A young Eagles player who seemed to lose his confidence in training camp is trending back in the right direction.
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said third-year cornerback Kelee Ringo has made improvements since losing the starting job to Adoree’ Jackson last month.
“I have told Kelee here recently — not in the last few days, but since the end of camp — that he’s going to get his opportunity at some point, and he got to be ready,” Fangio told reporters on Tuesday.
Ringo could start in Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. According to 6ABC sports reporter Jason Dumas, Jackson and Jakorian Bennett are dealing with injuries that could keep them out.
Jackson suffered a groin injury in the second half of the Eagles’ comeback victory over the Los Angles Rams on Sunday and never returned. On the final drive, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford targeted Bennett on four passes and completed three of them for 30 yards.
Jackson and Bennett are not great cornerbacks, but not having them against the Buccaneers could be costly.
Even though Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans is expected to miss the game with a hamstring injury, Tampa Bay’s passing offense could still be dynamic. Quarterback Baker Mayfield has developed a strong rapport with Emeka Egbuka, who is the best rookie wide receiver in the NFL.
Quinyon Mitchell could be assigned to Egbuka. Ringo would cover Sterling Shepard and Tampa’s other depth wide receivers if he had to play.
Ringo looked stiff and struggled with technique in training camp practices and preseason games, but perhaps he has improved enough to hold his own against No. 3 and No. 4 wide receivers.
“He’s handled it very well,” Fangio said about Ringo not winning the starting job. “It hasn’t affected his role as a special teamer, which he is one of the top ones in the league. I think he knows that eventually he will get his shot for some reason whatsoever. And he will be ready.”