Eagles Rookies Making Their Case in Safety Competition

The Philadelphia Eagles have a roster position to fill, with Reed Blankenship signing with the Houston Texans. A main question trying to be answered during training camp was who would start next to Andrew Mukuba when Cooper DeJean is in the slot. Two rookies may be shaking up the position battle.

Cole Wisniewski, who had missed all of training camp due to a hamstring issue, returned to practice this week and got reps with the first-team defense.

Wisniewski is somewhat new to the safety position. Wisniewski’s collegiate journey started at North Dakota State where he played linebacker. In his time there, Wisniewski overlapped with his fellow rookie teammate Cole Payton. In 2023, he moved to safety and was named a consensus FCS All-American, leading the nation with 8 interceptions.

After sitting out the 2024 campaign with a foot injury, he transferred to Texas Tech, where he recorded 78 tackles and 6 TFLs. The Eagles drafted him in the seventh round.

Many scouts compared Wisniewski to former Eagle Blankenship, citing his ability as a strong tackler who thrives playing in the box and downhill, with questions on his long speed in coverage. Injury concerns and being a sixth-year college player also hurt his draft stock.

The other Eagles rookie making noise is Kapena Gushiken, who Vic Fangio refers to as “Gush.” Signed by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent, Gushiken also got reps with the first-team.

Gushiken started at the JUCO level, before transferring to Washington State and then Ole Miss for his senior year. For the Rebels, Gushiken lined up at slot corner or safety, a similar role that DeJean will play this season.

He had an excellent combine, scoring an elite 9.16 Relative Athletic Score with a 4.33 40-yard dash. His size and frame at just 5-foot-9 and under 190 pounds were a major concern for many scouts.

In the Eagles’ first preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, Gushiken showed great instincts, recording five tackles, including a solo tackle on a bigger running back.

While much has been made of the battle between Marcus Epps and Michael Carter II, Wisniewski and Gushiken could push for rotational reps and special teams roles as dark-horse contenders.