After injuries sidelined both Makai Lemon and Eli Stowers for portions of training camp, the two top Eagles rookies are looking forward to their first regular-season game action on Sunday.
Stowers, the second-round tight end out of Vanderbilt, is listed as questionable to play with a hamstring injury on the final injury report. However, he said on Friday that “the plan” is for him to play against the Washington Commanders.
He sustained his hamstring injury in the second preseason game against the New England Patriots, and while he missed the final week of training camp and the last preseason game, he said he’s feeling good and doing well in practice as a limited participant.
Lemon missed three weeks of camp, also with a hamstring injury, but he returned to action in time for the third preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Makai Lemon (9) played sparingly in the preseason but did see some action against the Bengals. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Two weeks after his preseason debut, Lemon said that he feels caught up from the time he missed in training camp. Even on Friday, he stayed late after practice working on the field with wide receivers coach Aaron Moorehead as he prepares for his first regular-season outing.
“I feel like that’s an every day thing, getting extra reps,” Lemon said. “I feel like that’s what’s going to take me to that next level.”
The Eagles took both players early in the draft to contribute to a new-look offense that features a retooled corps of pass-catchers and a first-time play-caller in Sean Mannion. But their precise roles for Week 1 are unclear.
Both Lemon and Stowers could have special-teams roles in addition to their offensive responsibilities. Lemon, the first-round receiver out of USC, is listed on the depth chart as the first-string punt returner, but the Eagles could also elevate the incumbent Britain Covey from the practice squad to the game-day roster.
Lemon didn’t return many punts at USC; he finished his career with six returns for 71 yards. He was the team’s top kick returner in 2024, totaling 19 kickoff returns for 514 yards (his longest was an 80-yarder). Lemon said he has been fielding punts after practice in addition to the work he is doing in special teams periods.
“Just being ready, so whenever the coaches need me, I’m there,” Lemon said.
Similarly, Stowers could see playing time on special teams on Sunday, even though he has a limited college background in that phase of the game.
Tight end Eli Stowers (87) was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report and could see most of his action on special teams. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Special teams coordinator Michael Clay acknowledged on Thursday that Stowers’ skill set as a tight end translates to the duties that might be required of him on special teams. He listed his blocking ability and his overall athleticism as boons to the special teams group.
“A lot of special teams units, you use your athletic ability to your advantage and he progressively got better as the training camp went on,” Clay said.
Their prospective playing time on offense is unknown. Compared to Stowers, Lemon has more experience working with the starters. Even though Lemon missed time with a hamstring injury, both during the offseason program and training camp, he was taking reps with Jalen Hurts and the rest of the starters when he was healthy.
When he was injured, Lemon was still attentive, both on the sideline during team drills and in the meeting room. Now that he’s back in action, he’s continuing to build chemistry with Hurts.
“Every rep, building that trust, really. We get limited reps out at practice,” Lemon said. “It’s only a short amount of time. So just making sure every rep counts. Just building that trust up so when we go out Sunday, we’re not even thinking.”
While Lemon’s training camp reps with Hurts might have been limited, Stowers had even fewer. Most of his reps came with the second- and third-string offenses, catching passes from backup quarterbacks Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee.
With the regular season underway, Stowers is working to build trust with Hurts. That effort from the rookie tight end occurs both on and off the field.
“It’s on me to learn my assignment, understand what I have to do every single play so he can build that trust and know that I’m going to be in the right spot,” Stowers said. “And then from that point, it’s just reps, working with him on the timing, where the ball is going to be, where I’m going to be at, things like that.”
Eli Stowers is trying to negotiate the NFL learning curve. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Stowers acknowledged that his transition to the NFL has required him to have patience, especially as he grows his skill set beyond his abilities as a receiver. At Vanderbilt, he displayed his pass-catching prowess, but blocking wasn’t one of his primary responsibilities.
He called training camp a “really good opportunity” to learn as his role evolves at the next level. He noticed personal growth in every aspect of his game, including his route-running, blocking, and understanding of the overall playbook.
Given that the Commanders have limited film of Stowers from the preseason — in a pared-down version of the offense at that — the Eagles could use their lack of familiarity with him to their advantage.
“They’ve seen your college film, but how that translates to the new offense, to the new team, teams aren’t really sure what it’s going to be,” Stowers said. “So I think that is an advantage to some extent. I really just want to put my best foot forward.”
Lemon will also have the opportunity to put together a better performance after he finished with three receptions for three yards in his limited preseason debut.
Regardless of his shaky showing, Lemon said it was “definitely important” to get a game-like experience in the preseason.
On Sunday, it’s for real.
“It’s hard to put it into words, really,” Lemon said. “I’m just super excited.”
The Eagles are heading into Sunday’s season opener against the Washington Commanders without their top outside linebacker.
Jonathan Greenard, the 29-year-old edge rusher, was ruled out on Friday as he works his way back from a pectoral injury that sidelined him throughout training camp. He was a limited participant in practice all week.
Eli Stowers, the rookie tight end out of Vanderbilt, is listed as questionable to play with a hamstring injury. However, he said in the locker room on Friday that “the plan” for him is to play.
Stowers was also a limited participant in practice this week.
The Eagles acquired Greenard this offseason from the Minnesota Vikings and signed him to a contract extension, adding pass-rush prowess to the defense after Jaelan Phillips departed in free agency. Greenard said on Thursday that he feels good, but he wasn’t certain about his timeline to return to game action.
Jonathan Greenard (52) missed training camp with a pectoral injury but had returned to practice earlier this week. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
“I feel I’m in a good spot,” Greenard said. “Just know that. I know that I’m working every day to continue to try to get this thing stronger. We’re close, I know that.”
He confirmed that he sustained the pectoral injury prior to camp while lifting. Greenard was sidelined during the offseason program, too, as he recovered from the shoulder surgery that prematurely ended his 2025 season with the Vikings.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio acknowledged on Thursday that the Eagles have to be “careful” with Greenard given his lack of practice time, even when he is healthy enough to play.
“It’s going to be a while before he’s game ready for a full load,” Fangio said. “It’ll be a pretty good rotation.”
Stowers was added to the injury report the Monday after the Eagles’ second preseason contest against the New England Patriots. He did not practice during the final week of camp, nor did he play in the last preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Eli Stowers dealt with injuries during his first NFL training camp. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
The second-round pick had a relatively quiet performance this summer, both in training camp and in the preseason. In his pair of preseason games, Stowers played 39 offensive snaps. His only production came in the first game against the Baltimore Ravens, when he had three receptions for 12 yards.
Stowers also had 20 special-teams snaps through two games, finishing with one tackle.
Despite his slow start, Ryan Mahaffey, the Eagles tight ends coach, spoke highly of his development since the start of training camp earlier this month.
“I think for any rookie, as you’re coming into the NFL, it’s an adjustment, regardless of the position you play,” Mahaffey said. “And for him, I think he’s been very diligent about his preparation each and every single day. He’s growing each and every single rep that he has. So I’m excited about him, and I’m excited about the trajectory he’s on. I think he’s going to continue to get better just as he gets more time on task.”
A day more than eight months in the making is nearly here. After a myriad key offseason changes, the Eagles will take the field at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday (4:25 p.m., Fox) looking to prove they’re still the toast of the NFC East, and a viable Super Bowl contender. They’ll do so against a Washington Commanders team trying to turn the page on a bleak 5-12 season in 2025. Here’s how our writers see Sunday going:
Jeff Neiburg
The NFL schedulers threw Sean Mannion a bone. The Eagles have a difficult schedule overall — Sharp Football Analysis rates it the eighth-hardest schedule — but they open with games against the following team defense ranks from 2025: 32, 29, 21.
It should give Mannion and the new-look offense a chance to work out some kinks. Besides the joint practices in New England, the first-team offense hasn’t gotten any work as a unit against a real opponent, and the playbook we saw Andy Dalton, Tanner McKee, and Cole Payton work with during the preseason games is only one small part of what the Eagles have implemented.
We’ll see Jalen Hurts taking more snaps from under center, more receivers in motion, more play action, more middle-of-the-field throws.
The guess here is the offense will have some good and some bad over the first few weeks, but I expect the running game and the new-look wide zone scheme to have some success against a bad defense that hasn’t gotten much better.
Saquon Barkley was my pick to be the NFL’s offensive player of the year, and he should start his 2026 campaign with a lot of yards. The Eagles should run the ball with relative ease and then find high-percentage throws, especially off play-action.
Defensively, the Eagles had an edge before Commanders left tackle Laremy Tunsil’s injury, and it’s even bigger now. They avoided playing Jayden Daniels in each of their matchups with the Commanders last year, but they shouldn’t have much trouble causing havoc Sunday.
Prediction: Eagles 27, Commanders 13
The official beginning of the Sean Mannion offensive era comes Sunday. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Ryan Novozinsky
The Mannion era is going to start with a bang.
Sure, the Commanders have a new, lauded defensive coordinator in Daronte Jones. But they didn’t exactly make any splashy moves on that side of the ball, which means they’re largely returning a unit that ranked No. 32 in total defense last season.
Their passing defense ranked fourth-worst in the league. Their run defense was even worse, ranking 30th. Mannion’s wide-zone scheme should feast against a unit like this, especially if the run game gets going early, which would set up a play-action attack through the air.
The Eagles have the backfield weapons to make that happen, too. Barkley looked like his 2024 self in Mannion’s offense this summer and even Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley had their moments. Couple that with the running threat of Hurts — he looked quicker in training camp, as defensive coordinator Vic Fangio pointed out in August — and you should get a relentless rushing attack.
Now, this game isn’t a guaranteed win. The Eagles’ receiver room — sans DeVonta Smith — could prove to be too green or Daniels could take over and drag Washington to victory (like he did many times in his rookie season).
But let’s face it: The biggest factor in this game is the Eagles defense, which is arguably their best unit in years. How can you count them out against a team like Washington, which will be without Tunsil?
Fangio’s unit will carry them to victory, but Mannion’s offense will show some flashes.
Prediction: Eagles 35, Commanders 10
Will Saquon Barkley have another day to remember against the Commanders?Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Olivia Reiner
This could be a coming-out party for the new-look Eagles run game.
Mannion now helms the offense and is expected to bring a derivative of the Kyle Shanahan/Sean McVay scheme rooted in the wide-zone blocking scheme. The wide-zone runs could help set up the play-action passing game, marrying together both phases of the offensive attack.
Still, the exact playbook remains a mystery, which the Eagles can weaponize to their advantage. Plus, the Commanders have been susceptible to giving up yardage on the ground.
Last season, the Eagles ranked No. 18 in the league in rushing yards. The offense still eclipsed 200 yards on the ground in Week 16 against the Commanders (only one of two occasions last season).
The Commanders have a new defensive coordinator in Jones, who was previously the defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings. But head coach Dan Quinn could still have his fingerprints on the defense given his defensive background. Plus, the Commanders didn’t make many dramatic defensive personnel improvements in the offseason that would give the run defense a significant boost.
The other matchup to watch is on the other side of the ball. The Commanders offensive line took a hit when Tunsil tore his triceps in training camp. He was one of the best left tackles in the league last season, allowing the seventh-lowest pressure rate (8%) among 35 offensive linemen with at least 250 pass-blocking snaps at that position, according to Next Gen Stats.
The Commanders could struggle to run the ball behind a shaky offensive line. The Eagles, meanwhile, could thrive. If so, the Eagles will maintain their win streak in Week 1 under Nick Sirianni.
At the outset of the offseason program in April, Sean Mannion began to install the foundation of the Eagles offense, a brand new scheme from a first-time coordinator.
Those early days, Mannion said Thursday, feel like “ancient history” compared to where the team is now.
He said it jokingly, but acknowledged what has felt like eons between now — just four days before his first regular-season game as a play-caller — and then is a reflection of the work that Eagles staff and players have put into learning the scheme.
The group started with the foundation of the offense in the spring, then added one layer after the other, gradually incorporating different wrinkles and adjustments. Mannion said he is satisfied with the progression, leaving him feeling like the team is in a “great position” heading into Week 1 against the Washington Commanders.
“There’s been so much work, and we’re working relentlessly, and ultimately that builds your confidence, knowing that I’ve spent hours and hours and hours thinking about the plan, preparing the plan, preparing the players,” Mannion said. “I feel confident and excited for Week 1.”
After installing the broader offense throughout the offseason program and training camp, Mannion will narrow the game plan to a more select menu. The Eagles offensive coordinator’s desire to put the players in the best position to succeed helps inform how to pare down the offense.
He has spent the last five months evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of his personnel. Mannion has built what he calls a “library” of plays since April, which includes new plays and familiar ones from past Eagles offenses.
As he game plans, he’s pulling different books from the shelves, so to speak, of the Eagles’ vast play library. Part of his consideration in selecting plays also includes a study of the Eagles’ opponent to determine how to best attack them.
Sean Mannion’s time with the Vikings crossed over with that of current Commanders defensive coordinator Daronte Jones. Jack Dempsey / AP
That aspect of the preparation is shrouded in mystery, as the Commanders have a new defensive coordinator in Daronte Jones, who spent the last four years with the Minnesota Vikings as defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator. Mannion is familiar with the Brian Flores-led Vikings defense, as he played in Minnesota briefly in 2023 (Flores’ first season as defensive coordinator) and coached against him twice a year with the Green Bay Packers for the last two seasons.
Whether or not the Commanders take on more of a Vikings flavor, Mannion said he will be prepared for anything the defense throws at them.
“We’ve really used this extra practice time, kind of the bonus week, to our advantage,” Mannion said. “We want to be ready for everything. … And like any opponent, whether it’s a new coordinator into Week 1 with new wrinkles, or if it’s a first-time coordinator at a place, you’re always ready to adjust in-game, and we have contingencies laid out for different things we might be anticipating.”
Mannion will make those hypothetical adjustments from the coaching box. He experienced calling plays from both the box and the sideline during the preseason and the public practice at Lincoln Financial Field during training camp. He ultimately decided it was the “best decision” for the team to call the game upstairs.
While there are pros and cons to either location, Mannion acknowledged he has more space in the box to operate. Plus, he called the point of view “unique” given the higher vantage point up top.
He even went through the long list of play-callers he had as a player, or worked with as a coach, and tallied up their in-game location. Mannion said it was almost 50-50.
“If there was one thing as I was thinking it through, I realized, you know what?” Mannion said. “There’s plenty of great play callers who have done it from either spot.”
Jalen Hurts said on Wednesday that he hasn’t had a play-caller sit in the box since he was in college. Still, he emphasized that he would support Mannion in his decision, even if his communication with his offensive coordinator between drives might be altered given his location.
Jalen Hurts said earlier this week that he’s OK with not having Sean Mannion on the sideline during games. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Mannion noted that one of the advantages of calling plays from the box is his ability to talk to each of his staff members at any time, instead of being fixed in one place and speaking to them individually. Then, his staff members can quickly disseminate information to their respective position groups.
“I think really more than anything, it speaks to [quarterbacks coach] Parks [Frazier], he does a great job with Jalen every day,” Mannion said. “I’m in constant communication with him and all of our position coaches, and then it allows for, I think, everybody to coach their units, and I can kind of survey from up top and distribute information from there, and they take it the rest of the way.”
Mannion has praised the work of the staff and the players as they have learned a new offense. Come Sunday, the details that defined the last five months — from designing the offense, to planning meetings and practice schedules, to teaching the offense, to executing in practice — will come to fruition on the field.
Is there an aspect of the job that keeps Mannion up at night? As he reflected on his work over the last five months, he showed he looks at his myriad responsibilities from a perspective of gratitude.
“Those are the things that you love about coaching,” Mannion said. “There’s so many different elements to it, but football’s a beautiful game because they all come together. I stay awake thinking about that, but I wouldn’t say it keeps me awake. It’s the enjoyable part for me. That’s what I love about it.”
He will have another wall to break through this season, starting with the Week 1 home opener against the Washington Commanders on Sunday. Nick Sirianni revealed Wednesday that first-time offensive coordinator Sean Mannion will “probably” call plays from the booth, with a glass window and several stories separating him from the sixth-year starting quarterback.
Hurts said he hasn’t had a play caller in the booth since he was in college. Still, he said he will be supportive of Mannion’s decision, regardless of how it impacts their line of communication, particularly between drives.
“If he feels that’s what gives us the best chance to win, the best chance for him to see the game and find his flow and what he’s doing, that’s the direction we need to go in,” Hurts said Wednesday. “And so I’m going to support whatever makes him feel comfortable in that degree.
“And for me, I come into the year thinking about breaking down walls of communication and talking and communicating the things that I’m seeing and and whatnot. And there is a wall, being in the box, but still, having open dialog, using the red phone, calling if I see something, hearing him out, and I think in all, it’s a part of the process.”
Jalen Hurts (right) talked about the importance of communication with Sean Mannion (left) and the new offensive coaching staff. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Building chemistry with Mannion has been one of the focuses of training camp for Hurts. He reiterated on Wednesday his goal of getting “hip-to-hip” with his new offensive coordinator as a means of building chemistry, a task that continues into the regular season.
Hurts wants to know what Mannion is thinking in any given situation, an environment the team has tried to replicate during the call-it periods of training camp. It all becomes real in Week 1. Hurts will soon have an opportunity to build in-game chemistry with Mannion, even if he isn’t on the sideline.
“The in-game experiences we have coming soon will be very valuable for us in what we ultimately want to accomplish,” Hurts said.
With Week 1 preparations underway, the 28-year-old Hurts is still getting used to all of the new. It isn’t just the big aspects, such as the new offensive coordinator, the new offensive scheme, and the horde of new receivers headlined by Dontayvion Wicks, Makai Lemon, and Hollywood Brown.
It’s the smaller things, too, within Hurts’ weekly preparation. He said he realized on Tuesday that in years past, he would typically meet with Jeff Stoutland on that day to discuss that week’s game plan. Stoutland, who served concurrently as the Eagles offensive line coach for 13 seasons and the run game coordinator for eight, announced his departure from the team in February.
The process may change with new coaches, but the goal remains the same.
“A lot of it is new, and there’s a transition,” Hurts said. “It’s a bit of an evolution, but we’ve got great guys here that I can lean on that can that can fill those voids, so we can do what we’re trying to do moving forward.”
Jalen Hurts has worked hard to learn the nuances of the Sean Mannion offense since the coordinator’s hiring. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Moving forward this week, the Eagles will try to win their first game of the season against an NFC East foe. Hurts and Sirianni have gone 5-0 in Week 1 since the Eagles head coach arrived in Philadelphia and the quarterback stepped into the full-time role as the starter.
Hurts shared his theory for their Week 1 success — “keeping the main thing the main thing.” Their early results are a reflection of their preparation and their confidence in it.
A win would start the Eagles off on the right foot, Hurts said. The real challenge is maintaining that “clarity” regarding their intentions as an offense as the season progresses.
Hurts acknowledged that he doesn’t know exactly what the offense will look like in Week 1, let alone Week 18. It’s Mannion’s job to whittle down the broader offense that he installed in training camp to a more limited menu for game day based on the opponent.
But Hurts said he is excited to have a “north star,” or a clear vision from his offensive coordinator about what his intentions are in designing the offense and how he wants his players to attack it. Whether that vision includes designed runs for the quarterback, an aspect of the offense that was seldom highlighted last year, remains to be seen.
Hurts acknowledged it could be a “unique opportunity” to incorporate his rushing ability into the offense, even though mobile quarterbacks haven’t typically been featured in the West Coast offense.
Ultimately, it’s up to Mannion to make that call. It’s on both Hurts and Mannion to get a sense of which plays the other likes, too, regardless of where the play-caller is located.
“We’ve got to build that chemistry,” Hurts said. “I’m always willing and open to doing anything and everything to win. And it’s not like you say I’m going to drop back and run it on this play. You’ve got to play the game. So we’ll find that feel and see where it goes.”
Just under a month into training camp, Lane Johnson outlined the best-case scenario for the Eagles offense in 2026.
It was a lofty aspiration — but not unrealistic, given the success of the offense just two years ago. It centered on its star running back, Saquon Barkley, who accumulated over 2,000 rushing yards in the 2024 regular season and broke Terrell Davis’ single-season rushing record (combined regular season and postseason) by Super Bowl LIX.
“I think all in all, the more productive we are in the run game and stuff feeds all of that, that we’ll see the Saquon of two years ago,” Johnson said on Aug. 19.
That ideal won’t fall on Barkley alone. To recapture his productivity of two years ago, the Eagles are going back about 30, tapping an offshoot of an offensive scheme that rose to popularity around the time the running back was born.
Sean Mannion, the Eagles’ first-time, 34-year-old offensive coordinator, spent most of his playing and coaching careers learning from pupils of the Shanahan/McVay tree. These days in the NFL, “Shanahan” refers to Kyle, the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, but he is preceded by his father Mike, the two-time Super Bowl-winning head coach with the Denver Broncos who helped Davis reach that record in 1998.
Kyle Shanahan (left) and father Mike (pictured in 2010 while with Washington) pointed the way to the current run-game concepts in vogue around the NFL. Alex Brandon
When Mike became Broncos head coach in 1995, he named Alex Gibbs offensive line coach. Gibbs, who died in 2021, was a proponent of the wide-zone blocking scheme in the run game that would go on to serve as the foundation for the modern West Coast offense.
His influence lives on in offshoots of the scheme around the league. Mannion called his first exposure to the system in 2017 under Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay “a very exciting point in my football life.” Now, Mannion has the opportunity to make it his own, all while helping breathe new life into an Eagles rushing attack that stagnated in 2025.
“I’ve seen it from afar, but now, actually studying it and working it and trying to put myself in the system, I feel like it’s going to open up some things that I may not have been able to show as much in my career,” Barkley said.
The man seeking to help Barkley elevate his game is a quarterback by trade. But Mannion’s expertise isn’t limited to the passing game. According to offensive line coach Chris Kuper, who played for Shanahan in Denver, the Eagles offensive coordinator “loves the run game,” too.
“The run game is a big part of what we’re going to do,” Kuper said, “And [Mannion’s] got passion for it. And that makes me feel good as an O-line coach, because I think we’re going to be really good at running the ball.”
Todd Gurley thrived with wide-zone concepts while with the Rams. Tony Avelar
In the (wide) zone
When Barkley learned that the Eagles offensive scheme in 2026 would have Shanahan/McVay roots, he fired up Todd Gurley’s film.
Gurley spent five of his six seasons in the NFL with the Rams, including two standout seasons in 2017 and 2018. He led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in both seasons, earning a pair of All-Pro honors and an NFL Offensive Player of the Year nod in 2017.
Dean Davidson, the author of the Wide Zone Warriors Substack, watched those years in real time. A native of St. Louis whose memories of the Rams commence with the collapse of the “Greatest Show on Turf” era, Davidson was enthralled with the quick work McVay did to turn the team around. At the time, Davidson had just joined the staff of a struggling high school football team and was looking for inspiration.
“I was trying to figure out how [McVay] took that team from the dumps that they were in my entire life that I could remember to that point to Super Bowl favorites in what seemed like overnight,” said Davidson, who is now the offensive line coach at Obion County Central High School in Troy, Tenn.
At the core of the scheme that fascinated Davidson was the wide-zone run. Its intent is in its name. The blocking unit aims to stretch the defense on the front side of the run, while simultaneously cutting off defenders on the back side.
As Gibbs explained at his 2015 offensive line clinic in Cincinnati, the running back’s aiming point is the backside of the tight end — and if there is no tight end to the weak side of the formation, it would be to the imaginary backside of the tight end. After three steps, the running back would know whether he should hit the edge on the front side or make a single cut up the middle of the field. By the fifth step, he would make his cut.
One of the challenges of defending the wide zone run is the distance that defenders have to cover in order to maintain their gap integrity, Davidson explained.
“Everybody’s moving so far in one direction that the gap that you’re responsible for as a defensive lineman or a linebacker, maybe even a safety, it might still be between the same two offensive linemen, but those two offensive linemen on a given snap could be like 10 yards laterally somewhere else,” Davidson said. “So forcing them to maintain their gap integrity while moving so far laterally, it’s a very difficult challenge.”
It’s a challenge the Eagles offensive line enjoyed creating throughout training camp. Cam Jurgens said the scheme “lets you be a little bit more of an athlete” given how quickly the front side blocking unit must fire off the ball laterally toward the sideline.
The goal, according to Kuper, is for the defense to defend every blade of grass on the field. That task, ideally, would tire out the defense as the game wears on, Lane Johnson said. After Johnson, Jurgens, and Landon Dickerson had a full offseason to recover from the ailments that plagued them last year, they are up to the assignment.
“We’re getting to really run, stretch the field, cover some yardage,” Johnson said. “So in that way, it tires out defenses. Makes them cover each gap.”
Lane Johnson (65) and his fellow offensive line cohorts are getting behind the wide-zone scheme Sean Mannion has introduced in Philly.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
The wide zone could be at the foundation of the Eagles’ rushing attack, but in all likelihood, it won’t be the only style of run in their playbook. When Gibbs was designing the Broncos’ run game 30 years ago, he only believed in coaching zone runs — primarily wide zone and some tight zone, in which the running back’s landmark is typically behind the center.
David Gibbs, his son and the secondary coach at Arizona State, explained that his father didn’t believe teams could excel at executing both zone schemes (blocking a certain area of the field) and gap schemes (blocking a specific defender or gap). But the game has evolved, the younger Gibbs said.
“You have to be able to do both, because the defensive linemen are so good,” he said. “They’re so big, athletic, strong, and the reality of it is defensive linemen are just more athletic than offensive linemen, in my opinion. And so you can’t give them the same schemes all the time.”
Brett Kollmann, an NFL Media analyst, called the Rams’ 15-6 loss to Vic Fangio’s Chicago Bears in 2018 “one of the defining games of the last decade” that prompted an evolution of McVay’s scheme. At the time, the Rams’ rushing attack was wide-zone heavy. Fangio’s solution was to stack bodies on the line of scrimmage in a 6-1 “tilt front,” putting a body in every gap and forcing the running back to cut back into a defender.
Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots would follow the same blueprint to stop the Rams in the Super Bowl that season. To counteract the defense’s penetration at the line of scrimmage, McVay would eventually introduce more “counter” runs, a gap scheme that calls for two pulling blockers to create a pair of gaps on the play side.
The incorporation of different types of runs gives defenses more to process, according to right guard Tyler Steen, which in turn forces them to slow down.
“One minute you’re going wide zone and D-tackles and D-ends are running,” Steen said. “The next minute, you’re going ‘duo’ and you’re going downhill. So I think that gives defenders a lot to think about. And so it kind of makes it easier on the O-linemen, because [the defense doesn’t] know what to play.”
Saquon Barkley often found running room hard to come by for an Eagles offense that grew predictable in 2025. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Keeping defenses ‘on their toes’
After the Eagles’ 34-17 loss to the New York Giants in Week 6, Johnson tried to surmise the state of the Eagles offense.
As he spoke at his stall, he used some form of the word “predictable” three times.
“I don’t know if we’re predictable, but it seems a lot harder than what it needs to be,” Johnson said. “Maybe moving forward have a little bit more variety, hitting the perimeter some and doing a little bit more of that.”
Johnson emphasized that he wasn’t trying to point fingers, and at the end of the day, the Eagles needed to execute better. Still, his analysis was a harbinger of things to come for the shotgun-heavy offense that seldom disguised its intentions.
The Eagles are set to take a different direction under Mannion. Like other offshoots of the Shanahan/McVay tree, Mannion emphasizes the importance of the marriage between the run and the pass — more specifically, the play-action pass.
When runs look like passes, and vice versa, offenses are less predictable, Johnson said.
“I think setting up with the play action is just going to be a whole lot tougher to distinguish what we’re doing,” Johnson said during mandatory minicamp. “Whole lot harder to catch on [to] tells with stuff that we’re doing. So I think this stuff, we can disguise it more.”
The key to pulling that off is keeping the presentation the same. If the Eagles are running wide zone, for example, and building the play-action pass off of it, the blocking unit is executing the same assignment. Johnson stressed the importance of keeping a “low hat” to sell the run, and if the linebackers bite down, the quarterback can target the vacant middle of the field.
Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion (right) is introducing variety to an offense seeking to keep defenses off-guard. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Marry that with motions, and the defense is confronted with another layer of complexity to decipher. Even the quarterback’s alignment under center can further disguise the intent of the offense on any given play, Jurgens explained.
“I feel like that’s just another way to keep defenses on their toes,” Jurgens said during mandatory minicamp. “You get a little less predictable. And so I feel like it kind of gives us a little better angles as well. Defenses can’t cheat things, ‘cause they don’t know where we’re going to go. You can set up a lot of your plays a lot better.”
Kollmann is aware of Jalen Hurts’ historical lack of targeting the middle of the field. Dating back to his rookie season before he became the full-time starter, Hurts has targeted the short middle of the field (a maximum of nine yards from the line of scrimmage) on 8.3% of his pass attempts, according to an Inquirer analysis. The league average is 14.5%. From 10 to 19 yards beyond the line of scrimmage over the middle, Hurts’ attempt rate drops to 4.6% (closer to the 7.4% league average).
But Kollmann said that conflating “hasn’t” with “can’t” isn’t necessarily fair. He said he believes that the Eagles lack of a wide-zone, play-action game in the past is to blame for not helping free up that area.
“When they are so shotgun heavy, and therefore when their play action game is really just kind of faking inside zone, that’s the kind of run fake that doesn’t really draw linebackers in, because they can see the ball the entire time,” Kollmann said.
The fake from under center requires a quarterback to turn his back to the defense, shielding the ball from the view of the linebackers. They can’t see it, so they step up, theoretically giving the offense more room to operate over the middle.
It’s easier said than done for any quarterback, as they must temporarily take their eyes off of the pass rushers seeking to take them down. But according to Josh Grizzard, the Eagles passing game coordinator, Hurts has been a “natural” with turning his back to the defense and selling the fake.
“When you have the runs and they look like the keepers and they look like the play passes, then the goal would be for those guys to see the same thing,” Grizzard said. “And then if you can get that second level of the defense to step up, then you have an ability to now push the ball down the field and be able to marry the run and the pass as well as create explosive passes.”
How many runs are designed for Jalen Hurts in the new offense remains an open question. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
The backside threat
Speaking of keepers, will the quarterback designed run game return to the Eagles offense in 2026?
By December of last year, Hurts was averaging 1.1 designed runs per game in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus. He averaged 3.6 designed runs per game in his first four seasons as the starter.
The modern West Coast offense hasn’t necessarily needed a mobile quarterback to thrive, as evidenced by the success of Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford with the Rams. But the 2026 Eagles offense isn’t going to be a carbon copy of other schemes around the league from the same tree, and Mannion is well-aware of Hurts’ rushing ability.
“Jalen has a unique skill set in that way,” Mannion said. “So that’ll certainly be a part of what we do, but we’re looking again at all areas as an offense to really attack defenses on a weekly basis. He is uniquely skilled in that way. That will be a part of it, but it won’t be the only part of it.”
Zone reads aren’t totally foreign to this coaching tree. In 2012, while Mike Shanahan was Washington’s head coach and Kyle was his offensive coordinator, the team drafted Robert Griffin III with the second overall pick.
The rookie quarterback would go on to rush for 815 yards and seven touchdowns, all while throwing for 3,200 yards. His production on the ground wouldn’t persist far beyond 2012, though. Washington took a more conservative approach with Griffin III as a rusher, especially as he dealt with injuries that began during a rookie season that was ended by a serious knee injury.
Robert Griffin III (10) was a rushing threat in the Washington offense before injuries curtailed his effectiveness.
Still, Davidson said a backside threat is important in the run game, whether it’s a quarterback run or a bootleg. In the case of the bootleg, which the Eagles incorporated throughout training camp and the preseason, the quarterback exploits the unblocked defensive end who flows with the running back, rolling out unabated in the opposite direction and completing a pass on the move.
“If you’re just under center or even the pistol, and you don’t have anything that keeps the defense on the backside, then it’s a lot easier for them to chase [the ball] down [in wide zone],” Davidson said. “But if they know that they have to defend boot on the other side of the field or defend a quarterback run on the other side of the field, it can really slow the defense down.”
Time will reveal the contents of Mannion’s playbook. While it may contain odes to his influences, it could also include all of the plays he would’ve liked to run throughout his nine-year career as an NFL backup quarterback and two seasons as an assistant with the Green Bay Packers.
Whatever the offense becomes will be unique to the Eagles, Kuper said.
“Those webs of guys kind of break out, and they kind of make it their own, and that’s what our goal is,” Kuper said. “This is going to evolve into Sean Mannion’s offense. This is going to be a derivative, maybe.
“There’s going to be flavors of what you’ve seen throughout the league, and some of his mentors, but this will be our offense.”
The two-time defending NFC East champion Eagles begin their season Sunday, with the Washington Commanders coming to town for the Week 1 opener at the Linc (4:25 p.m. Fox). With that in mind, let’s meet every member of the 53-man squad. Players are listed by expected order on the Eagles’ depth chart.
Quarterbacks (4)
Jalen Hurts
College: Oklahoma | Years pro: 6 | 6-1, 223
Another year, another new offensive coordinator and play caller for Hurts, who has dealt with constant change since he was in college. All eyes are on the quarterback as the Eagles enter 2026 with a revamped offense under new coordinator Sean Mannion. How will Hurts take to running an offense that has him taking more snaps from under center, utilizing more play action, and one that may even ask him to run a little more often? How will he deal with a wide receiving corps that doesn’t have A.J. Brown anymore? There are a lot of question marks hanging over the offense, and Hurts is under the spotlight. — Neiburg
Andy Dalton struggled in the preseason. Could he still be a trade target?Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Andy Dalton
College: TCU | Years pro: 15 | 6-2, 220
The Eagles traded a seventh-round pick for Dalton in hopes that the 38-year-old could compete for the No. 2 job behind Hurts or, if Tanner McKee outperformed him in camp, could be used as trade bait to a quarterback-needy team. Neither happened, and so Dalton enters the 2026 season either second or third on the depth chart. Dalton has played a lot of football, but he’s four years removed from being a starter. — Neiburg
Tanner McKee
College: Stanford | Years pro: 2 | 6-6, 231
Coach Nick Sirianni and GM Howie Roseman are hesitant to name a backup quarterback, so McKee will either be the No. 2 or No. 3 guy behind Hurts on the depth chart. It’s a clear battle between him and Dalton, who might have the edge due to his experience. McKee has shown flashes over the years — tossing 269 yards and two touchdowns in a meaningless game against the Giants in 2024 — but he hasn’t quite jelled with Mannion’s offense. — Novozinsky
Cole Payton
College: North Dakota State | Years pro: 1st | 6-3, 232
Payton, a rookie fifth-round pick from North Dakota State, fell victim to the QB battle in front of him this summer. He saw some garbage-time action in the preseason, but it wasn’t nearly enough to showcase his dual-threat potential. Roseman and Sirianni (rightly) gave his reps to Dalton and McKee, who are still battling for the QB2 job. — Novozinsky
Saquon Barkley’s effectiveness in Sean Mannion’s offensive scheme will be a major storyline. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Running Backs (3)
Saquon Barkley
College: Penn State | Years pro: 8 | 6-0, 233
The offense took a step back last year in part because Barkley could not come close to replicating his 2024 season, when he became the ninth player in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season. Doing it again would have been a big ask, but Barkley’s ability to pile up yards was hampered by an offensive line that was injured and an offensive scheme that couldn’t find ways to get him the ball in space. This year, the Eagles are implementing a wide zone running scheme that should favor Barkley and a running game that will be pivotal to the team’s success. — Neiburg
Tank Bigsby
College: Auburn | Years pro: 3 | 5-11, 215
The Eagles acquired Bigsby a few weeks into the 2025 season and the backup running back was one of the few bright spots on offense. He rushed 58 times for 344 yards (5.9 per carry) but had more than four carries in only three games. A new-look rushing attack could ask for Bigsby to spell Barkley more often this year. — Neiburg
Will Shipley
College: Clemson | Years pro: 2 | 5-11, 209
Shipley enters his third season with the team as the third-string running back behind Barkley and Bigsby and as a key special teams contributor, particularly at kick returner. He won’t likely have ample touches on offense, but he acquitted himself nicely in the preseason, both as a runner and as a receiver. Mannion could find a role for him in the offense in certain situations. — Reiner
is DeVonta Smith ready to embrace WR1 status?David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Wide receivers (6)
DeVonta Smith
College: Alabama | Years pro: 5 | 6-0, 170
With A.J. Brown shipped off to the Patriots, all eyes are on Smith as the Eagles’ WR1. Prominent members of the organization, including Sirianni and Roseman, have stated they believe Smith is ready to take on a bigger role in the offense. Smith, who turns 28 in November, could be the team’s leading receiver for the first time since 2021. He missed most of training camp with a hamstring injury, but he is expected to be available for Week 1. — Reiner
Dontayvion Wicks
College: Virginia | Years pro: 3 | 6-1, 206
The Eagles acquired the 25-year-old Wicks from the Green Bay Packers this offseason. He made the most of his opportunities throughout camp, and with Makai Lemon sidelined for a significant portion of the offseason with a hamstring injury, Wicks made his case for the WR2 job. Wicks’ best season came in his rookie year in 2023, when he racked up 581 yards and four touchdowns on 39 receptions. The two seasons that followed paled in comparison. Wicks will look to prove he’s capable of taking on a greater workload in the Eagles offense. — Reiner
Can Makai Lemon recover from a low-impact preseason and training camp?Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Makai Lemon
College: USC | Years pro: 1st | 5-11, 192
Fans and pundits will be looking at Lemon under a microscope this season — and for good reason. The 22-year-old rookie was drafted in hopes that he could help replicate Brown’s production in the aggregate, alongside the Eagles’ other weapons. Lemon isn’t off to the best start, missing the majority of training camp then struggling in his lone preseason appearance (3 yards on three catches and a drop that led to an interception). — Novozinsky
Darius Cooper
College: Tarleton State | Years pro: 1 | 5-11, 210
Last year’s training camp darling earned a roster spot by doing a lot of what Sirianni called the “dirty work.” The Eagles asked Cooper mostly to be a blocker and play special teams. He was targeted just 11 times on 212 offensive snaps. Cooper had a good start to training camp but seemed to fade a little down the stretch. That being said, there’s an opportunity for Cooper to have a bigger role in the offense this year. — Neiburg
Hollywood Brown is a former 1,000-yard receiver who is looking to revive his career in Philly. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Hollywood Brown
College: Oklahoma | Years pro: 7 | 5-9, 170
Roseman signed Brown to a one-year deal in free agency worth $5 million guaranteed after Brown followed up an injury-shortened 2024 campaign by catching 49 passes for 587 yards and five touchdowns last year with Kansas City. He’s not the same receiver he was when he broke into the league as a 2019 first-round pick with Baltimore, but Brown could be a reliable third or fourth option despite being invisible at times during his first training camp in Philly. — Neiburg
Elijah Moore
College: Ole Miss | Years pro: 5 | 5-10, 178
Out is A.J. Brown, in is his college friend and teammate. The Eagles signed Moore to a one-year deal to add some depth to the position group. The 2021 second-round pick then went out and earned his spot with a strong training camp. Moore’s 2025 season with the Bills and Broncos was rocky, and he came to the Eagles facing a career crossroads. He could have a revival, especially if Lemon struggles early and the Eagles ask Moore to be their slot receiver. — Neiburg
Video: unCovering the Birds: Is tight end the biggest area of concern?
Tight ends (4)
Dallas Goedert
College: South Dakota State | Years pro: 8 | 6-5, 256
Goedert is back with the Eagles for a ninth season after the team signed the 31-year-old to a one-year deal. Goedert is coming off a productive 2025 season where he had more touchdowns (11) than he did in the previous three seasons combined. Goedert will again be relied on in the passing game, but the Eagles will need him to give a little more as a blocker in a run scheme that asks more of the tight ends than the previous one did. — Neiburg
Johnny Mundt
College: Oregon | Years pro: 8 | 6-4, 245
Blocking from the tight end spot was a struggle at times for the Eagles in 2025, so they tried to rectify that by signing Mundt, who has become one of the better blocking tight ends in the NFL over the last few seasons. What’s more, he’s also experienced in the Eagles’ new style of offense, having played on multiple teams that deploy some version of the Kyle Shanahan-Sean McVay offense. — Neiburg
Eli Stowers’ ability to make a Year 1 impact is in question. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Eli Stowers
College: Vanderbilt | Years pro: 1st | 6-3, 239
The Eagles selected Stowers with their second-round pick in part because it’s past time they started planning for the future at the position. Stowers is a former quarterback who transitioned to tight end in college after a shoulder injury. The Eagles loved his athleticism and think they’ll eventually be able to take advantage of some mismatches when he’s running routes, but it’s unclear how involved the rookie will be in the offense early in the season. — Neiburg
EJ Jenkins
College: Georgia Tech | Years pro: 1 | 6-6, 245
Jenkins was one of the bubble offensive skill players who made the initial 53-man roster. He has been with the Eagles for most of the last three years, primarily on the practice squad, and he has appeared in 14 games between the regular season and the postseason. Jenkins checks the box as another “Y” tight end responsible for lining up inline and blocking, a coveted role in the Shanahan/McVay offense. — Reiner
Jordan Mailata returns as one of the Eagles’ most reliable players. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Offensive linemen (9)
Jordan Mailata
College: N/A | Years pro: 8 | 6-8, 365
While most of the offensive line was hampered by injury last season, Mailata was one of the unit’s healthiest members, starting in all 16 games that the starters played (not including Week 18). He has seemingly improved with age — according to Pro Football Focus, Mailata conceded two sacks in 2025, the second-lowest total of his career (he gave up one sack in 2024). Two years ago, he earned second-team All-Pro honors. Can he earn leaguewide acclaim in 2026? — Reiner
Landon Dickerson
College: Alabama | Years pro: 5 | 6-6, 332
Dickerson admitted that last season, he returned to action too quickly after undergoing meniscus surgery. He had a full offseason to recover from his various injuries, which included traveling to Colombia to receive stem cell therapy to manage his pain. Now, Dickerson says he’s healthy as he aims to bounce back in his sixth season as the starting left guard. Can he get back to the standard he established from 2022-24 when he was an original-selection Pro Bowler for three straight years? — Reiner
A healthy Cam Jurgens would be a mark in the Eagles’ favor in 2026. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Cam Jurgens
College: Nebraska | Years pro: 4 | 6-3, 303
Chronic back pain slowed Jurgens at times in 2025, though he still was named to the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive season. Like Dickerson, Jurgens sought to rid himself of that pain by flying to Colombia for stem cell therapy treatment during the offseason. Jurgens says he’s feeling a lot better, and he appears to be moving around a lot better, too. The new running attack should fit his athletic profile. — Neiburg
Tyler Steen
College: Alabama | Years pro: 3 | 6-6, 321
Steen is heading into his second season as the starting right guard. He was solid in his first season, conceding just two sacks, according to PFF. His teammates have lauded his improvement throughout training camp as he heads into a contract year. Steen will have an opportunity to play his way into a pay raise, either in Philadelphia or elsewhere. — Reiner
Lane Johnson said 2026 will probably be his last go-round. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Lane Johnson
College: Oklahoma | Years pro: 13 | 6-6, 325
Johnson’s reign at right tackle is nearing its end. During training camp, Hurts’ 36-year-old protector said that 2026 will “probably” be his final season. Johnson played just 10 games last season, as he was sidelined with a Lisfranc foot injury. The six-time Pro Bowl, two-time All-Pro right tackle will have an opportunity to end his career on a high note in a new offense featuring a different blocking scheme in the run game, so long as he can stay healthy. — Reiner
Fred Johnson
College: Florida | Years pro: 7 | 6-7, 326
Johnson has been a quiet mainstay in his previous three seasons with the Eagles, appearing in all 57 of the team’s games from 2023-25 (51 regular season, 6 playoffs). He’s mainly played on special teams units but has also earned 14 starts as the swing tackle during his time in Philly, including eight last year. Whether he serves as the primary tackle backup this season remains an open question — the team is high on rookie Markel Bell — but Johnson will provide veteran depth no matter his place on the depth chart. — Novozinsky
Markel Bell could be the Eagles’ starting tackle of the future. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Markel Bell
College: Miami (FL) | Years pro: 1st | 6-9, 346
The Eagles identified Lane Johnson’s heir apparent when they selected Bell in the third round of the draft. Throughout camp, he made the transition to right tackle, as he had primarily played at left tackle in college. Bell will have the opportunity to develop this season behind Johnson. If the 14-year veteran gets hurt, the Eagles don’t necessarily have to turn to Bell right away, as they also have Fred Johnson in a reserve role. — Reiner
Drew Kendall
College: Boston College | Years pro: 1 | 6-4, 308
The Eagles drafted Kendall, a college center, in the fifth round last year and then started cross-training him at guard. A year working behind some veteran offensive linemen and getting in an NFL training facility has done wonders. Kendall is bigger, stronger, and looks ready to step in if called upon to play any of the three interior offensive line positions. — Neiburg
Willie Lampkin was one of the stories of training camp for the Eagles. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Willie Lampkin
College: North Carolina | Years pro: 1 | 5-11, 290
The Eagles claimed Lampkin at the end of camp last season after the Los Angeles Rams waived him with an injury designation. He spent the entire season on injured reserve. Finally healthy, Lampkin impressed throughout the preseason despite his undersized stature and earned himself a spot as a depth interior lineman on the initial 53. Can the Eagles find a way to get him on the field in specialized personnel packages this season? — Reiner
Micah Morris
College: Georgia | Years pro: 1st | 6-5, 334
It’s easy to see why the Eagles, in search of offensive line depth, used a sixth-round pick on Morris this year. He has the body type and athleticism to play guard in the NFL. Morris showed some flashes during training camp and in preseason contests. He’s likely the last guy on the depth chart and won’t be called upon to play much, but the 23-year-old could be an intriguing prospect for the future. — Neiburg
Jalen Carter (left) and Jordan Davis are both looking to deliver in 2026 after earning huge offseason contract extensions. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Interior defensive line (5)
Jalen Carter
College: Georgia | Years pro: 3 | 6-3, 314
He got paid. Now can he bounce back? Last season, Carter generated a career-low 7.7% pressure rate while facing a double-team on a career-low 41.7% of his pass rushes, according to Next Gen Stats. This came after his wildly successful 2024 season, during which he helped propel the Birds to a Super Bowl win. Now recovered from injury and 10 pounds lighter, Carter should be one of the top defensive tackles in the league this season. — Novozinsky
Jordan Davis
College: Georgia | Years pro: 4 | 6-6, 336
It’s clear that Davis has a different mindset entering this season. Look no further than the fact that the Eagles named the 26-year-old a first-time captain on Friday. Davis, who inked a three-year, $78 million extension in March, is going to be a force in Vic Fangio’s defense once again this year. He’s coming off a career-best 72-tackle and 4.5-sack season and should replicate that this season. — Novozinsky
Moro Ojomo had a strong training camp for the Eagles. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Moro Ojomo
College: Texas | Years pro: 3 | 6-3, 292
Ojomo watched Carter and Davis — who sit ahead of him on the depth chart — become two of the highest-paid defensive tackles in the league this offseason. The 2023 seventh-round pick is using that as motivation. The trio of Carter, Davis and an extra-motivated Ojomo have a chance to form the best DT trio in the NFL this season. — Novozinsky
Byron Young
College: Alabama | Years pro: 3 | 6-3, 292
Young is sort of the otherguy along a defensive interior front that could be among the best in the NFL with Carter, Davis and Ojomo. But Young has more than held his own when the Eagles have called his number. He played in all 17 games last season and tallied 37 tackles. He had three tackles for loss and four quarterback hits while playing 30% of the defensive snaps. With a healthier Carter, Young could see fewer snaps, but the Eagles certainly like what they have with their No. 4 defensive tackle. — Neiburg
Ty Robinson was a preseason standout. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Ty Robinson
College: Nebraska | Years pro: 1 | 6-5, 288
Robinson has been on “life support” for the past year, according to Fangio, as he struggled to get on the field in his rookie season. His defensive coordinator said he “came to life” as training camp progressed. Robinson led the Eagles with three sacks in the preseason. He will have the opportunity to make an impact in a depth role behind the top trio of Carter, Davis, and Ojomo. — Reiner
Edge rushers/outside linebackers (5)
Jonathan Greenard
College: Florida | Years pro: 6 | 6-3, 263
Greenard was the biggest acquisition of the offseason. The Eagles during draft weekend sent two third-round picks to Minnesota to acquire Greenard and a seventh-round pick, and then quickly signed the 29-year-old to a four-year deal worth nearly $100 million. But Greenard missed all of training camp after suffering a pectoral injury late in the offseason and his availability for Week 1 is uncertain. When he’s healthy, the Eagles will need Greenard to consistently get after the quarterback. He had at least 12 sacks in 2023 and 2024 before his injury-shortened 2025 season. — Neiburg
Video: unCovering the Birds mailbag: Analyzing Jalyx Hunt’s productive training camp
Jalyx Hunt
College: Houston Christian | Years pro: 2 | 6-3, 252
Hunt arguably had the best training camp of any Eagles player this summer. The 25-year-old edge rusher lived in the backfield during training camp, sweeping past the Eagles’ best offensive tackles with ease. With Greenard potentially injured to start the season, look for Hunt to take his reps and thrive. He had a 6.5-sack season last year. It’s not a stretch to say he might double that this year. — Novozinsky
Nolan Smith Jr.
College: Georgia | Years pro: 3 | 6-2, 238
Smith re-injured his triceps last season, forcing him to miss over a month of game action. His production declined, going from 6.5 sacks in 2024 to three in 2025. Now healthy, Smith had a strong performance in training camp opposite Hunt while Greenard was sidelined. He’ll look to take his game to the next level with the opportunity for a contract extension looming. — Reiner
Former Penn State and Temple star Arnold Ebiketie (17) is looking to make his name as an Eagle. Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
Arnold Ebiketie
College: Penn State | Years pro: 4 | 6-3, 256
After four years with Atlanta, Ebiketie hit free agency and found a team in the Eagles who needed to fill out the depth chart on the edge. His playing time dropped off a bit in 2025. He was on the field for 35% of the defensive snaps after playing 49% a year earlier. The Eagles have some workhorses at the top of the depth chart in Greenard, Hunt and Smith, but Ebiketie may need to play a little more if Greenard isn’t ready for Week 1. — Neiburg
A.J. Epenesa
College: Iowa | Years pro: 6 | 6-6, 260
It was a weird offseason for Epenesa. The Browns signed him to a one-year deal worth up to $5 million before balking at the deal weeks later, reportedly due to a failed physical. Now, he finds himself on a loaded Eagles defensive front — and he couldn’t be happier. The 27-year-old looked sharp in camp too, recording a handful of sacks and nabbing an interception on Day 2. — Novozinsky
Zack Baun is a linchpin of the Eagles defense. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Inside linebackers (4)
Zack Baun
College: Wisconsin | Years pro: 6 | 6-3, 225
Three years ago, Baun arrived in Philadelphia as an expected special teams ace and a prospective edge rusher. Since then, he’s become an All-Pro, two-time Pro Bowl, Super Bowl champion inside linebacker and one of the most important players in Fangio’s defense. After Nakobe Dean signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency, Baun is set to take on green dot responsibilities as the on-field defensive play caller this season. — Reiner
Jihaad Campbell
College: Alabama | Years pro: 1 | 6-3, 235
Campbell made an immediate impact in his rookie season, playing in all 17 games and recording a decent stat line of 80 tackles, one interception and three pass deflections. Can he have an even stronger sophomore year? He’ll have help in the room — Campbell, Zack Baun and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. form one of the deepest linebacker corps in the league. — Novozinsky
Is this the year Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (54) breaks through on defense? Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
College: Clemson | Years pro: 2 | 6-0, 225
Trotter heads into his third season with the Eagles as the next man up behind Baun and Campbell. But the 2024 fifth-round pick has demonstrated in the preseason that he could start in any other defense. He finished behind Robinson with two sacks in the preseason, plus one tackle for a loss. Should either Baun or Campbell go down this year, the Eagles ought to feel comfortable with Trotter taking their place. — Reiner
Smael Mondon Jr.
College: Georgia | Years pro: 1 | 6-2, 224
The 2025 fifth-round pick played just 14 defensive snaps last season but was a core special teamer. That shouldn’t change much in 2025 unless the Eagles suffer a few injuries. Linebacker is arguably their deepest position. Mondon seems to be developing nicely and held off a few challengers for a roster spot. — Neiburg
Quinyon Mitchell (27) and Cooper DeJean are seeking to build on All-Pro seasons. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Cornerbacks (6)
Quinyon Mitchell
College: Toledo | Years pro: 2 | 6-0, 193
In his rookie season, Mitchell proved he was a stud in the making, being named to the All-Rookie team and finishing second in Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. He took it another step last year when he was named an All-Pro and a Pro Bowler. Can Mitchell keep leveling up in Year 3? Can he prove that he’s the best cornerback in the NFL (and deserves to get paid like it)? — Novozinsky
Cooper DeJean
College: Iowa | Years pro: 2 | 6-0, 198
DeJean followed up an impressive rookie season by being selected as a first-team All-Pro and being named to the Pro Bowl. DeJean is arguably the best nickel corner in the NFL, but he’s taking on a new job for 2026: safety. DeJean will play on the back line when the Eagles are in their base defense and return to the slot in nickel and dime packages. — Neiburg
Video: Riq Woolen amazed after meeting ‘swole’ Eagles legend Brian Dawkins
Riq Woolen
College: UTSA | Years pro: 4 | 6-4, 210
Woolen’s career with the Seahawks got off to a hot start. He was a Pro Bowler and All-Pro in his rookie season in 2022 and was a key member of their Super Bowl team last season. So, how did the Eagles manage to sign him to a one-year deal in free agency? Well, his inconsistency made him an occasional liability for Mike Macdonald in Seattle. Let’s see if the 6-foot-4 corner can find stability in Fangio’s defense. — Novozinsky
Jonathan Jones
College: Auburn | Years pro: 10 | 5-9, 190
Jones is expected to be the Eagles’ top backup cornerback. He spent last season with the Commanders — Philly’s Week 1 opponent — and signed a one-year deal, $2-million contract with the Eagles in March. He had 78 starts in his first 10 seasons, so he brings a wealth of experience if an Eagles corner goes down this season. — Novozinsky
Kelee Ringo remins a valuable secondary backup and special-teamer. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Kelee Ringo
College: Georgia | Years pro: 3 | 6-2, 207
Last training camp, Ringo was in competition with Adoree’ Jackson for the starting outside cornerback job opposite Mitchell. This year, Ringo wasn’t in the picture, with Woolen signing a prove-it deal in the offseason to command that post. Ringo isn’t even the first outside cornerback off the bench — that’s Jones’ job. But the 24-year-old cornerback is a valued special teamer, hence his roster spot. — Reiner
Mac McWilliams
College: UCF | Years pro: 1 | 5-10, 191
McWilliams looks like a more well-rounded version of his rookie self. He earned occasional reps with the first-team defense throughout training camp and made some plays when doing so. He won’t start if the cornerback room stays healthy, but don’t be surprised if he climbs up the depth chart and earns snaps. — Novozinsky
Can Andrew Mukuba (24) bounce back from the injury that prematurely ended his 2025?Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Safeties (3)
Andrew Mukuba
College: Texas | Years pro: 1 | 5-11, 186
Mukuba saw his rookie season cut short in late November when he fractured his fibula. Now healthy, he will look to stay on the field in his role as one of two starting safeties in his sophomore season. Despite missing the last two months of the 2025 season, Mukuba did not see any preseason action, reinforcing the confidence that the Eagles have in him to do his job come Week 1. Fangio lauded Mukuba’s improved “knowledge and knowhow of the defense” in training camp. — Reiner
Marcus Epps
College: Wyoming | Years pro: 7 | 6-0, 198
Epps is expected to serve as the starting safety alongside Mukuba in Week 1. It was a tough battle between him and Michael Carter II this summer, but Epps experience and institutional knowledge — he was a key starter on the Eagles’ 2022 Super Bowl team — won him the job. Now comes the hard part for Epps: Can he keep the job all season? Carter will be gunning for it every week. — Novozinsky
Michael Carter II will have a key role after a productive training camp and preseason. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Michael Carter II
College: Duke | Years pro: 5 | 5-10, 184
With Mukuba and Epps the likely Week 1 starters at safety, Carter figures to serve as the next safety off the bench. He is the expected backup to DeJean at nickel cornerback, too. Fangio also revealed that Carter will be the sixth defensive back on the field in the dime package. Even though it always seemed like Epps was the frontrunner for the starting safety vacancy this offseason, Fangio said Carter did “nothing but [help] himself” with his performance in camp. — Reiner
Specialists (3)
Jake Elliott
College: Memphis | Years pro: 9 | 5-9, 167
Elliott is coming off of another shaky season in which he went 20-for-27 on his field goal attempts (74.1% conversion rate; his second-lowest rate of the regular season). He is 48-for-63 over the last two regular seasons (76.2%). Still, the Eagles displayed their confidence in the 31-year-old kicker this offseason by restructuring his contract in 2026, agreeing on a $1 million pay cut but guaranteeing $5 million. He did not have any competitors in camp, further reinforcing that the job is his to keep so long as he can establish consistency. — Reiner
Braden Mann (10) and Jake Elliott (right) are back, but will have a new teammate doing the snapping on kicks. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Braden Mann
College: Texas A&M | Years pro: 6 | 5-11, 198
Mann had a good offseason. The 28-year-old punter got paid in March, signing a four-year, $14 million contract extension, and he looked rock solid in training camp. He’s a practice squad success story, with the Eagles initially picking him up from the Steelers in 2023. — Novozinsky
Rocco Underwood
College: Florida | Years pro: 1st | 6-3, 240
The Eagles had stability at long snapper from 2000-2024, with Mike Bartrum, Jon Dorenbos and Rick Lovato all being good enough to earn multiple contracts. They’re hoping Underwood can be that next guy — though things aren’t off to the best start. Underwood, who has shown potential in the past, winning the 2024 Patrick Mannelly Award for the nation’s best long snapper, had a rough start to training camp due to a few bad snaps. He’s since turned it around, but it’s hard to forget those early mistakes. For now, they’ll have to deal with his possible inconsistency and bank on his potential. — Novozinsky
At Sunday’s roster cutdown deadline, Howie Roseman decided that Jonathan Greenard would not start the year on the Physically Unable to Perform list after dealing with a pectoral strain throughout training camp.
The Eagles general manager said that the veteran pass rusher would be “playing sooner rather than later,” but he added that he would keep Greenard’s exact timeline “close to the vest.”
While Greenard’s availability for the Sept. 13 season opener against the Washington Commanders might be a mystery to the public, his potential impact among the Eagles edge rusher corps once he returns to action isn’t in doubt — /at least to his position coach, Jeremiah Washburn.
“He’s what we thought he’d be,” Washburn said Wednesday. “And working really hard and staying engaged and been an A-plus in the meeting room and on the field.”
Jonathan Greenard’s timetable for a return to the field is unknown. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
The Eagles acquired Greenard, 29, from the Minnesota Vikings this offseason and signed him to a four-year, $100 million deal, adding pass-rush prowess to a group that lacked sack production in 2025. Seven Eagles edge rushers combined for 18 sacks last season, and five of those players are no longer on the team.
Those departed players include Jaelan Phillips, whom the Eagles acquired at the trade deadline from the Miami Dolphins. While Phillips only registered two sacks in eight games with the Eagles, he played 78% of the defensive snaps in that span.
Whether Greenard might be expected to shoulder that workload has not been determined, according to Washburn.
“We have not even gotten there with that,” Washburn said. “It’s different. We’re starting the season, and guys carve out their roles and identities and play times and things of that nature. Whereas with J.P., we caught him at a time that was, what, Week 9? So it was a little different.”
Greenard only played 12 games in 2025, as he underwent season-ending shoulder surgery late in the year. He had three sacks last season but combined for 24½ in 2023 and 2024.
The Eagles are betting that Greenard can get back to his productive ways, all while looking for Nolan Smith Jr. and Jalyx Hunt to take the next step in their respective games.
Even though Greenard’s exact role isn’t clear just yet, Washburn emphasized that he will be leaning on the entire group to contribute to the rotation, with precise snap counts to be determined.
“We’ve been blessed with a lot of guys that can play, and guys just kind of carve out their roles as we go, and we figure that [out] week-to-week,” Washburn said. “But, man, I’ve been here since ’19, and we’ve just been blessed with depth and different guys that can play. So it’ll look a lot similar to what we’ve done in the past.”
The Eagles have a specific plan for developing international prospects Uar Bernard (93) and Joshua Weru. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
A ‘long road’ ahead for Bernard
Even though training camp is over and the Eagles are on the cusp of Week 1, the development of Uar Bernard and Joshua Weru continues.
The Eagles have dedicated developmental periods at practice to promote the growth of their prospects, including both players from the International Player Pathway program. In fact, those prospects have more time to learn in those periods now than they did during camp.
“Other places I’ve been, we might not have had that much [developmental time], and we have an ample amount of time to work with them,” Washburn said. “I just got off a field with [Weru], he and Keyshawn [James-Newby], and so we’ve been really fortunate on that to have a lot of time to work with him. So we should see the fruits of the labor with that.”
Eagles defensive line coach Clint Hurtt said there’s a “long road” ahead for Bernard, but he emphasized that he loves “where it’s going.”
That road for Bernard includes the developmental periods and his early-morning meetings with Hurtt.
“He’s getting more reps now in the developmental stuff to continue to advance his game, and also spending time continuing to teach him the game itself,” Hurtt said. “Formations, splits, the things that offenses are looking to do, situational football.
“Those are the things that he doesn’t get enough introduction to individually, even from the time that we drafted him.”
Now, Bernard can focus on those details that have been cut for time as he works toward his goal of suiting up for NFL action in the future.
“He’s on the back burner, but his development is in fast-forward right now,” Hurtt said. “So it’ll take time, as we’ve said numerous times. But I like where it’s going.”
The Eagles will carry four quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster to start the season.
All three depth quarterbacks behind Jalen Hurts in training camp — Tanner McKee, Andy Dalton, and Cole Payton — made the cut when the Eagles announced the active roster out of camp at the 6 p.m. Sunday deadline.
McKee, the 2023 sixth-rounder out of Stanford, and Dalton, the 16-year veteran trade acquisition, competed in camp and the preseason for the top backup job behind Hurts. Neither quarterback separated himself significantly in the competition, and their inclusion on the initial 53 reinforces the lack of clarity regarding the victor.
“I feel good about both guys,” coach Nick Sirianni said after Friday night’s preseason finale against the Cincinnati Bengals. “I feel like it’s a good room and I feel good about Cole [Payton] and the things that he can do as well and be able to develop. I feel good. I view it as a good thing that I feel good about both those guys, and our staff feels good about both those guys.”
The initial 53 is initial for a reason — the Eagles will continue to rework the roster as Week 1 approaches on Sept. 13.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Greenard, the 29-year-old outside linebacker who has been sidelined throughout training camp with a strained pectoral muscle, made the initial 53-man roster. Had the Eagles placed him on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list with a designation to return, he would have had to miss at least the first four games of the season.
Neither Uar Bernard nor Joshua Weru, products of the International Player Pathway program, made the initial 53.
The Eagles cut three of their 2026 draft picks — Bernard; Cole Wisniewski, the seventh-round safety out of Texas Tech; and Keyshawn James-Newby, the seventh-round outside linebacker out of New Mexico. If the Eagles want to sign them to the practice squad, they must clear waivers first, as would Bernard and Weru.
Elijah Moore and E.J. Jenkins are among the depth skill players on offense who made the team. Moore, the 26-year-old receiver, joined the Eagles in free agency after spending the 2025 season with the Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos. Jenkins, the 27-year-old tight end, has spent about 2½ seasons with the Eagles (a portion of 2023, all of 2024-25), primarily on the practice squad.
Howie Roseman began trimming the roster on Saturday, the day after their final preseason game. Those cuts on offense included RB Carson Steele, WR Quez Watkins, WR Samori Toure, OL Michael Jordan, OL Myles Hinton, CB Shaun Wade, TE Stone Smartt, RB Dameon Pierce, WR Britain Covey, WR Danny Gray, C Zeke Correll, WR Erik Ezukanma, TE Cameron Latu, OL Jake Majors, RB Jordan Mims, OT John Ojukwu, WR Tahj Washington, and OT Cameron Williams.
On defense, the Eagles cut Bernard, Weru, Wisniewski, James-Newby, OLB Tarron Jackson, DB Maximus Pulley, DT Gabe Hall, CB Ambry Thomas, DT Zion Wilson, CB Shaun Wade, S Jaylen Mahoney, ILB Chance Campbell, DT David Blay, CB Isaiah Bolden, DB Kapena Gushiken, ILB Deontae Lawson, OLB Jose Ramirez, and S Andre Sam (injured).
The Eagles also placed cornerback Jakorian Bennett and tight end Grant Calcaterra on injured reserve (designated for return). They must miss at least the first four games of the season.
Here is the Eagles’ initial 53-man roster:
Quarterback (4)
Jalen Hurts, Cole Payton, Andy Dalton, Tanner McKee
Running back (3)
Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley
Wide receiver (6)
DeVonta Smith, Makai Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore, Darius Cooper
Tight end (4)
Dallas Goedert, Johnny Mundt, Eli Stowers, E.J. Jenkins
Offensive line (10)
Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, Cam Jurgens, Landon Dickerson, Tyler Steen, Willie Lampkin, Drew Kendall, Markel Bell, Fred Johnson, Micah Morris
Interior defensive line (5)
Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Ty Robinson, Byron Young
Outside linebacker (5)
Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, Jonathan Greenard, Arnold Ebiketie, A.J. Epenesa
Inside linebacker (4)
Zack Baun, Jihaad Campbell, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Smael Mondon Jr.
Defensive back (9)
Quinyon Mitchell, Riq Woolen, Cooper DeJean, Andrew Mukuba, Marcus Epps, Michael Carter II, Kelee Ringo, Mac McWilliams, Jonathan Jones
Specialist (3)
Jake Elliott (kicker), Braden Mann (punter), Rocco Underwood (long snapper)
The preseason mercifully ends with a goose egg in the Eagles’ win column.
Andy Dalton led his first touchdown drive of the preseason, but the Eagles still fell to the Cincinnati Bengals, 30-13, at Lincoln Financial Field on Friday night.
Here’s our instant analysis from the Eagles’ third and final game of the exhibition slate:
Meh-kee; Dalton shows (a little) life
The Eagles backup quarterback competition continued to underwhelm on the whole.
After displaying signs of progress in the second preseason game against the New England Patriots, Tanner McKee took a step back on Friday.
He started and played the entire first half. On 32 plays, McKee went 12-for-22 for 55 yards and an interception, good for a 41.1 passer rating. He was sacked twice.
Dalton, meanwhile, had his best single-game performance of the preseason on paper. He went 12-for-19 for 104 yards and a touchdown (95.1 quarterback rating) on 26 plays.
Still, aside from the scoring drive, Dalton amassed just 45 net yards on 15 plays. In total, the Eagles depth quarterbacks combined for four touchdown passes — two from McKee, one from Dalton, and one from rookie Cole Payton — through three preseason games.
While neither McKee nor Dalton seemed to definitively separate themselves in the competition, Nick Sirianni expressed confidence in both quarterbacks and their capabilities.
“I’ve been pleased with both those guys through camp,” Sirianni said after the game. “I feel we’re in a good spot there. We’ll go back and look at every throw they made from preseason games to practices to joint practices to operation practices and we’ll make our decision.
“I thought there were some good things. There were obviously always things you got to clean up at every position and in every game.”
McKee, the 2023 sixth-rounder out of Stanford struggled to push the ball downfield in Friday’s game. Most of his yardage came on short gains, namely checkdowns to the running backs. Running back Carson Steele was McKee’s most popular target in the first half, as he amassed five receptions on five targets for 32 yards. Steele had one long 17-yard catch-and-run gain, but he averaged 3.75 yards per reception on his other four.
The sacks that McKee took highlighted his inability to escape the pocket. Former Eagles defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland split a sack with Bengals defensive end Isaiah Foskey on the Eagles’ opening drive, collapsing on McKee from either side as he lingered too long in the pocket and eventually attempted to flee.
Right before the end of the first half, McKee took another sack from Foskey, who beat left tackle John Ojukwu. Again, McKee failed to get the ball out quickly, but this sack was less egregious than the first one.
McKee was nearly strip-sacked in the second quarter by Powell-Ryland after right tackle Cameron Williams gave up the pressure, but the play was eventually ruled an incomplete pass.
Despite his shaky performance in the preseason finale, McKee said he felt good about his overall showing in training camp.
“I feel a lot more comfortable just with the offense, calling the plays, [getting] guys in the right spots. I feel like at the beginning, you’re thinking a ton. … Then by the end of training camp, you can get guys on the right page, and they have questions about their route stem or their depth or whatever it is. And as a quarterback, you’ve got to have all the answers.
“Felt like we’ve made a huge step, and we’re going to continue to grow in that way.”
Dalton, the former Bengals quarterback of nine seasons (2011-19), took over at the beginning of the second half. He wasn’t any more impressive than McKee was to start.
Dalton was handed favorable field position after Eagles receiver Jordan Mims, who signed with the team on Monday, forced a fumble on Bengals kick returner Tahj Brooks and Andre Sam came up with the recovery at the Bengals’ 43-yard line.
The 38-year-old quarterback didn’t do much with it. After a Steele five-yard run, Dalton threw two straight incomplete passes to Steele and Britain Covey. The Eagles settled for a 56-yard Jake Elliott field goal to pull within 9-6.s
Eagles quarterback Andy Dalton looked crisper against the Bengals than he did in last week’s meeting with the Patriots. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
But Dalton heated up on his second possession. He led an 11-play, 76-yard scoring drive, highlighted by a 26-yard play-action strike over the middle for Danny Gray that put the Eagles in the red zone. Steele continued his impressive preseason showing, as his five-yard touchdown reception made it 16-13, Bengals.
Overall, Dalton was pleased with his entire body of work throughout the summer.
“I think just being comfortable in everything that we’re doing,” Dalton said. “Having a good understanding of the little things that go into play in this position. I felt really comfortable out there, especially tonight. I felt like I was in a good place.”
What does the future hold for either quarterback, as the Eagles trim the roster down to 53 on Sunday at 6 p.m.?
“They haven’t given us a time frame [for a decision],” McKee said. “So, we’ll see.”
Lemon drop
After missing three weeks of training camp with a hamstring injury, rookie first-round receiver Makai Lemon made his preseason debut.
He was rusty. Lemon was on the field for the Eagles’ first four possessions on offense. He finished with three receptions on five targets for three yards.
McKee got Lemon involved right away. On the first play of the game, he completed a three-yard play-action bootleg pass to Lemon. His throw was a little low, but the 22-year-old receiver managed to adjust and snag the pass.
That three-yarder was Lemon’s longest reception of the night.
He was targeted again on the opening drive on another play-action pass, this time down the right sideline. McKee’s pass was nearly intercepted by Bengals rookie cornerback Tacario Davis, and it fell incomplete.
Bengals cornerback Tacario Davis intercepts a pass intended for Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon on Friday night. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
McKee wasn’t as lucky in the second quarter. On third-and-7 from the Bengals’ 25, the Eagles’ best field position at that point in the game, McKee was picked off by Davis after Lemon dropped a pass on an in-breaker. The pass was a bit high, but the ball deflected off both of Lemon’s hands.
“I’ve got to get the ball down,” McKee said. “I know it’s not fun as a receiver to put your hands over your head when you’re going across the middle, and so as a quarterback, I’ve got to get the ball down and make that an easier catch for him.”
The Bengals turned Davis’ 15-yard return to their own 36 into an eventual 34-yard field goal, going up 9-0.
He also took a rep at punt returner late in the third quarter. Bengals punter Ryan Rehkow shanked it, and while Lemon initially waved it off, he mishandled the ball when it bounced in his direction. Lemon ultimately managed to secure it, but he lost a yard on the return.
Seeing double
Two No. 10s in white Eagles jerseys shared the field on Friday.
Payton and Braden Mann are both wearing the number in camp, which is not uncommon, especially between players in different phases of the game. But it’s less common to see those two players on the field at the same time.
Cole Payton was one of two No. 10s wearing white jerseys on the field Friday night. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
On a couple of Mann’s punts in the first half, Payton was on the field in punt coverage. As the Eagles mull whether to keep the rookie fifth-rounder out of North Dakota State on the initial 53-man roster, they’re getting a better sense of the ways he can contribute beyond the quarterback position.
Payton entered the game at quarterback with roughly four and a half minutes remaining in regulation. He did not complete either of his two pass attempts. He was sacked by Powell-Ryland.
Injury report
Safety Andre Sam went down late in the third quarter after attempting to make a tackle. He did not put any pressure on his left leg as he was lifted off the field and carted indoors.
Sam, the 2024 undrafted free agent out of LSU, had a strong outing prior to his injury. He recorded a pass breakup, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries (one on defense, another on special teams), and three tackles.
Cornerback Isaiah Bolden was injured late in the fourth quarter. He did not return to the game.
