The devastating news of Philadelphia Eagles rookie second-round pick Andrew Mukuba's injury has put a bit of a damper on the Birds' season after their 24-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 12.
Mukuba got hurt near the end of the game after making a tackle on Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens. After being seen in a walking boot and crutches, it was determined that Mukuba suffered a fractured ankle that requires surgery.
For the time being, Sydney Brown will serve as a replacement for Mukuba. There might be one other option that could actually help the Eagles right now, and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio knows this guy very well.
Let's revisit the Eagles signing Justin Simmons please
During the summer, there was a ton of concern from the Eagles fan base about whether Brown or Mukuba would be ready to step up and start at safety. Many in the media and the fans themselves thought the Eagles should sign safety Justin Simmons.
Over his nine-season career, Simmons has been a difference maker on the Denver Broncos and the Atlanta Falcons' defenses. He has made two Pro Bowls and has been selected five times as a second-team All-Pro.
Simmons has spent the entire season as a free agent, without signing with anyone. That could be a concern since he might not have been in football shape, but he's played at a high level for a long time, so it can work.
It also helps that Fangio and Simmons know each other very well. Fangio brought out the breakout performances from Simmons, who made one Pro Bowl and was selected as a second-team All-Pro twice in Fangio's three seasons as head coach for the Broncos.
Now, it should be stated that the Eagles ultimately made the right call, going with Mukuba as the starter, as he has developed nicely. There's still some consistency needed from the rookie, but Mukuba's future is bright.
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Who is the better option between Simmons and Brown? For Eagles fans with major concerns about Brown, the easy choice is to call Simmons and see if he can get into football shape after Thanksgiving and be ready to start.