It was a simple question with an even simpler answer.

Ask: “Do you see Quinyon as a guy who’s going to be on the field every play? Is he ready to take on that responsibility?”

Vic Fangio: “Yes and yes.”

The Quinyon Mitchell era begins Friday with the impressive rookie seemingly slated to play the entire game. That likely means he’ll line up outside with Darius Slay if the Packers have two receivers and inside in the slot with Isaiah Rodgers taking over outside if they have three.

There may come a point where the Eagles’ other rookie defensive back, Cooper DeJean, is ready to take over as the full-time lock, allowing Mitchell to focus on the outside corner. But after missing most of training camp, DeJean isn’t quite there yet.

The Eagles are asking a lot of Mitchell, but they wouldn’t be asking him to do it if they didn’t think he was ready.

“Is he ready?” Darius Slay said, repeating a question.Is he ready? He’s been ready for it since he (was born).”

Fangio said he could see early on that Mitchell had the rare qualities that would allow him to learn both outside corner and slot as a rookie. Mitchell didn’t play slot at Toledo, so the coaches gave him as much work as possible inside because they knew he was good outside. That also allowed Rodgers and Kelee Ringo to play outside as much as possible.

“(We knew) pretty early because we had him play nickel early and he did a great job there,” Fangio said. “I think it would be good for him personally to stay in one place because even though we’re really happy with his development and his ability to learn, he’s still a rookie and I think it would be to his advantage if he gets comfortable in one place. But we might not be able to do that.”

Mitchell makes his NFL debut against a quarterback, Jordan Love, who finished with 18 touchdowns and one interception in his final eight games last year and an offense that averaged just under 30 points per game over the final two months of the 2023 season.

He will play in front of larger crowds than ever before – Toledo averaged fewer than 20,000 fans per game last year – and he will play on national TV. Or probably international TV.

It’s a great way to start your NFL career, but if there are any nerves, they don’t show it.

“When I’m out there, I just play calm and control it and just do my thing,” he said at his locker before practice Monday. “I feel really ready. I feel like I’m preparing myself and coach is preparing me, so I feel really good.”

It’s been 12 years since a rookie started a game as a guard for the Eagles – Brandon Boykin and Mychal Kendricks against the Browns in the 2012 season opener in Cleveland. Boykin was the nickel, with Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie starting outside. The last Eagles rookie to start at outside corner and not a lock was Eric Allen in the 1988 season opener in Tampa.

Others after the merger were Ray Jones in 1970, Joe Lavender in 1973, Herm Edwards in 1977 and Roynell Young in 1980.

“I’m just really ready, you know, I’m really excited for me and my teammates to go out there and just perform,” Mitchell said. “I’ve been working hard and I’ve got to keep my foot on the gas.”

That a team with Super Bowl aspirations would apparently play a rookie cornerback says a lot about how the Eagles feel about Mitchell.

But he’s done everything you could ever hope for since he’s been here. He’s asked all the right questions, studied film with Slay and the other veteran defensive backs, and practiced at a very high level.

He’s going to get beat. He’s going to have the plays he wants back. It’s not going to be 100 percent positive. But the Eagles are confident they made this choice, and Friday is the first time the world will get a look at Mitchell.

“He’s been great since the day we got him,” Fangio said. “He works really hard. He’s focused in meetings, not just on the practice field. We’ve given him a lot to do, like I said. He hasn’t held back at all. He’s going to be a good player in this league.”