trade for a safety, he may be seen again after missing these next three games, beginning with the high-octane Miami Dolphins on Sunday night at Lincoln Financial Field.
So desperate have the Eagles become that they have had to use undrafted free agent rookies Eli Ricks at cornerback and Mekhi Garner, a cornerback who was forced to play safety in his pro debut.
Last year’s undrafted rookie free agent, Mario Goodrich, has played his first pro snaps. Josh Jobe, another undrafted free agent from last season who played just 12 defensive snaps last year, has seen extended time.
It’s so bad, that the Eagles had to bring back nickel corner/safety Josiah Scott on Tuesday, a player they cut at the end of summer who was on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad.
The turnstile has included just about everybody on the roster, except one – Kelee Ringo.
Viewed as a bit of a steal in the draft, when he slipped to Day 3, he was too good for the Eagles to allow to keep dropping, so they traded up to near the top of the round to grab him.
Ringo, who just turned 21 this past summer, continues to be a work in progress, following a summer where he did not shine particularly bright. He played at the highest level of college football, in the SEC, helping the University of Georgia win back-to-back championships, so the pedigree is there.
Nobody is giving up on him, especially the Eagles.
“He's been doing a good job and he's been really taking on some different roles and teaching that we've given him the last couple weeks,” said defensive coordinator Sean Desai. “He's doing a good job and it's a continual progress of how he develops, and we have to keep developing him that way and he's on progress of where we want him to be in terms of that development.”
Ringo's development has come on special teams, where he has played more than 90 percent of those snaps and is tied for the team lead in ST tackles with two.
He committed a fair-catch interference penalty against the New York Jets on Sunday, but special team coordinator Michael Clay chalked it up to a learning experience.
“His sixth game, he gets that opportunity,” said Clay. “And he's doing a really good job for us in all phases. It's just a learning experience and I feel good if that does come up again, he'll put on the brakes, let that vice guy get in front of him, and possibly dump him into the returner.”
Ringo’s size – 6-2, 207 pounds - screams safety. Maybe even a hybrid linebacker. Desai did say roles, after all.
Even Ringo admitted in a recent one-on-one interview with SI.com’s Eagles Today that he is being trained at safety.
His turn will come, and the way that turnstile keeps spinning in the secondary, that turn could come sooner rather than later.
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