Marcus

Epps

The Eagles signed former Buccaneers safety and special teams player J.T. Gray as well. Both players are on one-year deals. Epps logged 250 defensive snaps and 121 special teams snaps while totaling 18 solo tackles and two TFLs last year. Gray played on 83 special teams snaps playing for the Broncos and Buccaneers last year. Epps can be expected to contribute defensively, but Gray’s ticket to the active roster is likely via special teams.

Carter, Nakobe Dean (hamstring), Marcus Epps (concussion), and Jaelan Phillips (ankle) all were taken off the final injury report and will play against the 49ers. EDGE Azeez Ojulari (hamstring/IR) is questionable, but practiced in full today and looks likely to join them. The Eagles will summon all the defensive firepower they have against the 49ers.

Eagles LB Nakobe Dean (hamstring), S Marcus Epps (concussion), OLB Azeez Ojulari (hamstring) and OLB Jaelan Phillips (ankle) are all practicing fully. Carter’s continued participation is a good sign. Hopefully, he upgrades to full participation on Friday. The Eagles face the 49ers on Sunday.

Eagles LB Nakobe Dean (hamstring) and S Marcus Epps (concussion) were limited as well. Carter and Dean are seemingly on track to play. Epps is best viewed as questionable at this time. The Eagles face the 49ers’ talented, yet somewhat banged-up offense on Sunday.

Smith reportedly re-injured the triceps muscle that he tore during Super Bowl LIX. He underwent surgery to repair the torn tissue this offseason. The Eagles believe Smith will not require surgery and hope to have him back “around” their Week 9 bye. Players placed on injured reserve are eligible to return after missing four games. The Eagles also placed CB Jakorian Bennett and WR Darius Cooper on injured reserve with undisclosed injuries. Both players are likewise expected to avoid surgery and are expected to return around Week 9. The Eagles signed S Marcus Epps, TE Cameron Latu, and CB Parry Nickerson to the active roster, and LB Lance Dixon, DB Eli Ricks, and WR Quez Watkins to the practice squad.

Epps primarily lines up as a free safety but is perhaps a better run defender than a coverage defender at this point in his career. The 29-year-old safety is coming off of a torn ACL but is “expected to be cleared well before training camp,” per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Epps had provided a 32.2 PFF tackling grade and a 44.0 PFF coverage grade in three games for the Raiders in the back end. This is the final year of a two-year deal signed with the Raiders in 2023 and it seems likely that he will be rehabbing the injury as he hits free agency. The fifth-year safety will turn 29 in January.

Epps suffered a neck injury last week against the Dolphins and wasn’t able to finish the game, so him suffering a stinger here is a bit concerning. If the Raiders were to lose their starting safety, that would be a big boost for the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes as they try and pass their way out of an early 14-0 hole.

Epps is the Raiders’ starting safety and exited Week 11 with a neck injury. He recovered a fumble earlier in the game but won’t return as the Raiders try to slow down the speedy Dolphins offense.

A part-time player whose role had gradually grown, 27-year-old Epps became an every-down player for the Eagles in 2022. He was not a difference-maker, though he also wasn’t a liability for Philly’s elite defense. He will be more exposed in the Raiders’ mediocre unit, but there is no reason he can’t at least be a solid contributor. Epps is far better against the run than he is in coverage.