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Author: Conor Smith

  • Titans ‘ready to plaster’ Eagles receivers, Jeffery Simmons’ hot take, and more before Sunday’s game

    Titans ‘ready to plaster’ Eagles receivers, Jeffery Simmons’ hot take, and more before Sunday’s game

    Last week, the Eagles kicked off the 2026 season with a 24-22 victory over the Washington Commanders. Now, they will face the Tennessee Titans in Nashville for the first time since 2018. The Titans, who haven’t had a winning season since 2021, lost, 23-10, to the New York Jets in Week 1.

    The Eagles are favored to win on Sunday (1 p.m., Fox29), with many predicting a Birds blowout. Here’s what the Titans are saying about their chances:

    ‘Make Jalen Hurts be a QB’

    The biggest headline-grabbing quote of the week goes to Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.

    “We just need to make Jalen Hurts be a QB,” Simmons said Wednesday. “Stop his runs, make sure Hurts doesn’t get out of the pocket and make plays.”

    For Hurts, the criticism is nothing new. Coming off a 2025 season that ended with coordinator Kevin Patullo fired, Hurts’ play was scrutinized by fans and the media alike.

    However, all three of Hurts’ touchdown passes against the Commanders came from the pocket.

    Simmons, a four-time Pro Bowler at defensive tackle, will line up against a depleted Eagles offensive line. Earlier this week, the Eagles placed left guard Landon Dickerson on injured reserve. It is expected that second-year offensive lineman Drew Kendall will replace Dickerson, but the team has kept its plan private.

    “We’re going to keep that in-house in terms of what our plan is for this week, just for competitive reasons,” offensive coordinator Sean Mannion said Tuesday regarding whether center Cam Jurgens could move to left guard.

    Eagles respond to Titans’ Jeffery Simmons’ shot at Jalen Hurts

    Titans defense ‘ready to plaster’ Birds wideouts

    Titans defensive coordinator Gus Bradley is concerned with Hurts’ ability to extend plays with his legs. His solution? Shut down his wide receivers.

    “With any quarterback that can use his legs to extend the play, you got to be ready to plaster [his receivers],” Bradley said. “That’s been a big emphasis.”

    Former NFL linebacker found his passion bringing ‘legit Philly water ice’ to Tennessee

    With eyes on newly minted No. 1 wide receiver DeVonta Smith and 2026 first-round pick Makai Lemon, the story at wideout in Week 1 was former Packer Dontayvion Wicks, who came down with a 64-yard reception in the first quarter to set up the Eagles’ first score. Then, he hauled in a 9-yard touchdown pass to put the Eagles up, 14-3, in the second quarter. Wicks trailed just Smith, who finished with three receptions for 53 yards, in offensive snaps.

    Lemon is looking to break out against the Titans’ man coverage. The rookie was involved early in new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion’s game plan, but he finished with three catches for minus-5 yards.

    Bradley also had praise for Eagles running back Saquon Barkley.

    “Where [Barkley is] really good is if he has an opportunity,” Bradley said. “I mean, he will run through darkness. That’s probably a good way to describe it. He will run through darkness, and if he can hit it with a full head of steam, he is extremely difficult. Somehow, we’ve got to do a good job setting the edges, check his feet a little bit like with most good backs, right? You don’t want to hit him full speed. He’s so dynamic, he can take one to the house at any time.”

    With the Eagles offensive line struggling, Barkley consistently was bottled up against the Commanders. His 83 yards on 15 carries look a lot worse if you consider that 42 of those yards came on a single rush in the second quarter. Barkley will look to have a more consistent game against a Titans defense that was gashed by Jets running back Breece Hall in Week 1. Hall finished with 102 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries.

    How will the Eagles replace Landon Dickerson?

    ‘Tough challenge’ facing the Eagles

    Titans second-year starting quarterback Cam Ward described the Eagles defense as “standout.”

    “I think their back end is very good,” Ward said. “Their rush, they get a lot of praise, which they deserve. I think it’s going to be a great challenge for the guys up front, for myself, and in the protection game and the run game. Make sure we’re in the right look. I think it’s going to be a fun atmosphere, too.”

    Ward struggled against the Jets in Week 1 and completed just 19 of his 32 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown. Ward was under pressure on 41% of his snaps, according to Next Gen Stats. On those possessions, he completed just 3 of 10 attempts for 17 yards. Just as New York did, expect Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to dial up the blitz against the 2025 first overall pick.

    Our writers pick a winner for the Week 2 game in Nashville

    Like his quarterback, Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll also showed the Eagles respect during his press availability. Daboll, who was head coach of the Giants from 2022 to 2025, finished 2-7 against the Eagles during his tenure there.

    “Coach [Nick] Sirianni is an excellent head coach,” Daboll said. “42-4 when he wins the turnover ratio, which is a pretty impressive stat. So that’s going to be paramount. Coach Fangio has done this for about 40 years in the NFL, plus whatever he did in college. Tremendous scheme, very sound. … And then you add the players, a collection of players that Howie [Roseman] assembles each and every year. It’s a tough challenge.”

  • ‘Brothers’ Cavan Sullivan, Frankie Westfield, and Neil Pierre getting called up to the USMNT together is ‘another level’

    ‘Brothers’ Cavan Sullivan, Frankie Westfield, and Neil Pierre getting called up to the USMNT together is ‘another level’

    It was only a matter of time.

    On Thursday, Union forward Cavan Sullivan earned his first call-up to the senior U.S. men’s national team. If the 16-year-old phenom makes his debut in one of the team’s four autumn friendlies, he will become the second-youngest player ever to play for the USMNT, behind just Freddy Adu.

    Sullivan is widely regarded as one of the next faces of U.S. soccer. The Philadelphia native signed a contract with the Union at just 14 and is set to transfer to the Premier League’s Manchester City at the end of 2027. While his call-up seemed inevitable to most onlookers, Sullivan did not feel it was.

    “I don’t think it was necessarily expected, in all honesty,” Sullivan said after practice Thursday. “I never really like to think about what may come. Obviously, it’s something every kid works toward and dreams of. But to finally get it, it made my year.”

    Cavan Sullivan earns his first USMNT callup, as do Union teammates Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield

    Added Sullivan: “This is a really exciting next step. It’s your first; I feel like I’ll always remember this one.”

    Sullivan has been on a tear since the MLS resumed its season following the World Cup break. In 12 appearances, he has logged six goals and five assists, second only to Lionel Messi over that same span. His contributions have helped the Union to an 11-game unbeaten streak in league play. The team is currently in playoff position at seventh place in the Eastern Conference after a 1-10-4 start and the dismissal of manager Bradley Carnell.

    Philly's Cavan Sullivan reacts to being called up to U.S. men's national team.
    Video: Philly’s Cavan Sullivan reacts to being called up to U.S. men’s national team.

    Playing against older and more developed players is nothing new for Sullivan. However, the opportunity to play alongside some of the best players the United States has to offer is not lost on him. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who declined to reveal in past media engagements if he would call up Sullivan, selected 14 MLS players to star on his 28-man roster. The team also features players from the Premier League, the German Bundesliga, Italy’s Serie A, and Spain’s LaLiga.

    Cavan Sullivan cemented his case for making the U.S. men’s national team in the Union’s rout of San Diego

    “[Playing up] sort of teaches you, you’re not always going to be like the fastest, strongest, biggest. [It’s] sort of cliche, but you got to learn how to manipulate defenders and pass and move and learn to combine with your teammates,” Sullivan said. “Just develop a relationship with the ball that’s more close to [your] feet. You won’t always be able to just touch it by a guy and sprint faster than him.”

    Sullivan, whose older brother and Union teammate Quinn previously played for the USMNT under Pochettino, will have some familiar faces with him at camp. Union teammates Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield also made Thursday’s roster. Like Sullivan, both players are products of the Union Academy and will be making their senior national team debuts.

    On Thursday, Pierre noted that he was texting Sullivan and Westfield “nonstop” while they awaited the decision.

    Neil Pierre (left) will join Union teammates Cavan Sullivan (right) and Frankie Westfield (not pictured) on the USMNT.Philadelphia Union

    “[I] can’t even lie, me and the boys, like Cav and Frankie, were checking our emails 24/7,” Pierre said.

    “We’ve been talking about this since we were 14-15, starting to go into national team camps,” he later added. “Like, how would it feel for all of us to go at the same time and individually going to like the men’s, that’s what you kind of dream for and try to get to. To do it is a great accomplishment and then also to do it with your brothers is just another level.”

    Cavan Sullivan does a LeBron James tribute, and hopes he’ll come to a Union game

    Pierre, an 18-year-old centerback, towers over most of his MLS competition at 6-foot-7. Through nine appearances this season, he has scored four goals. However, he is being called up to the national team for his defense.

    Next to Pierre on the Union’s back line has been Westfield, the team’s starting right back and, like Sullivan, a Northeast Philly native. His brother, Rocco, starred for Father Judge in basketball. Westfield has eight assists in 21 starts this season. He noted it was “nothing but happiness” for him and his teammates when they received the news, but he is not looking to slow down.

    Frankie Westfield (center) and Cavan Sullivan (right) are both Northeast Philly natives.Isaiah Vazquez / For The Inquirer

    “I also don’t want to stop here. Always, the final goal is to make the roster for your national team, but I know I don’t want to stop,” Westfield said. “I want to keep going, keep trying for more, and stay there and produce.”

    The three selections are just the latest for the Union Academy. The club saw four homegrown stars play for the U.S. men’s national team in the World Cup this summer: Brenden Aaronson, Matt Freese, Mark McKenzie, and Auston Trusty.

    “We think it’s very well-deserved,” Union sporting director John Scheer said. “So happy for the players and their families who worked so hard over the years. I’d say it’s a proud moment for not only our first team, where they’re having really big roles and they’re high performers for our group, but for our entire club.”

  • Going to the Eagles-Titans game? Here’s what to know about Nashville, from Birds tailgates to celebrating Dolly Parton.

    Going to the Eagles-Titans game? Here’s what to know about Nashville, from Birds tailgates to celebrating Dolly Parton.

    The Eagles are traveling to Nashville to take on the Tennessee Titans this weekend. If it’s like their 2018 meeting, many Birds fans are expected to follow.

    Coming off their team’s first Super Bowl win, Philadelphia fans took over Nashville — and the party started before they arrived. In a viral moment, a Southwest Airlines attendant shared on social media that 175 Eagles fans aboard a flight to the Music City finished every drop of alcohol on the plane. The attendant, Rachel Thomas, added that she was forced to listen to the Eagles fight song “35 times.”

    Nissan Stadium was not quite converted to an Eagles home game then, but the stadium’s stands did boast huge clusters of green among the crowd. The Eagles lost in overtime that day, 26-23. This time around, Philly fans who are making the trip are expecting an Eagles (1-0) win on Sunday. The Titans are projected to be one of the worst teams in football this season and lost to the lowly Jets in Week 1.

    What we know (and don’t) about the Eagles entering Week 2 vs. the Titans

    Here’s everything Eagles fans need to know before traveling to Nashville …

    Where do I find fellow Birds fans?

    Eagles fan groups are holding a few meetups and tailgates before Sunday’s game.

    The Green Legion, which has hosted road trips for Eagles fans since 2004, is kicking off the weekend with a Saturday Pep Rally aboard the General Jackson Showboat. The sunset cruise along the Cumberland River runs from 5 to 8 p.m. and will feature a three-hour open bar and “light food.”

    The group is also hosting a tailgate on Sunday at Nashville Live! from 8 a.m. to noon. The bar, a distant cousin of South Philly’s Stateside Live!, is located across from Nissan Stadium. Tickets are limited for both events and can be found on the Green Legion’s website.

    Hoppers Bar Tours, a Nashville-based tour operator, is hosting an “Ultimate Birds Weekend” bar crawl. The crawl will take Eagles fans to six bars over three days beginning Friday. Former Eagles kicker David Akers, the franchise’s all-time leader in total points, is slated to do a “meet and greet” Friday night at Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottoms Up. Tickets can be purchased on Hoppers’ website.

    Fans hold up a sign for their next opponent, the Giants, after the Eagles beat the Titans 35-10 in Philly in 2022.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    Where should I get a cheesesteak?

    If you can’t go a weekend without one or want to try Nashville’s take on the Philly staple, Brotherly Love Cheesesteaks boasts what they claim to be an authentic cheesesteak.

    Restaurant co-owner John Hoffman, alongside partners Nicholas Nathan and Jeremy Smith, ate their way through Philadelphia’s top cheesesteak spots a few years ago to perfect their cheesesteak. They settled on using thin-sliced steak on their sandwiches. The only issue? Southerners weren’t used to “flats.”

    “We found out that Southerners don’t think that’s a cheesesteak,” Hoffman told The Inquirer. “But we now are chopping it, and people are really enjoying it. I think we’re up there as maybe best cheesesteak in Nashville, which is awesome.”

    Chase Utley and Vince Papale jerseys are among the Philly sports memorabilia hanging on the walls in Brotherly Love Cheesesteaks in Nashville, Tenn.Courtesy of Brothery Love Cheesesteaks

    “We’re getting our rolls shipped down from Amoroso’s, using center-cut ribeye, using Whiz, Cooper Sharp,” he added. “You know, we’re trying to keep it as authentic as humanly possible.”

    The restaurant, which has a significant amount of Philadelphia sports memorabilia, has hosted watch parties for every Eagles game since opening in 2024. Hoffman, a native of Harrisburg, will be cheering on the Eagles at Nissan Stadium.

    Where can I dance?

    There are plenty of places to hear songs that are not “Fly Eagles Fly” this weekend.

    Nashville is known for its country music. Most “honky-tonks” on Lower Broadway, the city’s main strip of bars, feature live music without a cover fee. Popular music venues in the district include Robert’s Western World and Tootsies Orchid Lounge. There are also a slew of venues owned and named after country music stars.

    Donovan McNabb says Eagles offense was ‘not exciting’ in season-opening win over Washington

    If you are interested learning to line dance, consider checking out Bootleggers Inn on Broadway, a Prohibition-era bar. The bar offers lessons every day courtesy of Stompin Grounds, a line dancing company. You can book lessons at Bootleggers on Stompin Ground’s website.

    Where can I celebrate Dolly Parton?

    Most Eagles fans will be flying into Nashville International Airport — which will soon carry a different name.

    Last week, a 6-0 vote by the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority established that the airport will be renamed after Tennessee native Dolly Parton. The country music legend died at 80 last month after a short battle with cancer.

    A view of the Nashville International Airport, which will be named after Dolly Parton.George Walker IV

    Dollywood, Parton’s amusement park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., is about a three-hour drive from Nashville. However, Birds fans can still pay their respects to the “9 to 5” singer without making the pilgrimage. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, located in downtown Nashville, is hosting a special exhibition for Parton through October, titled Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker. The exhibit features some of Parton’s signature rhinestone dresses and other memorabilia from her career.

    If museums are not your speed, you can dine at White Limozeen — a rooftop restaurant in Midtown Nashville named after Parton’s 1989 album. White Limozeen features pink decor, a rooftop pool, and a 9-foot-tall statue of Parton’s head made of chicken wire. The restaurant is almost as extravagant as Parton, herself.

  • Ivy Madness is coming to the PPL Center in Allentown starting in 2028

    Ivy Madness is coming to the PPL Center in Allentown starting in 2028

    The Ivy League is bringing its men’s and women’s conference basketball tournaments to Allentown.

    On Tuesday, the league announced that it has agreed to a three-year deal with the PPL Center to make the arena home to Ivy Madness starting in 2028. The Lehigh Valley Phantoms arena was selected due to its “centralized location within the league’s geographic footprint,” according to a release. The conference previously employed a rotation for the tournament around all eight of its teams’ arenas.

    “We are incredibly excited to bring Ivy Madness to PPL Center and the surrounding communities beginning in 2028,” Ivy League Executive Director Robin Harris said in a release. “Ivy Madness has grown into an incredible celebration of our student-athletes, institutions and the competitive excellence of Ivy League basketball.

    The Penn bench reacts after a made basket by their teammates against Harvard.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    “The PPL Center provides a neutral site in a first-class venue, a vibrant downtown setting and a location that is accessible to so many of our alumni and fans. We believe this partnership creates an exciting opportunity to continue elevating the championship experience for our student-athletes and Ivy League basketball overall.”

    Penn will host Ivy Madness this season as a part of the Palestra’s 100th anniversary celebration. Dartmouth was originally scheduled to host the tournament but relinquished the opportunity because of the celebration. The Big Green are the only team in the Ivy League to never host the tournament after the rotating schedule began after 2018.

    The Ivy League basketball tournaments will return to the Palestra in 2027

    In its release, the conference also noted that the PPL Center was selected due to its “premier arena setting.” The Ivy arenas, which previously held the tournaments, range dramatically in size. Harvard’s Lavietes Pavilion holds 1,636 people while the Palestra’s maximum capacity is 8,722. The PPL Center, which can hold up to 8,500 fans for Phantoms games, will provide Ivy Madness with consistent seating capacity.

    “PPL Center is thrilled to welcome Ivy Madness to the Lehigh Valley,” PPL Center co-owners Rob and Jim Brooks said. “As a hub for our community, we take pride in hosting a diverse range of events that bring people together. Ivy Madness is an exciting new addition to our calendar, offering a great experience for local fans while also welcoming visitors from across the region.”

  • Ivy League football to add bye week and start season earlier in 2027

    Ivy League football to add bye week and start season earlier in 2027

    The Ivy League will be starting its football season earlier next season.

    On Monday, the conference announced that it would be kicking off its 2027 season on Sept. 11 and instituting a leaguewide bye week during the weekend of Oct. 23. Each team’s first game will be against an Ivy opponent.

    The Ivy League, which plays a 10-game season, is consistently the last conference in college football to kick off its season due to its shortened schedule. All other FCS teams play a total of 12 regular-season games.

    Penn and the rest of the Ivy League will kick off the 2026 season Saturday. The Quakers are slated to take on Bucknell (1-2), a team already three games into its season.

    New coach Rick Santos shares insight into Penn’s changes, starting QB, and what’s ahead

    The announcement comes after the conference’s first season participating in the FCS playoffs. The Ivies, in an effort to maintain a sense of tradition, had barred its schools from participating in the postseason since the 1945 signing of the Ivy Group Agreement. This changed after a proposal from the conference’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee was approved by the Ivy League Council of Presidents in December 2024. The league’s winner now receives an automatic bid to the playoffs.

    When it was first announced that the Ivy League would be participating in the FCS playoffs, there was speculation that the conference would also adapt to a 12-game schedule. With Monday’s announcement, that now seems unlikely in the coming years.

    Last season, competing for an FCS championship for the first time, the Ancient Eight sent two teams to the playoffs. Yale received an automatic bid after winning the Ivy title and Harvard received an at-large selection. While the Crimson were trounced by Villanova in the first round, the Bulldogs won their first playoff matchup against Youngstown State before falling in the second round to Montana State.

    Including the playoffs, Yale played 12 straight games last season.

    Next year’s change will allow the Ivy’s schedule to align better with the rest of the teams competing in the FCS. It will also ensure that the conference’s playoff teams do not have a competitive disadvantage due to a lack of rest. The Ivy League had traditionally played 10 straight games without a bye week.

  • Philadelphia Wings are one of two National Lacrosse League teams that are discontinuing operations

    Philadelphia Wings are one of two National Lacrosse League teams that are discontinuing operations

    The Wings, Philadelphia’s National Lacrosse League franchise, are folding.

    On Thursday, the NLL announced that the Wings and the Ottawa Black Bears would cease operations. For the Wings, the decision comes after Comcast Spectacor pulled its ownership of the franchise following the 2025-26 season. At the time, the NLL announced that it had initiated a “comprehensive process” to find an owner for the team, but the league ultimately decided to contract. The move to discontinue the Wings and the Black Bears, which also had ownership turnover, leaves the NLL with 12 teams.

    “Today is a difficult day for the National Lacrosse League and, most importantly, for the fans, players, employees and partners who have supported the Ottawa Black Bears and Philadelphia Wings,” NLL commissioner Brett Frood said in a release. “These are proud lacrosse markets with passionate communities, and we are grateful to everyone who has invested their time, energy and belief in these clubs.

    “As we enter our 40th anniversary season, our responsibility is to provide certainty for our constituents and move forward with 12 active member clubs aligned behind the League’s collective future.”

    Wings go out with a victory in their last home game in Philly: ‘We’re going to miss them’

    The NLL noted in its release that both cities “remain important markets to the NLL,” and the league would “consider future opportunities in either community if the long-term conditions and partners necessary to support a sustainable franchise are established.”

    After Comcast Spectacor pulled its ownership of the Wings, it was expected that the franchise would move out of the city. The team was never included in Comcast Spectacor and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment’s plan for a new arena in the stadium complex that will open in 2030.

    Sam LeClair hugs Brennan O’Neill (left) after the Philadelphia Wings’ final home game at Xfinity Mobile Arena in April.Heather Barry / NLL

    A dispersal draft, allowing the 12 remaining franchises to select players from the Wings and Black Bears, will be Sept. 15.

    Last season, the Wings (5-13) finished with the worst record in the NLL. The franchise was established in 1987 as one of the original four teams of the NLL. The Wings became a fan favorite at the Spectrum as box lacrosse, which originated in Canada, gained popularity in the United States. The Wings relocated to Connecticut in 2014 and were renamed the New England Black Wolves. However, in 2017, the franchise was reestablished as an expansion team under the ownership of Comcast Spectacor.

    The termination of the Wings franchise does not leave Philadelphia without a professional lacrosse team, as the Premier Lacrosse League’s Philadelphia Waterdogs have gained a fan base in the area. The league uses a touring model, in which teams travel from city to city as a league and franchises have “homecoming weekends” in their home markets. The Waterdogs, who played at Subaru Park last month, are slated to take on the Denver Outlaws in the league’s championship game on Sept. 20 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, N.J. (12:30 p.m., 6abc).

  • Commanders brewing ‘a recipe for disaster’ against Eagles, and what else the national media is saying about Week 1

    Commanders brewing ‘a recipe for disaster’ against Eagles, and what else the national media is saying about Week 1

    On Wednesday night, Week 1 of the NFL season kicked off. With it, so did “predictions season” — in which media members rush to their keyboards to forecast every week’s matchups.

    The Eagles open up their season on Sunday at home against the Washington Commanders (4:25 p.m. Fox29). Like many around the country, The Inquirer’s four beat writers picked the Birds to come out on top.

    Here’s what NFL analysts are saying about the Eagles’ chances this weekend and the team’s overall outlook on the season:

    NFL.com: Lots to like about the Birds’ defense

    NFL.com polled five of its analysts on all 16 Week 1 matchups, and the Eagles were one of six teams it unanimously picked to win their opener. For NFL.com editor Gennaro Filice, who authored the website’s majority opinion, a major factor was the Birds’ defense.

    “I have serious doubts about [Jayden] Daniels’ supporting cast, especially the Laremy Tunsil-less offensive line,” Filice wrote. “That’s a recipe for disaster against Vic Fangio’s defense. Sure, the Eagles’ edge group has question marks, but the front is spearheaded by the devastating DT duo of Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. Even if Jayden can avoid those 650 pounds of PAIN, Philly has two athletic linebackers (Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell) to track the fleet-footed quarterback and a pair of first-team All-Pro cover men (Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean) to close his passing lanes.”

    Vic Fangio announces Eagles starter at safety; expect a rotation at edge rusher

    Tunsil, the Commanders’ five-time Pro Bowl left tackle, could miss “a significant portion of the regular season” after tearing his triceps in an August practice. Last season, Tunsil let up just two sacks and 15 pressures in 14 starts. The Commanders offensive line ranked 15th overall in pass blocking last year.

    Terry McLaurin and the Commanders will be without their top offensive lineman against the Eagles’ defense on Sunday.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Athletic writer feels ‘bad’ for Jayden Daniels

    Nick Kostos, a writer for The Athletic, selected the Eagles to win on Sunday — but he has some love for Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels.

    “I feel bad for Jayden Daniels. Less than two years ago, he had the Commanders in the NFC Championship Game as a rookie (coincidentally in Philly against the Eagles),” Kostos wrote. “And it feels like the Commanders are wasting the years on his rookie deal. I love Daniels, but the Eagles might have the best defense in the NFL — and I’m a Jalen Hurts believer. It’s the Eagles or nothing for me here.”

    Neither QB Jalen Hurts nor coach Nick Sirianni faces a make-or-break season in 2026. Good. | Marcus Hayes

    Hurts has won seven of his 10 matchups against the Commanders. In those games, the Eagles captain has passed for 2,152 yards, 14 touchdowns, and three interceptions. He’s rushed for another six touchdowns against Washington.

    Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has been stellar against the Commanders in his career.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    ESPN likes the Eagles on Sunday, not for Super Bowl

    ESPN picked the Birds on Sunday and also recently asked 65 experts to predict how the NFL season would shake out. Of that group, just four predicted the Eagles to come out of the NFC. The most common answer was the Los Angeles Rams, as 43 analysts predicted LA as the NFC representative in Super Bowl LXI. Of the four who predicted the Eagles to make the Super Bowl, two chose Philadelphia to win: longtime NFL analyst Kevin Clark and NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe.

    The 65 experts also predicted the league’s MVP, and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow received the most votes (16). No Eagles received votes.

    The Inquirer’s game-by-game Eagles picks, NFL playoff selections and major award winners

    Forbes ranks Eagles as ninth most valuable franchise

    In 2022, the Eagles were valued at $4.9 billion, per Forbes. Four years and one Lombardi Trophy later, the franchise has more than doubled that evaluation.

    The Eagles ranked No. 9 on Forbes’ annual list of most valuable franchises, coming in at a valuation of $10.25 billion. Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie purchased the team in 1994 for $185 million.

    Lincoln Financial Field made up 13.1% of Forbes’ evaluation. With the stadium’s contract ending in 2032, the franchise is in an “exploratory research” phase on a new or renovated stadium.

  • Eagles great Brandon Graham prepares to become ‘a rookie again’ in life after football

    Eagles great Brandon Graham prepares to become ‘a rookie again’ in life after football

    In retirement, Brandon Graham will have to be “a rookie again” to learn about life after football.

    A day after announcing — for a second time — that he is calling it quits, Graham talked about his decision to retire on his podcast Brandon Graham Unblocked. Graham, who played 16 NFL seasons, said he met with a sports psychiatrist to make the decision — which he repeatedly emphasized is final.

    “Everything is going to be like being a rookie again,” Graham said. “And for me, I started [playing golf], then being at [my] kids’ games, taking care of myself — not feeling guilty of the free time that I do get. [Not] thinking that I got to fill it up because I’m so used to filling my schedule.”

    Ron Jaworski departs NBC Sports Philadelphia ahead of Eagles’ season

    “It’s OK to go take a nap,” he added with a laugh. “I mean I never really took naps.”

    Brandon Graham played 16 seasons after being drafted by the Eagles from Michigan in 2010.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Graham explained that his sports psychiatrist challenged him to get “uncomfortable” to understand what retirement would look like. Unlike last offseason, when Graham stuck around the Eagles training facility despite announcing his retirement, the franchise’s all-time leader in games played purposely stayed out of the Jefferson Health Training Complex this summer.

    Along with conversations with his psychiatrist and his family, Graham also reached out to former teammates. One was former Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, who Graham had not seen “for a while.”

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    “[Cox] had somebody that he talked with and helped him have a different perspective on where we are right now as athletes,” Graham said. “We had this one thing that we identified with for so long, and trying to make sure that we find the right identity with each other. [We are] really helping each other in this together. That’s been my locker mate, right next to my locker for so long, and it’s like, ‘Why can’t we talk outside of this?’”

    “You got the first taste of it because you’ve been out longer than me,” he added. “Tell me what to look for and some stuff that you’ve been through. And that’s the vulnerability that we’re trying to have. That normally you don’t have all the time because us as men, it’s more about ‘be tough, be hard.’ [I am] trying to teach my son, it’s OK to cry.”

    Graham explained that when a player retires from the NFL, it’s like the “lights just shut off.” He noted that, “nobody [is] looking for you, ain’t nobody calling [you]” in retirement.

    ‘I was so tired of that question’: Brandon Graham turns his attention from the Eagles to his new media career

    Like he did with Cox, Graham has made an effort to keep former teammates in his life. He mentioned longtime NFL defensive end Robert Quinn, who played six games with the Eagles in 2022, as someone he keeps in touch with. Graham knows Quinn is “struggling too” despite acting like he is not.

    “Even like a guy like Linval Joseph, somebody like that,” Graham said. “He a funny boy anyway, like he’s going to be alright, but he go through stuff too. And we all lean on each other, and we all talk with each other.”

    Brandon Graham on an episode of his “Unblocked” podcast for PHLY.PHLY

    ‘On my Jalen Hurts’

    Early in the podcast, Graham’s co-host and PHLY contributor Bo Wulf joked that Graham should have saved his retirement announcement for the podcast.

    “I couldn’t save it man, I had to get everybody ready for what we had to talk about today,” Graham responded.

    Wulf was not the only one surprised by Graham’s announcement — which came on stage at a “Breakfast with the Birds” event hosted by Jefferson Health. Graham’s wife, Carlyne, was also not expecting the news to drop on Tuesday.

    “I heard from my wife, I got an earful on that one,” Graham joked. “Like, ‘boy, you always talking and you doing this?’ I should have been on my Jalen Hurts, not giving too much. And that’s where I say, ‘we all learn, we all make mistakes.’ But I think that was a good mistake.”

  • Brandon Graham is ‘officially done.’ Let’s look back at his most memorable moments with the Eagles.

    Brandon Graham is ‘officially done.’ Let’s look back at his most memorable moments with the Eagles.

    Brandon Graham is retiring — again.

    On Tuesday, at a “Breakfast with the Birds” event hosted by Jefferson Health, the Eagles great announced that he was “officially done.” Graham, 38, retired in March 2025 following the Eagles’ victory in Super Bowl LIX. But the Eagles re-signed Graham after Week 7 last season as they lacked depth on the defensive line.

    On Tuesday, Graham put to rest any question whether he would return to the Eagles in 2026.

    Eagles legend Brandon Graham announces he’s done playing football — again

    “But let me tell you this, [the Eagles] are in great hands,” Graham said. “Jordan Davis, I’m telling you, he is a guy that’s going to get the defense going. On offense, I can’t wait for Jalen [Hurts] to prove them haters wrong as always and get us back to the promised land.

    “I’m going to still be around. … I’m still giving wisdom, helping the guys.”

    When Graham called it quits the first time, The Inquirer put together a list of his best moments on and off the field. Just like Graham did for the Eagles, we are running it back with another list of No. 55’s most memorable moments:

    His tearful goodbye

    When Graham announced his retirement in 2025, the Eagles all-time leader in games played took to the podium to say his goodbyes. Just as Jason Kelce did a year prior, Graham fought through tears to thank his coaches, teammates, and the city.

    “And finally, to Philadelphia,” Graham said. “We didn’t start so tight. As you know, you made me work for this, and I appreciate you for that. Through the struggles, the injuries, and the moment where I had to prove myself over and over again, you never let me get comfortable.

    “You held me accountable. You kept that chip on my shoulder. You pushed me to be better, and when the time came, we celebrated together two times. This city is built on hard work, resilience, and unmatched passion, and you bring the same energy to every game, every moment, every season.”

    The strip sack

    Two photographs from Super Bowl LII are hanging in many a sports bar in Philadelphia: Nick Foles catching the touchdown pass on the “Philly Special” and Graham’s strip sack of Tom Brady.

    The latter helped clinch the Eagles’ first Super Bowl in franchise history, cementing Graham as an all-time great. When asked about the play in 2023, Graham said it “changed my life.” Like many Eagles fans, Graham admitted he watches the play to cheer him up when he’s having a “bad day.”

    Before the Eagles’ 23-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the wild-card round of the playoffs last season, Graham reunited on the field with Brady, who was in town for Fox’s broadcast of the game.

    Mason Spencer (right), 8, of Langhorne, presented Brandon Graham with the Mason Spencer Man of the Year Award in 2025.William Thomas Cain / For The Inquirer

    Winning the Mason Spencer ‘Man of the Year Award’

    In December 2019, Mason Spencer received a kidney transplant at just 3 years old. Following his operation, Spencer met with Graham four times. The two quickly formed a friendship.

    “I consider BG my friend,” Spencer said. “The reason I’m awarding this to him is for his kindness and his charity.”

    This defense won’t be the best in Eagles history. But it will be plenty good enough. Even great.

    In 2025, after Graham missed out on the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, which honors players for their philanthropy and community impact, Spencer awarded him with the “Mason Spencer Man of the Year Award” — fit with a custom superhero trophy.

    The award’s significance was not lost on Graham.

    “I’m glad that I can be a service to him and his family,” Graham told The Inquirer. “Especially during a time nobody wants to go through. It’s a beautiful thing when you have support behind you and you have people that’s fighting with you. So for him to go through everything he had to go through, it’s so cool that he can still think about others.

    Brandon Graham had to take on a new role when he unretired during the 2025 season and rejoined the Eagles.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    Learning a new position

    After unretiring in 2025, Graham expected to contribute as an edge rusher — as he had through his first 15 years in the league. However, with Jalen Carter sidelined for multiple weeks following a shoulder procedure, Graham was tasked with consistent snaps at defensive tackle for the first time in his career.

    The veteran was game for the challenge and learned from Davis — who is 12 years younger than him.

    Meet the 2026 Eagles: What to know about every player

    “When I’m watching him, man, I’m learning as I’m going,” Graham told The Inquirer. “Because they’re the ones running everything over there. They know what’s going on. So I’m just picking their brain and just asking them what they think when I go.“

    Added defensive tackle Moro Ojomo: “It’d be similar to maybe someone writing with their right hand and then starting to write with their left hand. It’s not as easy as you may think it is. There are similarities, but it takes some time, and, definitely, if anyone can do it the way he’s doing it, it would be him.”

    Brandon Graham with former Eagles quarterback and Chiefs backup Carson Wentz after the Eagles won Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9, 2025.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Retearing his triceps during the Super Bowl

    In a win over the Los Angeles Rams in November 2024, Graham tore his triceps. He had already announced that the season would be his last, so it appeared Graham’s playing career would end at So-Fi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.

    However, the Graham made a surprise comeback to suit up for Super Bowl LIX just 11 weeks later.

    Following the Eagles’ 40-22 win over the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs, Graham celebrated in the locker room. He embraced general manager Howie Roseman, who drafted him in 2010, took a selfie with Hurts, and danced with fellow Detroit native Avonte Maddox. He also made sure to FaceTime fellow team legend Jason Peters.

    To any onlooker, it would be difficult to tell that Graham was dealing with significant pain. During the game, Graham actually retore his triceps.

  • Italy’s Chiara Consonni wins women’s race, Germany’s Tim Torn Teutenberg takes men’s title at Philadelphia Cycling Classic

    Italy’s Chiara Consonni wins women’s race, Germany’s Tim Torn Teutenberg takes men’s title at Philadelphia Cycling Classic

    After a 10-year hiatus, the Philadelphia Cycling Classic brought crowds in from every corner of the city to watch some of the world’s most talented cyclists compete.

    They were not disappointed. Both the women’s and men’s classics saw competitive races, coming down to the final meters. Italian cyclist Chiara Consonni placed first in the women’s classic, and Germany’s Tim Torn Teutenberg won the men’s classic.

    Women’s classic

    After finishing first in the women’s classic, Consonni did not have much time to celebrate. The Italian professional cyclist had a flight to catch.

    “I’m coming home and [will] focus on the last effort for the season,” said Consonni, who competed for Canyon-SRAM. “It was a really long season. Philadelphia was in my plan from the beginning. I’m really happy to be here and do this race. And for sure, winning is always something great.”

    Following a crash in the race’s final mile, Consonni made a late push to overtake Canadian cyclist Alexandra Volstad. Consonni finished the 62-mile race in just under 2 hours, 35 minutes. Volstad placed second and Ella Sabo, a native of California, came in third.

    This is Consonni’s third major race this month, having already competed in the Tour de France and Tour of Britain. The former boasts more impressive inclines but neither European race features a flat route. Consonni felt that both races prepared her for the steep inclines she faced in Philadelphia.

    “The climb made some action and also something that the people can watch, something different than the flat race,” Consonni said.

    “It’s my first time here, first time doing this race after a lot of years,” Consonni added. “I think the organization was amazing by my side. I hope this race will increase year by year and a lot of European teams can come and play for the victory.”

    From left, second-place finisher Alexandra Volstad of Canada, of EF Education-Oatly, winner Chiara Consonni of Italy, of Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto, and third-place finisher Ella Sabo of the United States, of Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28, celebrate on the podium after the Philly Cycling Classic on Sunday.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Men’s classic

    After crossing the finish line, Teutenberg did a victory lap. Pumping his arms in the air, the German cyclist was overcome with joy after winning what he described as a “technical race.”

    In the final mile, he broke away from the pack alongside British cyclist Robert Donaldson and another German competitor in Jonas Rutsch. Teutenberg was able to create distance from the two, finishing the 120-mile race in just under 4 hours, 21 minutes.

    From left, second-place finisher Ronald Donaldson of Jayco AlUla, winner Tim Torn Teutenberg of Germany of Lidl-Trek, and third-place finisher Jonas Rutsch of Lotto-Intermarché celebrate on the podium after the men’s race at the Philly Cycling Classic on Sunday.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    “We had some people that we left in front of me, so I tried to get a bit of shelter behind them, it was a bit of a cat-and-mouse [game] waiting,” Teutenberg said. “And then I don’t know … I just went, [with] all I had.”

    Although he had never competed in Philadelphia, Teutenberg had heard about the race from his aunt, Ina-Yoko Teutenberg — who placed first in the classic four times between 2007 and 2012.

    “It was a super good atmosphere today,” Teutenberg said.

    A ‘dream come true’

    Kim Stoveld, a Philadelphia native, took an unconventional route to participate in the women’s classic.

    The former University at Buffalo swimmer did not pick up competitive cycling until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Six years later, the 37-year-old competed in her hometown race, placing 71st with a time of 2:37:59.

    “I watched this race in 2013, 2014, ’15, and ’16 when it was still going on, and I was just getting into cycling,” Stoveld said. “And then to be on the other side of it, 10 years later, is just like a dream come true. Just absolutely amazing.”

    One reporter asked Stoveld what her advice would be to young women looking to take up cycling.

    “If I can do this good in my late 30s, picking it up at 30, you as an 8-year-old getting into sports will dominate,” Stoveld said. “Please keep riding your bike.”

    On the men’s side, Robin Carpenter gave Philadelphians another local cyclist to cheer on. The 34-year-old, who competed in Classic before its hiatus, finished 43rd with a time of 4:27:59.

    Biking fans — new and old — flock to a renewed Philadelphia Cycling Classic after decade-long hiatus

    Like Stoveld, Carpenter has plenty of experience with The Wall. Carpenter grew up in Manayunk and learned to master the steep incline at 11. As he made it through the final lap in his neighborhood, Carpenter spotted his family cheering him on from the sidewalk.

    “I always know exactly where they’re going to be because it’s always just down the street from the house I grew up in. On the last lap, my wife Anna was holding the baby over the barrier.

    “[There] is no better atmosphere in the United States than Philly for cycling, in my opinion. It’s so cool to have it back. I’m so grateful to everybody who was involved.”