Slot of Horrors: Philadelphia Eagles Counting on Bradley Roby Return After Bye Week

The Philadelphia Eagles' defensive troubles at slot cornerback have been unprecedented.

PHILADELPHIA - Ever since Avonte Maddox went down during the Philadelphia Eagles Week 2 win over the Minnesota Vikings, defensive coordinator Sean Desai has thrown the kitchen sink at the slot cornerback position.

Second-year surprise Mario Goodrich tagged in for Maddox against Justin Jefferson and Co. and predictably struggled, allowing a 147.9 passer rating when targeted while handling the inside reps post-Maddox.

Despite that tough duty, Goodrich wasn’t gifted with a long rope and Desai came into Week 3 at Tampa Bay with the idea of piecemealing things with lengthy outside cornerback James Bradberry and rookie safety Sydney Brown, who was struggling with the transition from hero-type player at Illinois to a Vic Fangio-styled coverage safety at the pro level.

In a vacuum, the logic seemed solid, especially with the Bucs using Mike Evans a little bit more in the slot, and also showcased Desai’s preparation and open-mindedness when it comes to problem-solving.

Back in training camp the first-year Eagles’ defensive coordinator opened eyes by giving Bradberry, a prototypical outside cornerback, some reps here and there inside with the eye of matchups against top receiving tight ends like T.J. Hockenson, Travis Kelce, and Goerge Kittle down the line.

Bradberry was up to the task while playing 24 reps in the slot and Brown seemed more comfortable near the line of scrimmage as the defense dominated in an impressive 25-11 win.

There are always unintended consequences to moving parts, however, and while the Bucs’ Baker Mayfield couldn’t take advantage of it, Desai began to realize second-year cornerback Josh Jobe was going to have a difficult time holding up outside the numbers while Bradberry shifted inside. The injury bug also hit again as Brown left in Tampa with a strained hamstring.

By Week 4 with Washington visiting Lincoln Financial Field, it was all Bradberry inside to the tune of 61 reps and the Commander’s Sam Howell took advantage with a big day helping pile up 31 points as Washington took the Eagles to overtime and had a chance to win at the end of regulation if Ron Rivera lived up to his since stricken “Riverboat” nickname. Bradberry allowed a 95.0 passer rating inside and Jobe was worse outside at 107.6.

It was back to the drawing board for both Desai and GM Howie Roseman.

Avonte Maddox's injury sent the Eagles scrambling :: John McMullen/Eagles Today

With the Los Angeles Rams and a returning Cooper Kupp looming, Roseman brought in veteran Bradley Roby.

With less than a week to prepare, Desai didn’t come in relying on Roby, instead giving Goodrich a second chance and also employing 6-foot-2 undrafted rookie Eli Ricks into the equation.

Kupp put the younger players into a blender in the first half before the Eagles broke the glass with Roby in the second half. The veteran’s football IQ, coupled with a ferocious pass rush, affected Matthew Stafford and the search was over.

Roby, a now 31-year-old 2014 first-round pick of Denver, was getting the job with the only hurdle being a ramp-up period because he skipped training camp and early-season games waiting for a contender to call.

Whether that inactivity contributed or not Roby suffered what was described as a shoulder injury at the New York Jets on Oct. 15, the Eagles’ lone loss during the first nine weeks. A team source told SI.com’s Eagles Today that Roby actually has a strained pec and hasn’t been on the field since, a span of inactivity that should conclude when the Eagles arrive in Kansas City post-bye on Nov. 20.

Yessir !! https://t.co/JbOrOKjIZG

— Bradley Roby (@BradRoby_1) November 6, 2023

The Eagles finished against the Jets with another piecemeal approach with the heaviest dose being Ricks.

By Week 7 against the high-powered Miami Dolphins, another new body entered the fray when the Eagles brought back Josiah Scott, a more natural slot CB, from the Pittsburgh PS. It was Scott edging Ricks in the workload although the latter performed better. Brown, meanwhile, was finally back from his hamstring issue but had to play safety because Reed Blankenship was out with a rib injury.

Don’t feel bad if you’re head is swimming by this point although perhaps that creates some empathy for Desai and secondary coach D.K. McDonald.

The next domino was the acquisition of veteran safety Kevin Byard before the rematch with Howell and Washington in Week 8, something that along with Blankenship’s return, crystalized the plan until the bye.

Brown would play early downs in the slot to take advantage of his physicality in run support and the speedier Ricks would handle known-pass situations.

The results were Howell and Dak Prescott feasting but the Eagles finding ways to win with the thumb in the dam until Roby’s potential return.

The final desperation move was Darius Slay shadowing CeeDee Lamb in the waning moments of the win over the Cowboys.

The real hero here might be nickels coach Ronell Williams who has had to get players ready in short windows or in unfamiliar positions.

The biggest domino, meanwhile, may have fallen all the way back in the preseason when Maddox’s presumed backup Zech McPhearson went down with a torn Achilles.

Had McPhearson tagged in against the Vikings, perhaps he would have failed or gotten hurt in a different fashion down the line but the other side of that coin is serviceable play which is what Philadelphia would have projected.

That butterfly effect created ripples that brought Roby, Scott, and Byard to Philadelphia and created an opportunity for Ricks while showcasing the skills of Desai, McDonald, and Williams as well as the talented defensive line.