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Eagles' secondary depth still a question mark

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - For all the changes the Eagles made to their secondary this offseason, there are still unresolved questions about the group with the preseason over and only 10 days separating the team from the start of the regular season.

Eagles' Jaylen Watkins, center, celebrates with teammate JJordan Hicks, right, after he intercepted a pass by the Jets' Matt Flynn in the 2nd quarter. Philadelphia Eagles play the New York Jets at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on September 3, 2015.
Eagles' Jaylen Watkins, center, celebrates with teammate JJordan Hicks, right, after he intercepted a pass by the Jets' Matt Flynn in the 2nd quarter. Philadelphia Eagles play the New York Jets at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on September 3, 2015.Read more(David Maialetti/Staff Photographer)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - For all the changes the Eagles made to their secondary this offseason, there are still unresolved questions about the group with the preseason over and only 10 days separating the team from the start of the regular season.

The starting four defensive backs are set, but they didn't participate Thursday in a 24-18 preseason loss to the New York Jets. Although the unit appears improved, a small sample size of preseason plays is far from enough evidence to say there has been an upgrade.

But there was essentially only one place to go after last season's disaster, and on paper, cornerbacks Byron Maxwell and Nolan Carroll are an improvement over Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher, and safety Walter Thurmond, despite playing the position for the first time in his career, appears to be a more capable complement to Malcolm Jenkins than Nate Allen.

But what the preseason finale made fairly clear is that the Eagles still don't have an obvious replacement for Brandon Boykin in the slot, and that there isn't as much depth in the secondary - particularly at cornerback - as there appeared at the start of training camp.

In the larger picture, it could be of minor consequence. Every team has holes. The Eagles have more significant ones on the offensive line and at outside linebacker. But Chip Kelly has built a team that is more talented overall than the 2014 version, and should once again have playoff aspirations.

The Eagles coach will have more difficult decisions to make this season, with rosters to be trimmed from 75 to 53 before Saturday. And that is essentially what the fourth preseason game was about - to give bubble players enough playing time to fully evaluate whether they belong on the team or not.

But it was also an opportunity to assess the rookies. And the rookie who matters most when it relates to how the Eagles will fill the slot corner spot is Eric Rowe, and understandably, the second-round draft pick had his issues.

The Eagles have several options in the slot - none of them particularly appealing at the moment. Defensive coordinator Bill Davis could have Rowe, E.J. Biggers or Jaylen Watkins play inside when he goes with his nickel defense, or he could move Carroll inside and have Rowe take his place on the outside, or he could move either Jenkins or Thurmond down and call on a third safety.

Davis said after the game that he could end up using all of the above based on the matchups, "unless someone takes it and just owns it."

Rowe had never played in the slot until this camp, and then only after fellow rookie JaCorey Shepherd - who appeared destined to replace Boykin - suffered a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament. Rowe is more natural on the outside - some would argue he's more natural at safety - and was moved back there exclusively last week.

When the first-team defense went with five defensive backs last week against the Packers, the Eagles tried out option No. 2 - Carroll inside and Rowe outside. Rowe broke up a pass on his first challenge, but he was inconsistent even when the Packers went with their second-unit offense.

His struggles continued against bottom-roster Jets receivers. He started opposite Watkins. Rowe was called for illegal use of the hands on the second series, but he still surrendered a 14-yard completion to Chris Owusu. Several plays later he was beaten for 28 yards when it appeared that he slipped. The same receiver got him for another 21 yards a drive later.

It's difficult to knock Rowe. There aren't many corners who can come into the NFL and play right away, especially one who has only a year of experience at the position. If Rowe has excelled at anything, it has been at tackling - he made two stops on screens - and stripping receivers after the catch.

"Like most of those young guys, I've seen some ups and downs," Kelly said. "I've seen him make big time plays, and I've seen him get beat in certain situations. But that's going to happen, especially in this league where every receiver is good and every quarterback is accurate."

Rowe isn't going anywhere, though. Watkins is squarely on the bubble. He allowed an 18-yard touchdown catch by Owusu on the Jets' first possession when he was beaten over the top in man coverage. But he rebounded two drives later when he jumped a route and stretched for an interception.

Watkins' coverage skills have advanced from his rookie year, but he remains a suspect tackler. Rowe and Watkins combined would make for one heck of a cornerback right now. But can either be trusted beyond special teams? Biggers has 31 career starts, but six years of mediocrity. He may end up the slot by default.

Davis ideally would probably want either of his safeties to stay in the slot if he went nickel. But the Eagles don't have a viable third safety. Chris Maragos will be on the roster for his special-teams abilities. Chris Prosinski, Jerome Couplin and Ed Reynolds got plenty of opportunities against the Jets to make their roster case.

It's going to be a tough call, even if the Eagles keep two of the three. Prosinski has the most special-teams experience. Couplin has the size-speed specifics the Eagles prefer at safety. Reynolds has made strides - he had two interceptions in the preseason opener - but has physical limitations.

Kelly has a day to decide who stays, and nine more to figure out the rest. It could be a lot worse.