He’s Crafty

PHILADELPHIA – Growing up a Minnesota Vikings fan, Eagles nickelback Cooper DeJean closely followed the career of wide receiver Adam Thielen, who provided a steady complement to Stefon Diggs – and later Justin Jefferson – over his nine seasons in Minnesota.

The rookie defensive back went as far as to say he was a “huge fan.”

Last Sunday, in a full circle moment, DeJean was tasked with defending Thielen, now a Panthers receiver. And for the first time in his eight-game sample size as a starter, DeJean experienced his “Welcome to the NFL” moment as Thielen relied on his veteran savviness and route-running prowess to torch the Eagles defense for 102 yards on nine catches (11 targets).

“He’s a good player,” DeJean said after the game. “He’s got a lot of juice. He’s shifty, crafty. He’s been doing it for a long time, so he knows how to get off press, get open. So, it was a good challenge for me.”

GETTY IMAGES: Eagles NB Cooper DeJean had his hands full against Panthers WR Adam Thielen.

Thielen didn’t win with speed or vertical explosion. He instead found soft spots in zones, acting as a security blanket for second-year quarterback Bryce Young while showcasing shrewd maneuvering to manipulate and set up his next move.

“Every game is a learning experience,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said on Tuesday. “Every play you see is a learning experience, and he’ll be better for it.”

Thielen, who accounted for all but 89 of Young’s passing yards, was a good test for DeJean, who had largely provided plaster coverage and eliminated mid-range options since replacing Avonte Maddox in the starting lineup in Week 5.

But not just for DeJean, as Theilen won with technicality and nuance for much of the game against a variety of Eagles defensive backs, generally having his way regardless of coverage assignment.

Fangio, however, noted one play against DeJean that warranted emphasis on detail and approach, while also acknowledging that DeJean is still short on experience.

“Well, he gave up the one – the wheel route – which we had to emphasize,” Fangio said. “So that was a good learning experience for him. I thought overall, he did OK. All the balls he caught weren’t on  Cooper. It’s the NFL, and you need learning experiences. Luckily, he got a few in a W.”

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.