Eagles Call Up Rookie Safety Ahead of Week 2

Ahead of their Week 2 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, the Philadelphia Eagles have elevated safety Maximus Pulley from the practice squad, setting up the rookie to make his NFL debut.

Pulley Gets His Opportunity

Pulley began his collegiate career at Western Kentucky before transferring to Wofford. In 34 games played for the Terriers, he recorded 189 tackles with 7.0 tackles for loss and seven interceptions. In his final college season, he earned consensus FCS All-American and First-Team All-SoCon honors, leading the conference in interceptions.

Despite those accolades, concerns over the level of competition faced and physical frame left him unselected in the 2026 NFL draft, leading Philadelphia to snag him up as an undrafted free agent.

Pulley had a strong training camp and earned opportunities to work with the first-team defense. His ability as a run defender shined during the Eagles’ three preseason games, recording 20 tackles, including 15 solo stops. Pulley made an impact on special teams, being one of the first to arrive during punt and kickoff coverage. However, he was inconsistent in coverage, landing him on the practice squad despite a late push to make the initial 53-man roster.

What Pulley’s Elevation Means for Drew Mukuba

While Pulley will likely provide depth on special teams, his elevation casts doubt on Drew Mukuba’s availability for Sunday. Mukuba missed Thursday’s practice with a knee injury and returned Friday as a limited participant wearing a leg sleeve. He is currently listed as questionable to play against the Titans.

While the Eagles’ safety room was viewed as a weak point entering the season, the duo of Mukuba and Epps were excellent in the season opener against the Washington Commanders, allowing just two catches for 14 and no explosive plays. Michael Carter II, who made the transition to safety this offseason, most likely will slide into the starting role next to Marcus Epps if Mukuba is sidelined. Mukuba’s potential absence is far from ideal, but it does open the door for Pulley to potentially earn snaps as a rotational defensive back.