Eagles HC Nick Sirianni addresses latest report on rookie Cooper DeJean

The Philadelphia Eagles (2-2) returned to the practice field on Wednesday following their Week 5 bye.

And after a rough start to the season, changes are expected.

One of those changes, according ESPN's Jeremy Fowler , will come in the secondary.

"Rookie Cooper DeJean taking over nickel corner duties from veteran Avonte Maddox. That’s a move I’m expecting, barring new developments," Fowler writes. "DeJean, a second-rounder with first-round talent, got off to a slow start due to a preseason injury but is considered all caught up with Vic Fangio’s scheme. I’m told multiple defensive positions were up to discussions over the past week due to a defense that ranks 30th in yards per play allowed (6.0). The shakeup began in earnest Tuesday, when the team released linebacker Devin White, a former Pro Bowl player who has been a healthy scratch all season."

Maddox has made some solid plays but for a veteran, he just hasn't been consistent in the slot.

Ahead of Wednesday's practice, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni the expected change, but would not confirm, nor deny that a switch would happen.

"He's obviously been getting reps at slot," Sirianni said. "We'll see how it goes this week. Avonte [Maddoz] has done a good job. Avonte has been a good player here for a long time and pleased with the things that he's doing. So we'll see how the reps go this week. You know, Cooper's obviously got more on his plate than he has in the past with, you know, with the punt return duties and some of the things that he's doing on special teams. So again, pleased with how Avonte is doing, but we'll continue to work the reps for all the guys this week and see where we are at the end of the week."

The Eagles have been slow to thrown DeJean into the fire since he missed a good chunk of training camp, but the only way they're going to find out if he's ready to take over is by giving him some real in-game reps.

Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns could be a good time to do that considering they're not a real threat in the league.

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