Eagles starter questionable to return vs. Buccaneers with an illness

TAMPA, Fla. — Eagles safety Reed Blankenship is questionable to return against the Buccaneers with an illness, the team announced. Blankenship went to the locker room during the second quarter to be evaluated.

Blankenship was replaced by Tristin McCollum on the Eagles' final two drives before halftime. McCollum joined the Eagles in 2023 on a reserve/futures deal and played in three games, but he spent most of the year on the practice squad. He made this year's 53-man roster after playing well in training camp.

The Eagles are thin at safety without Blankenship. If either C.J. Gardner-Johnson or McCollum get hurt, one of the Eagles' cornerbacks would have to play safety. Sydney Brown , who tore his ACL in Week 18 last season, is on the PUP list. Brown is expected to return after the bye week.

Gardner-Johnson has struggled with consistency this season. He gave up a two-yard touchdown to Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans on Tampa Bay's opening drive.

Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield picked apart the Eagles' secondary during the first half. He finished 22 of 33 for 237 passing yards and two touchdowns. Mayfield also had a touchdown pass dropped by Kameron Johnson during the second quarter. Johnson run past Eagles cornerback Darius Slay to get open in the end zone.

Blankenship has been the Eagles' most consistent safety this season. He finished with two interceptions in their first three games.

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