Jaire Alexander’s abrupt retirement, announced just over a week after his arrival in Philadelphia, came as a bit of a surprise.
The Eagles had hoped Alexander would be a solid midseason acquisition, but that plan pretty much ended before it began. Alexander never played a snap, and he was subsequently placed on the team’s reserved/retired list.
The Eagles will be getting some reinforcements at corner soon, though, as they’ve activated Jakorian Bennett from injured reserve. Bennett has been sidelined since September with a pectoral injury, and his return should give Philadelphia more options in the secondary.
Acquired from Las Vegas in an August trade, Bennett played only three games before his injury. It’ll be interesting to see what type of role he has now that he’s returning to action.
GettyJakorian Bennett has been activated from IR by the Philadelphia Eagles. It comes at a good time, shortly after Jaire Alexander’s surprise retirement.
With Quinyon Mitchell established as the team’s top outside corner, the opposite side has been more fluid. Adoree’ Jackson has started four games on the outside, and Kelee Ringo has rotated in at times, as well. Their usage has varied week to week, often depending on how defensive coordinator Vic Fangio decides to use them.
Cooper DeJean has added an unquestioned layer of versatility to the group. When the Eagles begin in base, he has frequently slid outside.
Now, Bennett reenters the competition as the fourth outside option. The depth chart rounds out with Mac McWilliams, who has carved out a nice niche on special teams, and veteran Michael Carter II, who can also play nickel.
“I thought Adoree’ [Jackson] played really well. I think that we were able to watch practice this week — thought Michael Carter did an excellent job this week, starting to get confidence and build confidence in him,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said on November 12 (h/t Bleeding Green Nation).
“Was really excited about Jakorian before he got injured, really happy to have him back, and then Kelee [Ringo has] given us really good reps. And obviously, you have Q [Quinyon Mitchell] and Coop [Cooper DeJean] back there as well. So, feel really good about the depth at that [position].”
Before his injury, Bennett played only 24 defensive snaps for Philly. If he can play with a little more consistency, his role could grow over the second half of the season.
The Eagles are fresh from a dominant defensive performance in their 10-7 Monday Night win over the Green Bay Packers.
Through nine games, the Eagles are 7–2, and are allowing 21.3 points per game on defense. Opponents have averaged fewer than 190 passing yards per game against the unit since late October, and their pass rush with new addition Jaelan Phillips has gotten some new life.
Next up, they’ll face another strong team from the NFC North in the 6-3 Detroit Lions, who are currently ranked second in the NFL in points scored (31.4) and sixth in total offense (372.4 yards per game). It’ll be another huge test for Fangio’s defense, and if they can eke out another win, it’ll put Philly in the drivers seat in the NFC.
Las Vegas, NV — As the Las Vegas Raiders prepare for their high-stakes Week 11 clash against the Dallas Cowboys, an unexpected storm erupted on the practice field, shaking up the team just days before the game. In a shocking display of frustration and rivalry, quarterback Geno Smith and defensive star Maxx Crosby reportedly clashed during a heated drill, with tensions running so high that teammates had to step in and break them apart.
“It got out of hand,” Smith admitted after the altercation. “Maxx and I were both fired up, and things got intense. We’ve got a lot of passion for this game, but sometimes that can spill over. It’s all good now. We’re focused on Dallas.”
The confrontation reportedly began when Smith, frustrated by Crosby’s pressure during a practice passing drill, voiced his displeasure. According to witnesses, the two exchanged heated words before getting face-to-face, their simmering frustrations over the team’s performance this season boiling over.
Teammates Forced to Intervene
“It was a tense moment,” a source revealed. “Geno and Maxx are both fierce competitors, and when you’re pushing yourself that hard, sometimes tempers flare. It was just a practice, but it looked like it could escalate.”
Several teammates, including linebacker Denzel Perryman and cornerback Nate Hobbs, rushed to separate the two, with Perryman saying, “We’re all pushing for greatness, and things can get heated, but we know how to handle it. Geno and Maxx are both professionals, and they’ll be fine.”
Ready for the Cowboys?
Despite the dramatic on-field confrontation, both Smith and Crosby are expected to be ready for their pivotal game against the Cowboys on Monday Night Football. Smith downplayed the significance of the incident, saying,
While the incident might have shaken up the team momentarily, it’s unclear whether this brief tension will affect the Raiders’ preparations. Can this fiery clash ignite a stronger sense of determination for the game, or will it prove to be a distraction?