Author: Olivia Reiner

Preseason games are generally meaningless from the standpoint that they don’t count toward a team’s regular-season record.

But for nearly half the players on any training camp roster, these games are some of the most important of their careers.

When the Eagles face the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday in their preseason opener, some players will be fighting to make the initial 53-man roster or the practice squad — either with the Eagles or another team. Others are Eagles roster locks, but they might be in competition for a prominent role.

Here are 12 Eagles players that have something to prove in the first preseason game:

Darius Cooper, WR

Cooper is practically a roster lock at this point. The 2025 undrafted free agent out of Tarleton State has made the most of his opportunities — arguably more so than any other receiver — in the absence of DeVonta Smith and Makai Lemon, who are dealing with hamstring injuries.

Last year, Cooper was primarily a “dirty work” receiver, as Nick Sirianni described him, responsible for blocking and running clear-out routes. Has he shown in camp that he’s ready for more playing time in Year 2?

“He’s having a good camp,” Sirianni said Thursday. “There’s still a lot of time left. It’s about being consistent on a daily basis. He’s done a good job being consistent on a daily basis and he makes really good catches, really elite hands and we know he’s tough and things that he can do. But I’ve been pleased with where he is.”

If he plays on Saturday, Cooper has an opportunity to show why he’s capable of taking on a bigger role in the offense.

Elijah Moore, WR

Cooper isn’t the only receiver with something to prove. Moore, entering Year 6 in the NFL and his first with the Eagles, is also battling for a roster spot in a crowded room.

He’s been showing why he deserves one lately, as his chemistry with Jalen Hurts continues to build. His latest standout moment came Tuesday when he caught a deep touchdown pass from Hurts in an 11-on-11 session.

While Moore’s stock has risen, eighth-year veteran Hollywood Brown hasn’t made much noise. Hurts has been picked off in consecutive practices while targeting Brown, the latest instance occurring on Thursday in seven-on-sevens when Mac McWilliams undercut the receiver’s route in the end zone.

Saturday’s game could provide Moore with a chance to further his case for a spot on the initial 53, especially while Brown’s stock is slipping.

Mac McWilliams, CB

Speaking of McWilliams, the 2025 fifth-rounder out of Central Florida has been the first outside cornerback off the bench for the last three practices as Jonathan Jones deals with a shoulder injury.

McWilliams got more work with the starting defense opposite Riq Woolen with Quinyon Mitchell sidelined Thursday due to a glute injury. He also took reps at nickel cornerback. Vic Fangio said on Tuesday that McWilliams has “matured” since last season, leading to improvement in his game during the offseason program and training camp.

Fangio also acknowledged that Jones could “miss some time” due to injury. McWilliams could assert himself as a frontrunner for the backup job in a crowded room that also includes Jakorian Bennett and Kelee Ringo.

Andrew Mukuba, S

Mukuba, the 2025 second-rounder out of Texas, is in line to start at safety. But it’s been nearly nine months since he played his last game.

Saturday could mark his first game since his season-ending fibula fracture in a Week 11 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. But Mukuba, who would not reveal on Thursday whether he’ll playing against the Ravens, said that he isn’t looking at the opportunity through that lens.

“I’ve already put everything behind me, to be honest with you,” Mukuba said. “I feel comfortable out here. Despite what I had going on, I feel comfortable and I’ve already put everything behind me. Just focused on what’s next and what’s in front of me.”

Marcus Epps, S

Primarily playing alongside Mukuba at safety with the starting defense in camp has been Epps, the 30-year-old veteran. Epps has two seasons of experience as a full-time starter (17 games in 2022 with the Eagles and 17 games in 2023 with the Las Vegas Raiders), plus he also started five games last season (including the playoffs) in Mukuba’s absence.

Michael Carter II is in competition for the gig, too, but Epps has commanded most of the starting reps with Mukuba in camp. Epps could potentially have an opportunity to tighten his grip on the starting role with a solid preseason performance.

Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee, QBs

McKee, 26, was Hurts’ full-time backup in 2025. Could this year be different for the 2023 sixth-rounder out of Stanford?

The Eagles acquired Dalton via trade with the Carolina Panthers in the offseason, appearing to identify their QB3. But Dalton and McKee have split reps with the second-team offense in the offseason program and in training camp, a reflection of the open competition for the top backup job.

Early in camp, Dalton seemed like the better of the two quarterbacks, but he has appeared to falter this week. On Monday, he had a handful of errant throws during team drills. He was picked off on Tuesday in 11-on-11 by Cooper DeJean and the starting defense. Dalton missed a wide-open Danny Gray in the end zone with an overthrown pass on Thursday.

The competition between Dalton and McKee could continue to play out in the preseason. It’s also worth acknowledging that their preseason performances could serve as auditions for other teams if the Eagles decide to move either player in a trade.

Eli Stowers, TE

Stowers, the second-round tight end out of Vanderbilt, could make his NFL (preseason) debut on Saturday. He has had a relatively quiet camp so far, but he has been reliable lately when the ball has come his way. The preseason could offer him more opportunities to showcase his game, especially his athleticism, which was his calling card coming out of college.

Markel Bell, T

Bell, the 6-foot-9, 346-pound tackle, will be another rookie to watch. The Eagles have been evaluating him at right tackle, where he could serve as the primary backup to Lane Johnson if he beats out incumbent Fred Johnson. Saturday could be Bell’s first game at right tackle ever, as he mostly played on the left side throughout college.

Uar Bernard, DL

Bernard has experienced plenty of firsts since he was drafted by the Eagles in the seventh round out of the International Player Pathway program. Is he ready for his first football game ever? Sirianni didn’t directly say whether Bernard would play on Saturday, but he acknowledged how important it is that he goes through a pregame routine for the first time before the season starts.

Ty Robinson, DL

Robinson may have begun camp with the developmental defense in team drills, but he has been moving his way up the depth chart recently. The 2025 fourth-rounder out of Nebraska had a strong showing on Monday as a pass rusher, forcing his way into the backfield on multiple occasions against the second-string offense. Robinson could use some standout preseason performances if he wants to make a case for the initial 53.

Willie Lampkin, OL

Lampkin hasn’t played a football game since Aug. 16, 2025. At that time, the 2025 undrafted free agent out of North Carolina was a member of the Los Angeles Rams. He had a strong start to camp, especially in the preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys. But Lampkin was injured in the second game of the preseason against the Los Angeles Chargers, and he was ultimately waived at the end of camp with an injury designation.

The Eagles signed him to the active roster and placed him on injured reserve for the rest of the year. Now, Lampkin is set to return to action this preseason as he vies for a depth role, at both center and guard.

After a week and a half of Eagles training camp, it’s time to check the stock market.

Plenty of players have flashed, including the usual notables Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley. But who else is turning heads? And who has more work to do to carve out a role on the team by the end of camp and the preseason?

Here are our early risers and fallers:

Stock up 📈

OLB Jalyx Hunt

With Jonathan Greenard sidelined due to a pectoral strain, Hunt has stepped up and taken advantage of his increased opportunities. He has had his pass-rush wins — either in team drills or one-on-ones — against starting tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said at the beginning of training camp that Hunt is “very capable” of having a big year in his third season with the team, and it’s become increasingly clear why.

DT Jalen Carter

The Eagles have high expectations for Carter, as evidenced by their decision to sign him to a four-year, $152 million contract extension at the start of camp. He’s setting the groundwork to meet those expectations, notably after recovering from shoulder procedures last season and sitting out during the offseason program. Carter continues to flaunt his game-wrecking ability, most recently when he beat Cam Jurgens on a rep during Saturday’s mock scrimmage and forced Hurts to scramble. Fangio said Wednesday that Carter is in good shape, which is allowing him to do “the little things better.”

RB Tank Bigsby

Barkley is the Eagles’ feature back, but Bigsby is making his case for more touches in his second season with the team. Most of his reps were with the second-string offense on Saturday, but he has had opportunities to spell Barkley with the starters in the first week and a half of camp. His energetic play style stands out. Bigsby has had his ups and downs in pass protection, and Saturday was a microcosm of that, as he kept a blitzing Ambry Thomas away from Andy Dalton on one play and got beat by Jihaad Campbell on the next.

C/G Drew Kendall

Kendall, the 2025 fifth-rounder out of Boston College, is Jurgens’ likely backup at center, but he has also been cross-training at guard in camp. He has taken reps with the starters, filling in for Landon Dickerson at left guard on Wednesday when the veteran took a rest day. Kendall spelled Dickerson occasionally on Saturday, then took some reps at center when Jurgens exited the field early and headed indoors with a trainer. Kendall hasn’t looked out of place. Defensive tackle Jordan Davis said on Friday that Kendall has displayed a “tremendous” amount of growth since his rookie season.

WRs Dontayvion Wicks, Elijah Moore, and Darius Cooper

DeVonta Smith and Makai Lemon have missed time with hamstring injuries, leading to opportunities for other receivers. Wicks, Moore, and Cooper in particular have had their standout moments. Wicks has popped from the start as he makes his case for WR2, highlighted by his leaping grab over a pair of defensive backs on a deep ball from Hurts on the second day of camp.

Moore and Cooper are more unlikely risers. Moore had a relatively quiet start to camp, but his chemistry with Hurts is steadily growing. He was wide open in the end zone for a successful catch on a two-point conversion during a red zone period on Saturday. Still, Moore has his work cut out for him to make the initial 53 in a crowded room.

Cooper, the 2025 undrafted free agent out of Tarleton State, has been a reliable option for Hurts. He has made several impressive plays, including a diving catch on a pass over the middle of the field from Hurts in 7-on-7s at the outset of camp. The 28-year-old quarterback noted that Cooper is a “strong-hands guy” in an interview with the NFL Network on Wednesday.

Stock down 📉

This section comes with the caveat that the Eagles are in the early stages of training camp. Just because a player’s stock might be trending downward at this moment doesn’t mean it’s time to sound the alarm.

OT Fred Johnson

Johnson has been the Eagles’ top backup swing tackle for the last few seasons. This year, he has a competitor. Markel Bell, the third-rounder out of Miami, has asserted himself as the first tackle off the bench, primarily to fill in for Lane Johnson at right tackle. On Saturday, the elder Johnson was still ramping up after he missed four practices for personal reasons, so Bell occasionally filled in for him during the scrimmage. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Eagles want their third-round pick taking those snaps with the starters, especially in light of the 36-year-old Johnson announcing Saturday that this is “probably” his final season.

WR Makai Lemon

Perhaps the best characterization of Lemon’s stock is neither up nor down. The first-round receiver out of USC has missed the last four practices with a hamstring injury. While that may put him behind compared to his peers, offensive coordinator Sean Mannion acknowledged on Saturday that Lemon has been “super engaged” in the meeting room and in walkthroughs as he follows along with the script.

Lemon isn’t the first highly touted Eagles rookie to sustain an injury during training camp. Cooper DeJean missed most of the summer in 2024 with a hamstring injury and made his preseason debut in the third and final game. Smith missed time during training camp his rookie year with an MCL sprain, returning for the second preseason game.

DT Ty Robinson

Robinson, the 2025 fourth-rounder out of Nebraska, had a slow start to camp, taking reps early on with the developmental group. He has fared better lately, including on Saturday when he won a rep in one-on-ones against Kendall. Preseason will offer more opportunities for Robinson to prove why he deserves a roster spot with Carter, Davis, Moro Ojomo all locks ahead of him.

All eyes are on the revamped receiving corps in the latest iteration of the Eagles offense.

Dontayvion Wicks. Makai Lemon. Hollywood Brown — Howie Roseman allocated significant resources, including a first-round pick, to the room this offseason in preparation for life after A.J. Brown.

When the NFL Network asked Jalen Hurts on Wednesday which receivers have emerged from the crop behind DeVonta Smith, the 28-year-old quarterback could have picked any of the Eagles’ notable offseason acquisitions.

Instead, he mentioned a 2025 undrafted free agent out of Tarleton State.

“I think Darius Cooper has done a really good job,” Hurts said. “He’s always been a big-body, physical, strong-hands guy. But just to see how he’s transitioned going into Year 2, I’m definitely excited for him, along with the rest of them.”

Hurts’ selection of Cooper shouldn’t come as a surprise based on his body of work through six practices. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound receiver is in the early stages of reprising his 2025 training camp performance.

On the first practice of camp this year, Cooper had the play of the day when he made a diving catch down the middle of the field on a pass from Hurts, placed out of reach from Cooper DeJean in 7-on-7s. Four practices later, Cooper had a one-handed snag on a pass from Andy Dalton in the end zone, but he narrowly failed to drag both feet in bounds.

Cooper called the near-touchdown a “pretty good catch,” but he acknowledged that the catch alone is only one facet of what it takes to pull off a play.

“The catch is going to happen,” Cooper said. “But it’s what you do after that. Do you get your foot in? Do you get on your back? Do you do the fundamentals? That’s what I’m focused on.”

A fixation on the small details is what earned Cooper a role in his rookie season. In June, Nick Sirianni referred to the 24-year-old receiver as one of the “dirty work guys” of the Eagles offense who is capable of executing unglamorous tasks such as blocking on the perimeter, chipping inline, and running clear-out routes.

Cooper is proving in camp that he is capable of more, especially in the absence of Smith and Lemon, who have missed practice time this week with hamstring injuries. But Cooper said he still takes pride in that dirty-work role, and he also expressed an understanding that his coaches will require those responsibilities of him if he wants a spot on the team.

“Still got to do the dirty work,” Cooper said. “Got to block on the perimeter. Still got to have that mentality on special teams as well. I’m in the same mindset. Nothing is changing for me.”

That mindset isn’t changing because the chip on Cooper’s shoulder hasn’t disappeared. He wasn’t highly recruited as a quarterback coming out of Hazelwood West High School just outside of his native St. Louis. He switched to receiver at Tarleton State, a FCS program in Stephenville, Texas, and became the school’s all-time receiving leader with 3,185 yards in five years.

Last year, Cooper became the 12th player from Tarleton State to make an NFL active roster, and the first since Colts and Texans outside linebacker E.J. Speed entered the league in 2019.

“That’s been my life for my whole football career,” Cooper said. “Coming from smaller schools, things of that nature, but still making a name for myself. But really just staying humble. Keeping my faith in everything and putting the work in and God’s going to handle the rest.”

Cooper has kept that faith in his ability to carve out a role with the Eagles, even when Roseman infused the receivers room with new talent this offseason.

“It’s part of the game,” Cooper said. “It’s part of the industry that we play in. You’ve got to know how to adjust. You meet so many people in the NFL. So I’m happy to meet these new guys, learn from them, pour into them as they pour into me. It’s a blessing to me.”

He and Hurts have also been investing in their connection. This offseason, Cooper was among the group of Eagles receivers, tight ends, and quarterbacks who traveled to Orlando, Fla., for workouts and off-the-field bonding. Cooper called the quality time he spent with Hurts “very important,” especially the conversations they had away from football.

Cooper has an advantage on some of the newcomers to the room given that he began building chemistry with Hurts last year. But Cooper isn’t relying on his rookie season to prove he deserves a spot on the initial 53-man roster and a role in the offense once again.

“Last year’s in the past,” Cooper said. “So this is a new year. Be where my feet [are] and I have that same mentality, for sure.”

Moro Ojomo is aware of the self-described “elephant in the room” — the 2023 seventh-round pick out of Texas is going into his contract year.

But this elephant carries a little more weight given the circumstances.

Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, Ojomo’s teammates on the interior defensive line, inked hefty contract extensions this offseason. Carter, 25, will be the NFL’s highest-paid defensive lineman on an average annual basis ($38 million) when his four year, $152 contract extension begins in 2028.

Davis won’t be too far behind him at $26 million per year, ranking fifth among interior defensive linemen.

Jeffrey Lurie will continue to open up his wallet as the top young stars on Vic Fangio’s defense, such as Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell, become eligible for contract extensions. Fangio had a message for Howie Roseman on Thursday regarding how Ojomo ought to fit into his future .

“Howie needs to save some money for him, too,” Fangio said.

Whether Ojomo will be next in line to get paid remains in question. Still, there’s no doubt about how their paydays will impact Ojomo’s mindset heading into Year 4.

“That just motivates me more,” Ojomo said on Monday. “I’ve always kind of been a hungry guy. Always kind of had the chip on my shoulder. So to see both of those guys succeed at a high level, I just want to succeed more.”

Ojomo, who turns 25 in August, had a breakout season in 2025, ranking second on the team with six sacks. With another standout performance, he could earn himself a substantial pay raise. But it might serve him best to test the market as a free agent like Milton Williams did last offseason when he signed a four-year, $104 million deal with the New England Patriots.

Alas, Ojomo isn’t an agent. He pays one of the top-performing NFL agents — David Mulugheta of Athletes First — to handle his contract negotiations. Their professional relationship is relatively new, too, as Ojomo became a client of the agency in February.

Rather than dwell on his uncertain future in Philadelphia, Ojomo is choosing to focus on his on-field performance. So, when asked if it was his choice to go into the final year of his contract without signing an extension, Ojomo acknowledged he is following Mulugheta’s lead.

“Obviously, there’s no agreement as of right now,” Ojomo said. “[Recently extended Tennessee Titans defensive tackle] Jeff Simmons is with the agency, right? We’ve got a lot of really big, talented players. So I really do believe that [Mulugheta] can do his job at a high level. And I know that if I’m trying to do his job for him, I’m going to become a worse player.”

After all, Ojomo has bigger issues to worry about, starting with his opponents in training camp on the Eagles offensive line.

“I got to go out there and I got to go produce,” Ojomo said. “I got to go out there and I got to go play. I’m worried about freaking Jordan Mailata and Landon [Dickerson]’s heavy asses. I can’t be thinking about [my contract].”

A rising tide could lift all ships on the Eagles defensive line in 2026, much to Ojomo’s benefit. Carter is healthy again after shoulder injuries hampered his performance in 2025. Back in 2024, Carter drew his fair share of double teams, and Williams capitalized on his one-on-ones by finishing the year with five sacks (ranking third on the Eagles).

Before the defensive line can wreak havoc against opposing quarterbacks on Sundays, the group must jell in training camp. Over the first four practices, Ojomo, Carter, and Davis have each flashed against the Jalen Hurts-led starting offense, both as pass rushers and run stoppers.

Ojomo might be trying not to count the contents of his teammates’ pockets, but he is counting on them to help raise the standard for the entire group.

“We’ve got an extremely loaded room,” Ojomo said. “Those guys know I compete. Those guys know that I’m not backing down from anything. So the goal and the aim is always to be the best defensive tackle. That’s my mindset.

“I want to make more plays. I want to get more sacks. I want to make more [tackles for loss], and I want to be the best in the room and the best in the league. Ultimately, I think if we all have that mindset, we’ll bring the best out of each other.”

Howie Roseman said Wednesday the pectoral strain that landed 29-year-old edge rusher Jonathan Greenard on the Physically Unable to Perform list isn’t a “long-term injury.”

But that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be able to participate in training camp.

On Thursday morning, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio noted that it “remains to be seen” whether Greenard will return to the practice field before Week 1 against the Washington Commanders. Still, like Roseman, Fangio didn’t express too much concern over Greenard’s absence from practice.

“He’s a veteran player, so he knows the league, knows how to play,” Fangio said. “But we’re going to be asking him to do some different things that he hadn’t had to do in his career, and that’s really what he’s going to be missing with this time off. He’s going to miss a good bit of camp.”

Those different tasks include dropping into coverage. Greenard has taken 203 coverage snaps throughout his six-year career, according to Pro Football Focus, but he is new to Fangio’s scheme and the way he coaches the responsibilities at each position.

Regardless, Fangio said he thinks Greenard is capable of dropping once he is back on the field.

“But he’s got to learn it,” Fangio added. “And the only way you learn it is to do it. He does a good job in the meetings. He’s paying attention. He’s focused, watching practice. But it’s not the same.“

The Eagles acquired Greenard this offseason from the Minnesota Vikings and signed him to a four-year extension, identifying their top edge rusher after Jaelan Phillips departed for the Carolina Panthers in free agency.

Greenard’s absence in camp will lead to opportunities for other players. Third-year edge rusher Jalyx Hunt had a strong start on Wednesday, winning a handful of reps against Jordan Mailata. Fangio said he thinks Hunt is “very capable” of having a big year after he led the team with 6½ sacks last season.

Fangio also lauded 27-year-old A.J. Epenesa, whom the Eagles signed in June. While he said it “remains to be seen” how Epenesa can help the depth of the group in the absence of Greenard, he made a strong impression on the first day of camp.

“For a guy that’s being asked to do a few things that he’s never done before, I thought he did a nice job [on Wednesday] with it,” Fangio said. “He was very encouraging.”

Safety competition continues

Throughout the offseason program and during the first two days of training camp, 30-year-old Marcus Epps has been holding down the starting safety spot alongside Andrew Mukuba in nickel defense.

Cooper DeJean is still occupying the starting safety spot in base defense, then shifting to the slot in nickel. Despite the continuation of those trends from the offseason program to training camp, Fangio wasn’t ready to anoint Epps the starter in nickel on Thursday.

“[Michael] Carter [II]’s doing fine, too,” Fangio said. “It’s [a] competition.”

Carter, 27, has rotated in at safety with the starting defense over the last two days. While the competition remains open for that spot in nickel, Fangio seemed to stand firm on keeping DeJean at safety in base instead of outside cornerback, a role he occupied last year.

Unsurprisingly, Fangio is more inclined to keep Riq Woolen on the field for every down than he was Adoree’ Jackson, who came off in base in 2025.

“But things can change,” Fangio said. “If we lose guys or guys aren’t playing good.”

Baun to wear green dot

Zack Baun enters the 2026 season with a new responsibility. Well, a semi-new responsibility.

Fangio revealed that the 29-year-old inside linebacker will wear the green dot on his helmet as the primary signal-caller for the defense, a responsibility that was previously held by Nakobe Dean.

The job isn’t totally foreign to Baun. While Dean was sidelined for the first five games of 2025 and didn’t take a defensive snap in the sixth, Baun was tasked with relaying the play calls he received through the radio in his helmet.

Fangio expressed his confidence in Baun at mastering any challenge within the defense, not just his newest full-time responsibility.

“Whatever you ask Zack to do, if he’s not good at it right now, he’ll fight through to get good at it,” Fangio said.

Money matters

Jalen Carter became the highest-paid defensive tackle in league history when he agreed to terms on a four-year, $152 million ($106 million guaranteed) extension on Tuesday.

Fangio reiterated Roseman’s remarks on Wednesday, when the general manager emphasized that he paid Carter based on his future performance, not on what he has accomplished in three seasons with the Eagles.

“Obviously, Howie’s confident that in this case, hopefully, he’ll pick his game up even more,” Fangio said.

Carter won’t be the only Eagles defensive tackle looking to elevate his game in 2026. Moro Ojomo, who turns 25 in August, is headed into a contract year. With extensions looming in the not-so-distant future for 2024 draft class members such as Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, Fangio made his feelings about Ojomo’s future in Philadelphia clear.

“Howie needs to save some money for him, too,” Fangio said.

Ojomo had a breakout season in 2025, finishing second on the team with six sacks. But as the Eagles defense becomes more expensive, it is unclear if Roseman will prioritize keeping the 2023 seventh-round pick out of Texas beyond this season.