Eagles odds and ends: Cooper DeJean likely to start, Jalen Hurts having 'great moments' with Nick Sirianni during bye week

Cooper DeJean appears to be preparing to start at nickel corner on Sunday.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler first reported on Wednesday that the second-round rookie's expanded role and his move up the depth chart are expected to be one of the focuses for some on-the-fly defensive changes for the Eagles coming back from the bye.

DeJean, whom the Eagles drafted 40th overall out of Iowa in April, was recovering from an injury that affected his draft stock at the time, but equipped with the ability to run through most positions in the defensive backfield was the main highlight of his game .

DeJean began returning punts before halftime, but the entire process of integrating him into Vic Fangio's system was slow and steady.

However, the 21-year-old said he is becoming more familiar with defense and is prepared for whatever the team throws his way.

“I prepared the way I was going to play, so that wouldn't change if my role changed,” DeJean told local media after practice earlier this week. “I’m just going to go out there and still prepare the same way.”

Should DeJean actually take over as nickel corner, he would do so in place of veteran Avonte Maddox, who had a brutal performance in the loss to Tampa two weeks ago.

But there is no tension, DeJean said. Maddox had no qualms about being an experienced mentor and helping him move forward.

“It’s great,” DeJean said. “Since I came here and started learning this position, I asked him questions every day. He was willing enough to help me learn this position.”

Now it's DeJean's turn to show what he can do with regular reps in an NFL defense. But the process to get there doesn't change.

“Nah, I just prepared the same way,” he said. “I'm willing to do whatever they ask of me. So when I’m out there, I’m going to do it to the best of my ability.”

“Great moments”

Jalen Hurts also met with the media in an extensive press conference on Wednesday and said something clearly nice about head coach Nick Sirianni.

“Obviously I wasn't in the stadium for a while, but I also really dug into some things, talked to my coaches and had some really great moments with Nick,” the Eagles QB said of how he spent the bye week.

A quarterback who speaks well of his coach shouldn't cause a stir, but looking back to last season, when the Eagles imploded, and then to the disappointing loss to the Bucs in Week 4, the relationship between Hurts and Sirianni Enhanced existed in a strange gray area, at least outside the confines of the NovaCare complex.

When the Eagles were firing on all cylinders last year or struggling in the first four weeks of this year, whenever Hurts was asked about Sirianni, he always kept his answers about him short, indirect and therefore easily interpretable – which has nothing to do with this good for most.

This week, however, the overall tone has changed a bit.

Hurts didn't want to go into too many details. He rarely does, but he's made it so clear that the focus over the last few weeks has been on working out the details and getting on the same page.

“We are the two leaders of the team,” Hurts continued about Sirianni. “I'm happy and fortunate that we were able to come together in harmony and have the same goal in mind as we tried to make this right.”

“I have a lot of faith in him, a lot of faith in what he brings, everything he's been able to accomplish and just keep going. Everyone goes through different moments, everyone experiences adversity, but we have experienced different levels. “We have overcome adversity together and are excited for what is to come.”

However, it remains to be seen whether that translates to the field this week at home against the Browns.

The Eagles have a manageable 2-2 record but have been wildly inconsistent, and when it comes to the issues on the offensive side, both Sirianni and Hurts share some of the blame.

Hurts struggled to protect the football and get it out quickly, while the team as a whole suffered from some questionable situational decisions on Sirianni's part, most notably fourth-period decisions that awarded easy points through field goals.

In the best case scenario – i.e. two wins over the Packers and Saints – overwhelming talent helped them. Worst case scenario is that the ball stops moving for them as much and they get burned, like at the end of the Falcons' loss and during the loss they received from Tampa.

It hurts, Sirianni, and the whole team can't get through this. They know they had to figure something out.

“I think the reality for us is we just have to go out there and play with ourselves, with our identity and who we are,” Hurts said. “I think that's something we've been able to establish and we just have to do it consistently and trust everyone in this area. Of course, that starts with me and my approach.”

And come Sunday, the approach will have to be much sharper if the Eagles want to have a chance.

*Jimmy Kempski contributed to this story

Follow Nick on Twitter: @itssnick