Once a steady starter for the Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl LVII secondary unit, veteran safety Marcus Epps would depart via free agency for Las Vegas following that historic Super Bowl showdown with Kansas City that went down to the wire.
And while the veteran safety's eventual exit included a two-year stint out West before a training camp cut in New England this past summer, he's finally back in Philly's starting lineup - back to full health, and back to laying the lumber.
With Week 14 spelling the return of Epps as a starter, that same passion and propensity for big hits that he brandished back in 2022 were on display. Three solo tackles and solid coverage - no chunk plays surrendered being the key - produced a solid individual effort despite Philadelphia's 22-19 defeat.
Marcus Epps more than earned his starting spot the rest of season
After a four-week stint on the IR (shoulder injury), Epps found himself paired up once again at safety with an old familiar friend in Reed Blankenship. When all was said and done, Monday's start marked a seamless return to the starting fold for Epps.
“We have that repertoire of playing together in the past," said Epps. "That definitely makes it a lot easier and makes it a smoother transition for me."
There would be no highlight-worthy plays on the evening for Epps, but when it comes to safeties - especially this season - that can be viewed as a positive.
Replacing the injured rookie Andrew Mukuba, a superior athlete but one who's been diced up in coverage several times during his rookie campaign, Epps proved to be reliable - no splash plays needed, simply a steady force in the back unit. There were no glaring mistakes, which had also hindered teammate Sydney Brown in his time spent filling in for Mukuba.
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In a Week 14 battle featuring plenty of explosive plays within the Philadelphia front seven, Epps provided quiet consistency in coverage. No major miscues at safety - with a few of his trademark hits in run support added in for good measure.