Macho

Harris

The Birds’ starting free safety last year and at initial minicamps two weeks ago, Harris is training to become a versatile reserve. Marlin Jackson got the first-team reps at free safety Wednesday, with Nate Allen second string.

By acquiring Ellis Hobbs and now Harris -- a legitimate NFL prospect -- the Eagles appear to be preparing for either a Sheldon Brown holdout or trade. Harris, who played the boundary corner under Frank Beamer, is excellent in run support and can make plays on the ball. The Eagles use a lot of zone in the back end, so his lack of ideal speed won’t be as obvious.

The Virginia Tech product adds physicality to a relatively lightweight secondary, but is buried on the depth chart. Asante Samuel, Sheldon Brown, Ellis Hobbs, and Joselio Hanson are locked in ahead of Harris, and second-year CB Jack Ikegwuono has more skill. Barring a Brown trade, Harris isn’t going to play soon.

Harris has adequate size (6'0/192) for the position, but Philly is deep there with Sean Jones pushing Quintin Demps. Harris was a 40-game starter at corner in college. He’ll need a strong training camp to lock up a roster spot.

Harris, a fifth-round pick, is clearly ahead of Sean Jones and may be passing Demps, whose preseason left a lot to be desired. Demps has more speed, but Harris is the better tackler. It may be a rotation to open the year.

Harris won the job by outplaying both Quintin Demps and Sean Jones. Macho played corner at Virginia Tech but showed he’s an excellent tackler at training camp. Demps will still see snaps in the nickel.

Jones was a game-day inactive early in the season, but he’s slowly earning the coaching staff’s trust. “We need a physical presence in there, and that’s what Sean brings to the table,” said coordinator Sean McDermott.

Harris is battling an injury, but Jones would have started Sunday’s game even if Harris was healthy. Jones finished the game with six tackles (five solo) to finish second on the team. He’s an IDP to consider in deep leagues.

Harris (ankle) was already rotating some with Sean Jones, so it’s not a huge blow to the Birds. LeSean McCoy will get the vast majority of the work in place of Westbrook. The Eagles’ offensive line is as healthy has it’s been all year, excluding Shawn Andrews (back), who is out for the year.