Andrew Mukuba will look to shed njury-prone label in his 2nd season

For Andrew Mukuba, the talent has never really been the question. Dating back to his days with the Texas Longhorns, he flashed the kind of instincts and versatility that made him immediately intriguing to the Philadelphia Eagles. He earned his reputation as a ballhawk, a big play waiting to happen. He has never been viewed as the greatest tackler, but he covers well enough. He can hit, and when he's on the field, he plays with the type of range defensive coordinators covet in today's game.

The issue, however, has been availability. During his time in Austin, Mukuba struggled to stay healthy, and that unfortunate trend followed him into the NFL. What was supposed to be a promising first season in Philadelphia instead ended prematurely with a trip to injured reserve. It was unfortunate, as he had played well and received rave reviews in the process. For a young player trying to carve out a role in a deep and competitive secondary, lost time is the one thing you can't afford. When development stalls, chemistry suffers. Opportunities become harder to come by. That's what makes the upcoming sophomore campaign so important.

Andrew Mukuba hopes to shed the 'injury-prone' label.

They're two of the ugliest words in all of sports. A label no one wants. Injury-prone. That's the reputation that Mukuba now carries and is trying to shed. Talented, but unreliable due to injuries. It's not a fair assessment, but it's one he can only shake one way: by staying on the field. The Eagles have shown patience with young defenders before, especially those who fit their system, and there's reason to believe Mukuba still factors into their long-term plans. His skill set aligns well with the modern defensive back, someone who can move around, match up with different weapons, and contribute in multiple phases.

The next step is simple, even if it isn't easy. Mukuba must prove he can handle the grind of an NFL season. That means not only getting healthy, but staying healthy through training camp, the regular season, and beyond. If he does that, the narrative changes quickly. Instead of being viewed through the lens of missed games, he'll be judged by the flashes that made him so appealing in the first place.

Until then, the label lingers. But for Mukuba, the opportunity to rewrite it is still very much within reach. Cross those fingers. It's early, but after moving on from Sydney Brown, there is even more pressure for Mukuba to take some positive steps forward.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Andrew Mukuba needs to stay healthy to avoid the injury-prone label