6 Eagles whose roles must be expanded for the final 13 weeks of the season

We've watched four weeks of Philadelphia Eagles football, and we're just as frustrated now as we were when we watched last season's collapse. Sorry for bringing that up. We know that precipitates bad memories for some of you. We also know that despite a tough start, there are still reasons for optimism.

Many players on the current roster are familiar, but the 2023-24 Eagles and the current iteration are two different teams. One's success or lack thereof isn't tied to the other's, nor are the failures each team witnesses or overcomes.

That doesn't mean we won't sometimes panic when bad news looks familiar. Some of the cracks seen in the 2024-25 Eagles' armor are identical to what sunk the ship in December and January.

We're reminded of two pieces of advice we have heard since adolescence. One is those who don't learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.

The second goes something like this. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Now, let's offer a football parallel. The Birds aren't getting the job done.

Maybe it's time for a spark? The Eagles need to shift gears on offense and defense, and a few tweaks might be just what the doctor ordered.

Kelee Ringo, cornerback

We have yet to see someone beat Kelee Ringo in a footrace. If he's beaten, it's going to be because a pass was completed in front of him.

This is beginning to feel like Darius Slay's last ride in the City of Brotherly Love. He's signed through 2025, but the Eagles have a 'potential out' built into his contract after this season.

Philly's seemingly never going to consider this, but this may provide a good opportunity to shop Darius Slay and see if a pass rusher can be acquired. Ringo, a 2023 draftee, is signed through 2026. He played well in relief last season. It may be time to get him on the field and see what he has. That seems better than waiting.

Jalyx Hunt, outside linebacker

We've seen Nolan Smith relegated to full-time pass rusher (and that isn't his game). We have seen Bryce Huff drop into coverage (and, that isn't his game either).

Jalyx Hunt can do both. His preseason tape is the only thing we can judge him on, but we were relatively impressed with what we saw.

It may be time to throw him into the fire and see what he has. What's the worst that can happen? Are you going to tell us Philly will miss more tackles? Seriously, what's the worst that can happen by trying this?

Cooper DeJean, cornerback

Avonte Maddox may be shot. He was a good player. He is Philly's most experienced slot corner, but the injuries appear to have caught up with him.

Cooper DeJean was the 40th player taken during the most recent NFL Draft. Philly grabbed him out of Iowa in Round 2.

Rather than trying to get him killed by filling in as a punt returner, perhaps we can sub him where he was selected to play, in the slot cornerback position of Vic Fangio's defense. Again, what's the worst that can happen? Philly has other players who can fill in as a punt returner (more on that in a second).

Jahan Dotson, wide receiver

The Eagles will hopefully get DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown back in Week 6 vs. the Cleveland Browns. The onus of carrying the passing game can't rely solely on those guys though.

Dallas Goedert was rediscovered these past two weeks... Hallelujah! His Week 3 performance showcased how dominant he can be.

Head coach Nick Sirianni has been firm in his stance that the passing game will run through A.J., DeVonta, and Dallas, as it should, It would still be nice if someone else could step up as a fourth option. This passing attack looked anemic without the dynamic duo at wide receiver.

Milton Williams, defensive lineman

One of the big selling points of adding Milton Williams to the lineup was the theory that he could play defensive tackle AND end. That's never been something the Eagles have tried to do with consistency.

We all know Milton can ball. We feel better about him than we did about Derek Barnett, and Philly kept the latter around forever. We've discussed concerns about overworking Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis almost as often as we have asked questions about work ethic.

If any of that continues, we wouldn't mind seeing more of Number 93.

Will Shipley, running back

Remember a few moments ago when we said we'd get back to that conversation about punt returners? Welcome to Will Shipley's portion of the conversation.

Cooper DeJean averaged 13.1 yards per return during his final two seasons with the Hawkeyes. That includes the 11.1 yards-per-return average he racked up in 2023 (241 return yards on 21 attempts).

Ship was more of a kick returner at Clemson. He collected 904 yards on 34 career attempts at the NCAA level. He has averaged 25.3 yards as a professional (76 yards on three attempts).

Returning punts is a slightly different game. Kickoffs are often about making a couple of guys miss and finding a seam. Punt returners need the gift of weaving through traffic.

But, Shipley can do both, right?

Then, there's the other angle, his natural position. He's a tailback, and he might be a nice compliment to Saquon Barkley.

The former Penn State star has been a wonderful addition to Philly's offense, but at the rate they're going, the Birds will run him in the ground by the season's midpoint.

Shipley can alleviate the wear and tear by shouldering some workload. After all, the running back position is football's most punishing.

But, it's also where the most immediate contributions can be made on offense sometimes. A few more snaps might not be a bad idea. Again, what's the worst that can happen?