(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 24: Odell Beckham #13 of the New York Giants runs with the ball and is tackled by Jalen Mills #31 of the Philadelphia Eagles in the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on September 24, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The biggest question mark on the Eagles’ lineup card has been answered. Jalen Mills will start at cornerback opposite Darius Slay.
Mills, who started in Super Bowl LII, had been making the transition to safety but the team was desperate for cornerback help with starter Avonte Maddox (ankle) down. Mills hinted at switching back earlier this week. The other active corners are Cre’Von LeBlanc and Nickell Robey-Coleman.
“Obviously Jalen’s played that position before,” defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said. “We value flexible guys in the back end, guys that can play multiple positions.”
Meanwhile, K’Von Wallace made his first career start at safety tonight for the Eagles. Wallace, selected 127th overall this year in the fourth round, had been used primarily on special teams and scooped up a fumble recovery in Week 2. He saw action in 59 games at Clemson, including 36 starts, and finished with 178 career tackles (5.5 for loss), 21 pass breakups, five interceptions, two sacks and two forced fumbles.
The Eagles listed the following inactive players for Sunday night: QB Nate Sudfeld, WR DeSean Jackson, WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, TE Hakeem Butler, CB Avonte Maddox, WR Alshon Jeffery, DE Casey Toohill. That means Jalen Hurts is the backup quarterback for the third straight week.
#PHIvsSF Inactives
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Eagles Keep 5 RBs Active for Week 4
The Eagles were looking for playmakers on offense and they’ll have plenty of options on the bench. The team chose to keep five running backs active against the 49ers, including Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, Corey Clement, Jason Huntley, and Adrian Killins.
Huntley and Killins remain intriguing options to put on kick or punt return duty due to their track-star speed. The Eagles will keep only four receivers up for the game: John Hightower, Greg Ward, Deontay Burnett, Travis Fulgham.
“We’re excited about the guys we’ve got and the guys that we’ve been working with this week in practice,” head coach Doug Pederson said Friday. “We’re moving forward. If they can’t, then we move forward with the guys that we have.”
Butler Not Up to Speed Yet
Not surprisingly, Hakeem Butler was left to ride the pine after signing on Tuesday. He only had three days to learn a brand new playbook, something Pederson admitted would be tough to do. He has a future in Philly, though.
Pederson said: “He’s kind of that hybrid wide receiver-tight end body type that teams have used in the past and someone that we can continue to grow and develop and use him in the offense at points in the future.”
Butler told reporters earlier this week that he had been studying the playbook every single night. He wants to play, sooner than later.
“Like I said before, I’m ready to play,” Butler said. “I need my first catch, I need my first touchdown, I know I can play in this league — I just need the opportunity however it provides itself, outside or inside, I’m going to take advantage of it whenever it comes and how many times it comes.”
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