Playing Through Pain

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles (5-2) will host the New York Giants on Sunday afternoon in a rematch ahead of a much-needed Week 9 bye week. A little over two weeks ago, it was the Giants who elevated their play to meet the level of competition, thumping the Eagles 34-17 and serving the NFC East heavyweights a dose of reality.

The wake-up call registered as the team rebounded in an impressively hard-fought win Sunday in Minnesota, highlighting the offense’s aerial attack and red zone efficiency on defense.

This week, the team will look to even the score against their divisional foe.

With that, here are some leftover storylines for my end-of-week notebook, compiled throughout the week.

GETTY IMAGES: Philadelphia Eagles LG Landon Dickerson has only missed one game despite navigating through injuries all season.

Playing through pain

To better comprehend the grueling nature of football, or at least put the attrition into context, just comb through Landon Dickerson’s expansive injury history that’s included 13 surgeries, the most recent being a minor procedure in August for a meniscus injury in his right knee.

For Dickerson, who on Wednesday admitted to being around 70-75% healthy at this stage, the injuries this season mounted earlier than normal. The three-time Pro Bowl guard suffered the meniscus injury during the team’s lone open practice of the season. He then navigated a back injury leading into the season opener against Dallas. Skepticism surrounded his availability, but as it’s been learned over time, Dickerson should never be counted out. He started the game, playing 52 of the team’s 63 offensive snaps before the injury necessitated an early exit. Versatile veteran Brett Toth accounted for the remaining 11 snaps.

The latest addition to Dickerson’s list of injuries has been a nagging ankle injury that kept him out of the team’s Week 6 Thursday night clash with the Giants at MetLife Stadium, though it’s worth noting that it was likely only the shortened week that precluded the tough-as-nails left guard from suiting up.

From Dickerson’s vantage point, injuries come with the territory. There’s no workaround or fix-all that can be implemented to alleviate the unfortunate string of misfortune that accompanies his line of work. Inconvenient and debilitating as the attrition has been, Dickerson learned to deal with it.

“You don’t manage it better,” he said. “It’s football.”

When assessing the inconsistencies plaguing the Eagles’ offense through the first seven games, a staggering running game is top of mind. While much was made in the offseason about how running back Saquon Barkley would return following a season of handling the ball 482 times, what wasn’t discussed enough was how the run-centric offense would affect those blocking for him coming into the 2025 season – on a shortened offseason, no less. For perspective, Dickerson and center Cam Jurgens had offseason surgeries. Jurgens, by the way, is currently dealing with a knee injury that will sideline him for at least this weekend. Even All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson navigated an injury earlier in the season.

If only for a moment, it appeared that Dickerson, in Week 5 against the Broncos, was beginning to return to form, driving linemen off the ball and channeling the overall dominance that accompanies his reputation.

Then the ankle injury popped up.

“I had definitely started feeling better in that game,” he admitted. “Yeah, then you end up having that, and you go back and do it all over again.”

Foundationally, on offense, the Eagles build around the trenches. At full strength, the group dominates the point of attack and imposes their will on defenders. They set the tone, dictating what they do on that side of the ball. Sure, there are multiple elements that have hindered the offense from returning to form, specifically in the run game. But what shouldn’t be discounted is Dickerson’s willingness to gut it out and always be available for his teammates and organization, even if it’s felt like it’s one thing after another.

“Yeah, it’s shitty,” he said. “You start off the year having surgery, and you don’t get back to 100%. You try and go play, you’re getting messed up again. And you kind of get into a cycle of that. But yeah, it’s just football.” 

Rookie safety tackling challenge

Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has never been one to pull any punches. The 67-year-old is a straight-shooter by nature, always curt and matter-of-fact and never leaving anything open to interpretation.

One example of that came on Tuesday, when Fangio was asked what he’s made of the seven-game sample of rookie safety Drew Mukuba.

“It’s uneven,” he said. “The ability’s there, he’s just got to be more consistent.”

Mukuba, who leads the Eagles with two interceptions, was selected in the second-round to pair with veteran Reed Blankenship, arming the team with a new-look playmaking tandem in centerfield for Fangio to work with. Much of the appeal surrounding Mukuba, 22, centered around his ball skills, football intellect and versatility, but even at 5-foot-11, 186 pounds, Mukuba had demonstrated an ability to generate splash plays as a tackler.

As Fangio has said, there’ve been some coverage busts, inevitable pitfalls for a first-year player facing the likes of Dak Prescott, Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford and Baker Mayfield to start the season. But one blemish on Mukuba’s game that has been evident is inconsistencies in tackling.

The most recent instances that immediately spring to mind would be in Week 6, against the Giants, when Mukuba failed to corral wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson en route to his 35-yard touchdown. Last Sunday, on a second-and-11, Mukuba was also unable to wrangle Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson along the sideline, who scooted past him for a 40-yard catch-and-run.

But there was another moment later in the Vikings game in which Mukuba demonstrated how tackling could become a strength, charging downhill and blasting running back Zavier Scott at the one-yard line following a four-yard run.

“I feel that’s one area that I’m lacking on,” Mukuba admitted. “And I’m trying to find some consistency and build some consistency within that area. But that’s something I’ve always done good. And I feel like it’s gonna take a matter of just work, and I feel like it’s gonna pay off eventually. So, I’m gonna just keep working on what I’m lacking, which is open-field tackles to be specific, right now. And try to stress myself during the week in practice, putting myself in those situations as much as I can, and then try to capitalize once it’s time to play.”

Mukuba expanded on how he can hone in on that aspect of his game throughout the week. He cited putting himself in those stressful situations as frequently as possible and trying to make “everything look how it’s supposed to look and make the tackle.” He also mentioned staying after practice with wide receivers and running backs.

The reality is that it is a long season, and growing pains for rookies are inevitable, especially in a pass-happy league. Amid the occasional blips have also been tangible signs of progression, in the form of Mukuba showcasing his range and knack for being around the ball. His football IQ has also revealed itself on numerous occasions.

But even Mukuba’s own assessment of his first seven games was conveyed an uneven, aligning with Fangio’s evaluation.

“I wouldn’t say I’m happy with my performance and I wouldn’t say I’m mad with my performance,” he said. “I feel like my biggest thing right now is just building consistency with what I do and just growing. That’s gonna take time, but I’m willing to go the long way with this thing and see how far it takes me. But my main focus right now is just growing each week and getting better each week. With how the season’s going, anything can happen in a week. So, I wouldn’t say I’m happy or mad with my performance; I’m just all about growing in the system and this scheme.”

Enhanced ‘ball knowledge’ aiding rookie defensive tackle

The intrigue surrounding fourth-round defensive tackle Ty Robinson is apparent, though it’s taken some time for the 24-year-old to prominently factor into the team’s rotational plans. For reference, Robinson has logged just 28 defensive snaps in five games, 19 of which were accrued in a Jalen Carter-less Week 6 loss to the Giants on Thursday Night Football. In consecutive games against the Buccaneers and Broncos, Robinson combined for three defensive snaps. The available data probably wouldn’t have been fathomable if suggested prior to training camp, but the implementation has been gradual.

Even off-the-field, consistency has eluded Robinson, as the Nebraska product has changed lockers less than two weeks into the season. He was first issued Brandon Graham’s old locker, which was then assigned to veteran Za’Darius Smith leading into the second game of the season. Now, of course, the space belongs to its rightful tenant in Graham.

What has been consistent for Robinson, however, is his routine. He typically arrives at the team’s NovaCare Complex around 7:45-8:00 every morning before grabbing breakfast. The rest of his days are jam-packed, involving a combination of meetings, workouts, practice and recovery. Robinson even established a pre-practice regimen, venturing into the steam room and then the cold tub — followed by a shower — before walkthrough and practice. The end of his days revolves around recovery and film study.

While the involvement on game days and production might suggest otherwise, the routine — and the benefit of time — have given Robinson a tangible on-field boost as he navigates uncharted waters. The game has slowed down, and his ability and understanding of his role are catching up.

“My identification, being able to watch NFL offenses like I have, it’s definitely slowed down a ton,” Robinson said. “Now it’s just more gaining the confidence in myself to trust what I see. At the same time, it’s definitely … when you go out there and it’s, like, the middle of the third quarter — and that’s the first play you go out there — obviously, you’re watching the game from the sideline, but when you go out there, you’re trying to figure out, all right, what are these guys liking to do out here? What does the flow really out on the field actually feel like? I’ll ask the older guys that are out there, ‘How’s it feeling? How’s it looking? What are you noticing these guys doing? so when it is my time to go out there, I’m able just to kind of plug in and not really have to try to figure that out as the play goes on.”

Robinson may have only accounted for six snaps in the Eagles’ 28-22 win in Minnesota, but he contributed more than any box score or stat line may indicate. In what was Robinson recounts as merely a standard conversation between Robinson and fellow defensive tackle Moro Ojomo, pertaining to how to attack the interior and what moves to work, it happened to coincide at a critical moment.

Down five with just under 11 minutes to go, the Vikings faced a third-and-five from the Eagles’ 10. Quarterback Carson Wentz fielded the shotgun snap, but was quickly met with pressure up the middle. He never got the pass off, as Ojomo dropped him for a seven-yard loss.

“Really, that was just for that specific call, just ’cause kind of how the way the center was playing it,” he explained. “We didn’t know if we were gonna have guard help. But I’d just noticed, especially with J.C. (Jalen Carter) jabbing with his QB hit, I was like, ‘You know, you can kind of do the same thing, but add a little extra flavor.'”

Robinson continued.

“Then when he went out there and hit it, I was pumped, ’cause I was like, ‘See, I told you! I told you!”

While players are afforded the benefit of viewing still shots on the iPad coming off the field, the plays don’t exactly tell the whole story without video. But Robinson usually has a unique perspective. He’s able to diagnose plays in real-time and on the Jumbotron after the fact, as his teammates are on the field getting the next call.

Ensconced in a deep interior group that includes Carter, Ojomo, Jordan Davis and Byron Young, there are not many available snaps for Robinson to absorb. His scarce usage shouldn’t be viewed as an indictment of his play throughout the week, but rather a byproduct of a rich position group. Over the course of an NFL season, a lot can change as players develop, grow into roles and take on increased workloads due to injury. Whenever the time comes for Robinson to take on more, he’s better equipped now, with the benefit of time, to answer the bell.

“The ball knowledge has gotten better,” he said. “Definitely, as I’m watching film, as we’re in position meetings and stuff, it’s not just the defensive play call and what’s done with that, but when I see this type of formation, what are the most common blocks I’m gonna get out of this formation. Whether it’s a double-team, cut-out reach, is the guard gonna pull and the center gonna block back? Or if I’m on the tackle, is the tackle gonna kind of do a fake hinge so the center can come and kick me out, ’cause the guard’s pulling, type of deal. And now, that’s kind of like where I’m trying to elevate the next part of my game, is just, when I recognize a formation, especially in the box, knowing this is most likely their favorite play out of this formation, this is the type of block I’m gonna get … I’m to the running back and the tight end’s away, so this is the possibility of what I’m gonna get.”

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