Joselio Hanson has maintained all off-season that he feels capable of starting on the outside for this Eagles defense. And while Ellis Hobbs appears to have the right cornerback spot under control at the moment, Hanson might get a chance to prove himself as a viable option with the first defense on Friday against the Cincinnati Bengals because starting left cornerback Asante Samuel is questionable with a hamstring.

If Samuel is unable to play, Hanson is likely to get the start at left cornerback, as he's been working with the second-team defense at that position throughout training camp. When the team goes into nickel, it's likely that Hanson will then move inside and Dimitri Patterson will step in at left cornerback. Meanwhile, Macho Harris, who will also be a gameday decision, and Trevard Lindley will be manning the right cornerback spot behind Hobs.

But for Hanson, the opportunity Friday night is not something he takes lightly.

"It's good any time I can get a chance to show this team what I got, so the opportunity is there," he said. "I just want to do my job and look good out there."

If Hanson does end up working with the starters, he'll be slated to play the entire first half. And the challenge will be tall for the 5-foot-9, 185-pound Hanson as he'll be lined up against veteran wideouts Chad Ochocinco, 6-1, 192, and Terrell Owens, 6-3, 224.

"It's a bigger test this game, with those receivers and quarterback," Hanson said. "I feel like after this game, we'll see we're at as a defense."

As for his comfort level in terms of moving back and forth between the inside and outside cornerback spots, Hanson, entering his fifth year with the Eagles, said that at this point he's comfortable enough in the defense to do whatever's asked of him.

"I've been in the defense for a while, so I feel like I can be effective at both," he said.

-- Posted by Bo Wulf, 4:19 p.m., August 18