Vic Fangio on Kelee Ringo's performance, Nakobe Dean's return, more

Vic Fangio on Kelee Ringo's performance, Nakobe Dean's return, more originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

With Adoree' Jackson on the shelf with a groin injury and Jakorian Bennett on IR with a pec injury, Kelee Ringo got his first start of the season against the Buccaneers on Sunday in Tampa.

There were some ups and downs.

He was pretty sticky in man coverage," Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. I'd like to see his tackling improve. One thing a guy has to learn that has played predominantly special teams is tackling on defense is a lot different than tackling in special teams, but I'm confident he can improve that."

Coming into Week 4, Jackson was listed as doubtful with his groin injury and was eventually inactive against the Bucs in the Eagles' 31-25 win.

It's not like Jackson has been great when he's been healthy, so is there a chance Ringo will be the starter even when Jackson is healthy?

It's possible," Fangio allowed.

Against the Buccaneers, Ringo was targeted just 3 times and gave up 1 catch for 8 yards, per NextGen Stats. Ringo was also charged for three missed tackles, per PFF.

I thought he did good," Fangio said. I mean he can be better. The true test for him will be to see how he improves, but overall did good."

Back to practice soon?

Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean is eligible to return to practice this week after sitting out the first four games of the 2025 season on the PUP list.

Fangio on Tuesday said, either this week or next week, he'll start his practice window and then we'll see where he is at."

Dean tore his patellar tendon in his knee in the wild-card round game against the Packers in the playoffs and has been rehabbing ever since. Dean played at such a high level in 2024 as the starting MIKE linebacker but there might not be an easy way to get him on the field in 2025.

Both Zack Baun and rookie Jihaad Campbell have been great so far this season.

We'll see when we get there," Fangio said. I don't think we're there yet."

One idea that has been floated is that Campbell could perhaps play more as an edge rusher. When the Eagles drafted him in the first round, GM Howie Roseman talked up Campbell's ability to rush the passer.

But Fangio on Tuesday doesn't see that as a possibility.

Not right now," he said.

Happy with the edge rushers?

Through four games, the Eagles have exactly a 1/2 sack from their edge rusher group.

I don't think our rush has been bad," Fangio said. The ball's been coming out pretty quick at times. I haven't felt an epidemic during the games when I'm calling them that our rush isn't good enough. So sacks are sacks."

While Fangio downplayed the lack of production from his edge rushers but it's worth noting he's blitzing at a higher rate this season than last, presumably because he needs to.

2024: 19.3% (28th in NFL)
2025: 25.8% (15th in NFL)

Not only that, but Nolan Smith is on IR with a pec injury and Ogbo Okoronkwo is expected to be out the rest of the season with a triceps injury. Fangio said Za'Darius Smith had his best game in an Eagles uniform.

But with the injury to Okoronkwo, it seems like Azeez Ojulari will have to play for the first time this season in Week 5. The rotation will include Jalyx Hunt, Smith, Josh Uche, Patrick Johnson and Ojulari.

I think we're good with what we have," Fangio said. The numbers are dwindling and if we need more, I'm sure Howie will get something done."

The starting safety

For the first three games of the season, Drew Mukuba and Sydney Brown split the safety job next to Reed Blankenship with Brown playing in the base defense and Mukuba in sub packages.

That changed against the Buccaneers.

The rookie Mukuba played all 72 snaps in the win in Tampa. And Fangio on Tuesday confirmed that Mukuba is now the starter.

Right now he's playing full-time," Fangio said.

A thought from Vic

After Fangio answered all of the questions being tossed to him by reporters, the veteran defensive coordinator had a thought he wanted to get off his chest about a new rule in the NFL this season.

You know what you guys have missed?" Fangio said. Not just you but everybody is, we gave up a 65-yard field goal and a 58-yard field goal. These kicking balls that they changed this year have drastically changed the kicking game, field goals in particular. So it's almost like they need an asterisk here. It was the live ball era or the asterisk for those home runs (Barry) Bonds and (Sammy) Sosa and (Mark) McGwire were hitting. The way they've changed the ball. The NFL, the kicking ball has drastically changed the field goals."

This year, the NFL changed the way teams can prepare their kicking balls. Before 2025, teams would have about an hour before kickoff to break in three balls for that particular game. This year, they get to prepare those kicker balls throughout the week. It's a rule change that was proposed by six teams this offseason and the Eagles were one of the six.

Through four weeks, NFL kickers have made 24 of 36 FGs (66.7%) from 55+ yards and four of those makes have been from 60+. In 2024, kickers made 55 of 93 FGs (59.1%) from 55+ yards and just four were from 60+.

Fangio said these long kicks have actually changed the way he calls his defense.

Yeah," Fangio said. I mean who thought they would hit a 65 yarder the other day? So its drastically changed the game, the kicking game and the field goal. Guys have longer range than they used to. Kind of like Brady Anderson with the Orioles and he went from 15 homers to 50 in one year."