Philadelphia Eagles CB James Bradberry Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles cornerback on thin ice against Giants

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 12/23/23

San Francisco’s Deebo Samuel once called Eagles cornerback James Bradberry “trash.” He’s not, but without improved play he could be tossed aside for a younger player.

Bradberry’s Eagles career got off to a great start after he was released by the New York Giants in 2022. He had a pick-six against the Detroit Lions to open the regular season and finished the year with three interceptions and 17 passes defended.

Bradberry was part of an Eagles secondary that helped carry the team to Super Bowl LVII by allowing a league-low 179.8 passing yards per game – a far cry from the 255.4 yards per game the team has allowed this season.

Bradberry is not solely responsible for the unit’s decline, but that hasn’t stopped opposing offenses from targeting the former Pro Bowler. According to Reuben Frank of nbcsportsphiladelphia.com, his opposing passer rating for the season (117.7) is fifth-worst in the league among cornerbacks who have faced 50 or more targets. His 11 passing touchdowns allowed are the most on record since Stathead started keeping cornerback coverage stats in 2018.

James Bradberry in coverage vs Seahawks pic.twitter.com/y0h2UvHNoa
— JAKIB Sports (@JAKIBSports) December 19, 2023

Numbers like that get players benched and if not for injuries to cornerbacks Darius Slay and Avonte Maddox, Bradberry may already be on the sidelines. Slay missed last week’s game after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery and Maddox has been on injured reserve since tearing a pectoral muscle in Week 2.

Neither Slay nor Maddox will play against the Giants on Sunday, but the team opened the 21-day practice window for Maddox this week. His return could spell the end of Bradberry’s time as a starter, if a pair of talented rookies don’t beat him to it.

Kelee Ringo (the team’s fourth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft) and Eli Ricks (an undrafted free agent from Alabama) have seen more action and played well in recent weeks. The team may be in the middle of a three-game losing streak, but the two showed promise against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night.

Ringo led the Eagles secondary with a 79.7 coverage grade,15th-best among NFL cornerbacks according to Pro Football Focus. Ricks was ranked 68th. Bradberry didn’t make the top-86. Neither Ringo nor Ricks gave up a single reception on a combined five targets against Seattle.

This week, Bradberry will face his old Giants team, a team down to their third-string quarterback with the league’s worst passing offense. Maybe the Giants are just what the 30-year-old cornerback needs. Otherwise, the Eagles may need to make other plans.

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