By

• Johnny McGonigal | [email protected]

The Philadelphia Eagles suffered their first loss since last December, allowing the Denver Broncos to score 18 unanswered points in the second half in a 21-17 defeat.

Let’s take stock of which Eagles are on the rise and on the downswing after Sunday’s loss.

STOCK UP

WR DeVonta Smith: A week after getting only two targets, Smith was finally given the chance to once again prove why he’s one of the most underrated receivers in the league. Smith exploded for his best game of the season (eight catches, 114 yards). He also hauled in a crucial 52-yard pass. Not every week is going to be like that for Smith. But he was excellent.

S Andrew Mukuba: The second-round rookie out of Texas hasn’t had any splash plays the last two weeks like he did against the Chiefs. But Mukuba has now played back-to-back games with 70-plus defensive snaps, per Pro Football Focus. He has taken over the safety job full-time, no longer splitting reps based on schemes with Sydney Brown. And he didn’t have any gaffes against Denver like he did in coverage vs. Tampa Bay. Positive steps for the rookie.

EDGE Azeez Ojulari: Ojulari, who was a healthy scratch the first four games of the season, played angry vs. Denver. The offseason signee had a QB hit and a tackle for loss. It wasn’t sustained all game. But Ojulari proved something the first real chance he had.

STOCK DOWN

C Cam Jurgens: After a Pro Bowl season in 2024, Jurgens has been subpar so far this season. Jurgens’ Pro Football Focus grade (60.2) ranks 20th out of the 31 centers with at least 200 snaps. There were a couple instances of him whiffing or getting blown off the ball against Denver. Jurgens told The Philadelphia Inquirer postgame that he’s still recovering from offseason back surgery. So credit to him for toughing that out and still suiting up. But Jurgens isn’t playing to the level that he has in the past — and it’s affecting an offensive line that has struggled.

CB Quinyon Mitchell: A reminder that this is all relative. Because as high as Mitchell’s stock was after the last two weeks, the fourth quarter against Denver was rough. Mitchell shadowed Courtland Sutton, the Broncos’ top receiver, all afternoon and did well early. But in the fourth quarter, Mitchell allowed Sutton to pick up three key catches for 64 yards.

P Braden Mann: Mann punted seven times vs. the Broncos, so he was busy. But his last punt was brutal. Needing to pin the Broncos deep from the Eagles’ 45-yard line and make things difficult, Mann’s 23-yard punt was downed at Denver’s 32-yard line. That can’t happen.

Johnny covers the Philadelphia Eagles and Penn State football for PennLive. He has covered college football and Penn State professionally since 2016, with stops at the Centre Daily Times and Pittsburgh…