Andrew

Mukuba

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Mukuba’s injury will most likely require surgery. The timeline for his return is unclear at this point, but Mukuba has made an immediate impact for the Eagles this season. The rookie second-rounder has started 10 of the 11 games he’s appeared in while notching two interceptions, three pass breakups, and 46 tackles. Mukuba will land on injured reserve, while backup Sydney Brown is expected to takeover for him as the starter opposite Reed Blankenship.

The Eagles drafted Mukuba in the second round this year. He was competing with Sydney Brown for one of the starting safety roles when he suffered a shoulder injury in late July. He later picked up a groin injury upon returning. Mukuba is likely slated for a backup role early in the year, but his draft capital should get him more opportunities to take over as a starter as the year progresses.

Mukuba suffered a shoulder injury on Saturday without pads while defending Danny Gray, both players collided while going for a ball. The second-round pick had been splitting first-team reps at safety with Sydney Brown, who now figures to have a clearer shot at the starting role when the season opens.

A former Freshman All-American at Clemson, Mukuba revitalized his draft stock with a strong final campaign at Texas, playing his best ball as a full-time free safety in Pete Kwiatkowski’s 4-2-5 scheme. Mukuba brings urgent play speed and a confident trigger, flying through alleys with conviction and a knack for locating the football. He finished 2024 with 69 tackles, 5 INTs, and 7 PBUs, flashing the instincts and ball skills that once made him a top-tier recruit. Despite a below-average size profile (5’11¼”, 186) and poor agility testing (4.45 shuttle, 7.15 three-cone), Mukuba posted an elite 90.0 PFF coverage grade in 2024 and showed improved discipline in coverage, logging zero penalties in his final 26 games. He excels at reading route concepts, playing the throw, and adjusting mid-play, with a coverage-first mindset that translates well to modern split-safety looks. That said, Mukuba’s tape shows uneven run support—he plays fast but can over-pursue, miss tackles, or bounce off contact due to his lean frame. He lacks ideal length (30” arms) and will struggle to body up bigger targets.

On Wednesday, Mukuba (6'0/185) became the second-straight Clemson freshman to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, after defensive tackle Bryan Bresee won it last season. Mukuba spent a brief time on the bench for Clemson after some mid-season struggles, but rebounded to close out the year in solid fashion. Per Pro Football Focus, Mukuba totaled 44 tackles on the season, and six pass breakups. He totaled two quarterback pressures and one sack, while allowing only one touchdown pass on 34 targets.