Oct 19, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Philadelphia Eagles safety Andrew Mukuba (24) celebrates after making an interception during the second half against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images Brad Rempel
To add injury to insult...
According to multiple reports, Philadelphia Eagles safety Andrew Mukuba fractured his ankle during Sunday's loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The rookie will undergo surgery, and per NFL Network, whether or not Mukuba can return this season will be determined during that surgery.
Mukuba's injury occurred with under a minute remaining in the fourth quarter of Sunday's horrific loss to the Cowboys. He was attempting to tackle Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens, but so was fellow Eagles safety Sydney Brown. Here's where the injury occurred:
Pickens comes through once again ‼️
PHIvsDAL on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/DVPb2j2Nyh
Injuries are never ideal, but the timing of this one is extra painful for the Eagles, especially given the state of their already uber-thin secondary. Starting safety and team captain Reed Blankenship left Sunday's game with a thigh injury, and starting cornerback Adoree' Jackson is still in concussion protocol. The Eagles haven't yet provided an update on Blankenship's injury status.
To make matters worse, Mukuba, the Eagles' 2025 second-round draft pick, had been settling in nicely during his first NFL season. The 22-year-old has played in all 11 games so far, starting 10 of those games. His 46 combined tackles rank fifth on the Eagles, and he leads the team with two interceptions.
The Eagles' Black Friday game against the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears is rapidly approaching, and assuming Blankenship receives an injury designation ahead of the game, Brown is the only healthy safety on the Birds' active roster. Marcus Epps is on injured reserve, and 2024 undrafted free agent Andre' Sam is on the practice squad.
General manager Howie Roseman will certainly need to work his magic, and he'll need to work it quickly. Perhaps current free agent and known Vic Fangio acolyte Justin Simmons will find himself in midnight green come game time on Friday.
