Eagles Expected to ‘Squeeze’ Young DB Out of Starting Role
It became frighteningly clear after the Philadelphia Eagles fell to the New York Giants Week 6 that Philly can’t keep relying on the combination of Kelee Ringo and Adoree’ Jackson as their outside corners.
Jackson was benched after he struggled in coverage early in the season. In his place, the team turned to Ringo, hoping the 2023 fourth-round pick’s athleticism and upside could help stabilize the position. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened — and with Quinyon Mitchell sidelined by a hamstring injury during the 34–17 loss to New York, things only got worse.
When assessing the NFL landscape after Sunday’s slate of games, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell thinks Ringo’s days as a starter are numbered, and the GM Howie Roseman will be looking to trade for his replacement.
“With the deadline just weeks away and that outside cornerback role across from Mitchell and (Cooper) DeJean continuing to be a liability, would anyone be surprised if the Eagles made a move for a veteran cornerback who could step into the lineup at midseason?” Barnwell wrote on October 13. “I’d expect Roseman to be hitting the phones in search of CB help between now and Nov. 4, which would squeeze Ringo out of a starting role.”
Ringo Hasn’t Turned Into a Consistent CB Since Getting Drafted
GettyPhiladelphia Eagles cornerback Kelee Ringo may be heading to the bench soon.
Drafted in the fourth round in 2023, Ringo played in 17 games as a rookie, starting four. He came on late that year, sealing a memorable Christmas win with his first career interception. He was part of the team’s Super Bowl 59 run the following season, although he spent the bulk of his time playing special teams. Now in Year 3, he has yet to show he can be a capable starter — or even a reliable depth piece at CB — and that’s becoming a legit issue.
Through six games and two starts in 2025, Ringo has 15 solo tackles, one pass breakup, a fumble recovery and zero interceptions. His most recent performance against the Giants was particularly concerning. He had two costly penalties, allowing three catches for 69 yards.
Making matters worse is how thin the Eagles have become at cornerback overall. Injuries have gutted the position. Jakorian Bennett is on injured reserve, Jackson’s benching has left him in a rotational role and Mitchell is now dealing with a hamstring issue. Philadelphia recently signed Tariq Castro-Fields to the practice squad, a move that underscores how few reliable options they have left.
That’s why a trade, as Barnwell suggested, could be the only way Roseman can address the situation, at least in a meaningful way.
More on Why Kelee Ringo Will Likely Be Headed to the Philadelphia Eagles Bench
Ringo is still young — he turned 23 in June — so we’re by no means saying Philly should give up on him entirely. But after dropping two straight, the defending champs can’t afford to be cavalier about the cornerback position.
Roseman will likely be on the lookout for a plug-and-play starter who will bump Ringo down the depth chart and bring stability to the secondary. We’ve pitched Browns Pro Bowler Denzel Ward recently, but Philly has other trade options, including Riq Woolen, Rasul Douglas and Alontae Taylor.
Sitting at 4–2, Philadelphia is still undoubtedly in the NFC title race, but Roseman’s going to have to work some more of his magic to stay in the thick of it.
NFL Makes Final Decision on Punishing Lions Player After Chiefs Game
The Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs playing in a high-profile game during Sunday Night Football on October 12, and even though the Lions were favored to win by a hair, they didn’t quite pull it off, and the team closed out the game with a 30-17 loss to the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. It was certainly heartbreaking to see the Lions, who came into this game having won four games in a row, fall hard to the Chiefs, but that’s just the NFL.
While the game was tough, what happened after the game was even more disturbing. Right as the game ended, Lions player Brian Branch snubbed Mahomes and appeared to slap Chiefs player Juju Smith-Schuster across the face. Mahomes wasn’t happy about it, and after the game, he told the press, “We play the game in between the whistles. They can do all the extracurricular stuff they want to do, but we play the game in between the whistles. And we thought we played a great game today, and we’ll keep this momentum moving forward.” So, he definitely threw a little dig at the Lions for their aggressive playing style.
Now, the NFL has handed its final punishment to Branch for his actions during that game. They didn’t waste any time, either, because they shared the news on Monday, October 13, less than 24 hours after the incident.
Detroit Lions Player Punished by the NFL
So, what is Branch’s punishment for his actions after the game? According to both Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network and Adam Schefter of ESPN, Branch will be suspended for one game.
Safety “Brian Branch, who popped Chiefs (wide receiver) JuJu Smith-Schuster in the face after the loss to KC, was suspended one game by the NFL,” Rapoport stated on X, adding that Detroit faces the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night football.
Schefter added, “Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch has been suspended without pay for one game for unsportsmanlike conduct following Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.”
So, Schefter added the tidbit that Branch will also miss a paycheck for that game. He’s not hurting for bag, but it’s still a true punishment. The Lions are already high on injuries, so having Branch out will hurt. Branch is appealing this decision, too.
Detroit Lions Touchdown Didn’t Count
Early in the game, on fourth-and-goal, Lions quarterback Jared Goff put the Lions into a Wildcat formation, and running back David Montgomery took the snap and quickly threw the ball to Goff. From there, Goff caught the ball on his second try and ran into the end zone for what looked like a touchdown and really cool play.
But, the play was nullified with an illegal motion penalty. NBC’s rules analyst Terry McAulay explained the whole thing during the game broadcast, noting, “he takes a position behind the center. He’s got to step back and pause for a second and establish as a back before he goes in motion. He didn’t. He stayed in motion.”
McAulay’s analysis appears in Rule 7, Section 4, Article 2, Item 3 of the NFL’s official rulebook. “It is legal for a T-Formation Quarterback to go in motion, whether he has placed his hands under center, on his knees, or on the body of the center,” the rulebook states, adding that, “if the player fails to come to a complete stop for at least one full second prior to the ball being snapped, it is illegal motion.”
So, that the reason why Goff’s early touchdown didn’t count. He’ll know better next time.
