It was a blowout, and it left a lot of questions. The Eagles’ 27-7 loss to the Bears Monday night at Soldier Field featured an offense that fizzled, a defense that folded, and a coaching staff that looked outmatched. On the latest episode of unCovering the Birds, The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Jeff Neiburg provided a postmortem of the defense’s disappointing start to the season, critique of offensive coordinator Sean Mannion’s approach, and assessment of how some of general manager Howie Roseman’s moves have panned out so far.
Jeff McLane: What do you think are the biggest issues? Big picture when we’re looking at the defense, not just this game. What could be the problems going forward that the Eagles have to find a way around?
Jeff Neiburg: To hear multiple players use the phrases like ‘we’re not … on the same page’ or miscommunications, those are the worrisome things to me, right? Like, of course, you know, Ben Johnson might be Vic Fangio’s boogeyman at this point, right? It’s only a two-game sample size, but boy, the data is there at this point. and Ben Johnson’s offense creates a lot of chaos. It causes miscommunications because there’s so much motion, there’s lots of things going on, there’s funky formations.
I’m with you in the sense that some of this stuff is just isolated to this game, I think. but there are worrisome trends. Not being able to communicate correctly.
I think it was Zack Baun who mentioned after the game, he said it comes down to communication, whether that’s hearing the call, playing the right thing, knowing the assignment. Those are the things [the Eagles] got to get better at.
McLane: I think it is concerning that it wasn’t really just this game. Like the defense was underwhelming in the first two weeks. Now, they kind of kept the scores down.
I thought they were pretty much good enough against Washington, kind of folded late. It felt a little bit like last year when the offense wasn’t getting the job done to close out games and the defense had to do it or that, you know, they suffered under the weight of how ineffective the offense was. Last week, 12 missed tackles. I think they had 11 this week. Vic [Fangio] kind of did what he normally doesn’t do, which is he stacked the box. He kind of sold out to stop the run based upon what the Bears had done to them last year, 281 yards on the ground, and so you can’t fault him in that regard.
Video: unCovering the Birds: Unpacking Nick Sirianni’s rough night in Chicago
And you know, look, make Case Keenum — 38-year-old Case Keenum who hasn’t started in nearly three years, and when he did start a few years ago was dreadful — make him beat you. The way they beat the Eagles was they just got the ball out of his hand quick. They schemed up one, or two plays. I’m not saying Keenum didn’t play well. There were times where he had to kind of make some really sharp and quick decisions and maybe sidestep a rusher here or there. But they forced the Eagles to tackle. And this is clearly now an issue. And I think if you’re looking at those guys in the middle of the field, specifically the safeties and you know, the linebackers, like they’re just not getting it done. And miscommunication should be [viewed as] an issue.
Third year in Vic Fangio[’s] scheme and the majority of the guys are back. You know, I mean I know Riq Woolen is new, but the rest of guys really aren’t, in that back seven. So that is concerning.
Neiburg: An interesting part too, I don’t think we’ve touched on with the defense yet. What’s your level of concern with the lack of impact the vaunted interior trio (Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo) has made on games so far?
McLane: Jalen Carter’s getting paid to be like a Jeffrey Simmons-type defensive tackle and it just hasn’t been there. He makes these splash plays when … he’s a smart football player, he can kind of diagnose something or whatever. I just don’t see him winning a lot at the point of attack. I mean, he gets held a bunch, but it’s like there’s just not a push in the pocket where he’s in the quarterback’s face even. There’s not him, just like kind of winning. One-on-ones he’s not even really kind of pushing the pocket. And this was a center that quite frankly, is maybe one of the worst pass blocking centers in the NFL. Now I haven’t looked I haven’t looked at the film.
Eagles defensive tackle’s Jordan Davis (left) and Jalen Carter go after Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift on Monday. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Neiburg: I’ve seen a couple clips out there. I got to really look at it a little more to see what happened. My feeling from it was that the pass rush wasn’t horrible. The ball was coming out quick, and it was really more a problem with the back seven.
But you know, Jordan Davis you are paying all this money and [is a] good run defender, although I don’t think he had his best game, even though the numbers are pretty good. But he’s not out there a lot on pass rushes because that’s just not his thing. And it’s just like, can you afford to pay someone [like that] that amount of money? [Carter and Davis are] not a big contributor on passing downs. Like they’re both good players. I’m not saying they can’t even become great players, but they’re paying them to be dominant players. And right now, I just don’t see it.
Down 13 points late in the third quarter, the Eagles faced fourth-and-1 on their own 49-yard line. Sirianni had his offense line up as if it would attempt the Tush Push with Jalen Hurts sneaking for the first down.
But it was a long yard, and the Bears weren’t fooled into jumping offside. The Eagles took a delay-of-game penalty and punted.
“As I look back at that, I probably should have went for it there,” Sirianni said. “Didn’t like that decision.”
It was one of many that backfired on the coach and his team in a dreadful 27-7 loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday night. Sirianni’s regrets were isolated to the game — from his fourth-down turtling to his sideline behavior — but it’s unclear how he felt about larger decisions that have affected this season’s Eagles.
It’s too early to make sweeping generalizations. But the first three games have suggested the following: the defense isn’t as good as many had expected, first-time offensive coordinator Sean Mannion isn’t yet the “mad genius” some had suggested, and general manager Howie Roseman’s roster has more holes than it has had in years.
And that may be why, in that moment, Sirianni didn’t roll the dice on fourth-and-1. He didn’t believe his offense could convert or his defense could hold if they didn’t. In 2025, it might have been the offense that held him back. In 2023, it was often the defense.
For the first time since maybe his first season, he may not have either side to lean on. And that’s a scary thought with the Los Angeles Rams coming to town Sunday and a trip to London to face the Jacksonville Jaguars the following week.
“I think we all have to own that loss right there,” Sirianni said. “I don’t think anybody coached well. I don’t think anyone played well. It was a true team loss, and when it’s a true team loss, I have to look at myself first.”
The Eagles are through the “easy” early part of their schedule. They eked by the dubious Washington Commanders and Tennessee Titans in the first two weeks, but they still won, and growing pains were always expected with Mannion’s new offense.
There were unexpected cracks in Vic Fangio’s defensive armor, though, or craters in areas that were thought to be mere crevices. The Bears, despite having to start 38-year-old third-string quarterback Case Keenum, exposed them.
It was hard not to compare the actual offensive wizardry of Chicago coach Ben Johnson to Mannion. Johnson was one step ahead of Fangio all night, just as he was a year ago. Maybe Johnson is just the veteran defensive coordinator’s kryptonite. And maybe he’s buoyed by one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum embrace at the end of the game at Soldier Field on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, in Chicago, Ill. Chicago won 27-7.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jonathan Greenard leave after the Chicago Bears game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts lies on the ground after getting sacked during the fourth quarter of the Chicago Bears game.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts watches the last two minutes of the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Chicago won 27-7.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts gets up after getting sacked in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throws long on fourth down in the fourth quarter, pass incomplete at Soldier Field on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, in Chicago, Ill.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon makes a reception in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles fan reacts after a penalty is called in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni in the fourth quarter. Chicago won 27-7.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throws the ball to Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon in the fourth quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jonathan Greenard tackles Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum almost loses possession of the ball in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell tackles Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards after intercepting a pass in the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts after throwing a third-quarter interception.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears wide receiver Kalif Raymond celebrates a touchdown during the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards celebrates an interception in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith is wrapped up by Chicago Bears safety Elijah Hicks in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles fans in the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun tackle Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland in the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon was tackled by Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson in the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throws the ball to Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt goes after Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears fan reacts to the last-minute “tush push” score by Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts looks up after scoring on the tush push with one second left to go.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears safety Dillon Thieneman celebrates an interception in the second quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell stops Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift in the second quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz is defended by Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson in the second quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley runs by Chicago Bears safety Dillon Thieneman in the second quarter, just short of a touchdown.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell breaks up a pass intended for Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III in the second quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift gets stopped by Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (left) and Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo (right) in the second quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerIncomplete pass to Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze in the second quarter, defended by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III scores as the Philadelphia Eagles defense tries to stop him during the first quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell forces Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III out of bounds in the first quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III celebrates a touchdown during the first quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift runs with the ball against Philadelphia Eagles safety Marcus Epps in the first quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum hands off to Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift in the first quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
But it used to be the Eagles that had enough O-line supremacy to win with a backup quarterback.
Speaking of backups, the offseason debacle at the No. 2 spot finally caught up to the Eagles. Andy Dalton gets a slight pass here. He was tossed into a tough spot having to jump in for Hurts, who left to have his head checked in the second quarter.
Yeah, Dalton threw a horrible pass on third down that was intercepted in the end zone. But maybe if he wasn’t splitting snaps all of training camp and the preseason with Tanner McKee, he would have had a few more repetitions on the particular play that Mannion called.
“I’ve had it a couple times,” Dalton said. “Obviously, gotten a lot of different looks, and for me, it’s something that I can learn from, especially on that play. I mean … safety just read my eyes and was in the right spot.”
Dalton has been in this role before, but he didn’t outright win the job over McKee. Keeping four quarterbacks on the roster never made sense and just seemed to be the Eagles’ unwillingness to admit they made a mistake in trading for the also-38-year-old.
It’s just one of several roster decisions that have already come back to haunt Roseman. He can’t invest heavily in every position, but he clearly didn’t do enough at safety after Reed Blankenship walked in free agency. Marcus Epps has been a liability and Andrew Mukuba isn’t yet capable enough to cover for his counterpart.
Linebacker Jihaad Campbell, a second-year starter like Mukuba, is struggling as well. It doesn’t help that the Eagles also let the currently better Nakobe Dean sign elsewhere this offseason.
And then there’s this year’s top rookies with wide receiver Makai Lemon still green and tight end Eli Stowers still on ice. First-year players should be given a grace period, but the Eagles didn’t do enough at their respective positions and it’s showing.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni is 0-2 against Bears coach Ben Johnson.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Ultimately, these are Roseman problems. Sirianni’s issues extend to how the Eagles execute, and right now they’re uncharacteristically undisciplined. They had three turnovers on offense and failed to take away the ball on defense. Overall, they’re minus-5 in turnover differential, a statistic Sirianni considers of the utmost importance.
The Eagles had 10 penalties vs. the Bears, with so many either bringing back a long gain or giving the Bears life on third or fourth down. While the Eagles failed to get Chicago to jump on fourth down, defensive tackle Moro Ojomo carelessly committed a neutral zone infraction on fourth-and-2 early in the fourth quarter.
Mukuba and cornerback Riq Woolen had third-down penalties in the red zone. Guard Tyler Steen’s holding penalty brought back a long Saquon Barkley run. The Eagles must have had double-digit missed tackles a week after whiffing on 12 in Tennessee.
Sirianni and his coaches weren’t any better than their players. Mannion’s call for a screen pass to receiver DeVonta Smith with 19 seconds left before the half and the Eagles out of timeouts nearly resulted in the clock running out.
“We had 19 seconds,” Sirianni said. “We had plenty of time to be able to either get it clocked or do what we did in that particular case.”
They had one second left and if it wasn’t for Hurts’ quick thinking to skip the spike and sneak into the end zone from the 1-yard line, Sirianni would have taken more than just a jab to the jaw.
Mannion is Sirianni’s hire. He’s a first-time play-caller who needs patience to grow into the job. But his scheme has been unremarkable. He was supposedly hired to bring more under-center play-action to the offense, but the Eagles have not run much of it, or when they do, not effectively.
Where’s the misdirection? The aggressiveness? The innovation?
There were some positives in the run game. Barkley rushed for 73 yards on 11 carries in the first half, but he gained just 9 yards on four carries after the break.
Saquon Barkley nearly scores in the second quarter as Bears safety Dillon Thieneman pushes him out of bounds.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Hurts didn’t look like the fearless, pocket-savvy passer that he appeared to be in the first two games. He had moments in the first half but also missed short throws, held the ball too long, and threw a ghastly fourth-down interception to T.J. Edwards a few drives after the former Eagle nearly duped the quarterback into another pick.
Sirianni said he didn’t regret that fourth-and-5 decision that came at the Bears’ 46 just before the end of the third quarter. But it only made the other fourth-down call look that much worse.
“I think competitively, I’m always going to want to go for it,” Hurts said. “Always trust coach to make the right decision, given these situations.”
Tackle Lane Johnson suggested there was more at play than trying to draw the Bears offside.
“I don’t know if we didn’t pay attention to the clock,” he said. “There was a play, but I don’t think we’re all on the same play. I think there’s a lot of miscommunication.”
Rough day for Jalen Hurts: Here, he tries to throw the ball away as the Bears pass rush gets to him.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Sirianni’s Eagles have bounced back from worse. The season is a marathon. You’ve got to think Fangio corrects some of the defensive miscues. And the positive steps Hurts seemingly took in the first two weeks can’t be forgotten with just one shaky performance.
Change on offense was necessary, even if Kevin Patullo’s unit last season was never held under 10 points like Mannion’s was in just his third game as coordinator. But Sirianni remains the constant. Most of his teams have taken on his positive traits, if not one of the negatives.
He lost control of his emotions again after Hurts was decked by Bears linebacker D’Marco Jackson in the second quarter. It ended up being a fateful play, but the coach conceded that he went too far in yelling expletives at Jackson.
“I always love fighting for our players. I love our guys,” Sirianni said. “And so, the emotion of the game probably got the better of me today. And I have to learn from that in that particular moment. I have to be more steady in that situation.”
The Eagles, like their coach, got knocked off their axis at Soldier Field. The next few weeks could reveal if they have the resolve to get up after a shaky start.
He chose the latter, a decision he initially regretted before leaning on the media savviness he picked up during his16-year career with the Birds.
“I actually wanted to wait, but man, I was so tired of that question being asked all the time, so that just got me,” Graham said. But he landed on the announcement helping him, because it got fans interested to “tune in” and hear him explain why.
So begins Graham’s transition from Eagles legend and two-time Super Bowl champ to a budding media career talking about football.
After being injured during the 2024 season, Graham, 38, still felt like he had a little gas in the tank. So when the Eagles called him up last season, he was ready to unretire and get back on the field to “finish the season clean.”
Graham went into this offseason hopeful he might jump back into football. He stayed in contact with Eagles general manager Howie Roseman and was even prepared to participate in training camp to be properly prepared if the Birds needed him. But the stars didn’t align.
“It didn’t work out like that because [Roseman] got the team he needed,” Graham said. “So in my mind, I was like, ‘Yeah, I think I’m going to be done.’”
In hindsight, it’s been something of a relief. Now Graham can focus his efforts on a budding media career that will start off with the second season of his Unblocked podcast and joining PHLY for postgame coverage of Eagles games.
“Last year, I was one foot in, one foot out, because I thought there was an opportunity for me to go back and play,” Graham said. “This year I didn’t want that feeling so I can work in the media space how I worked in football. Otherwise I’m doing myself a disservice.”
Learning on WIP and late-night 6abc hits
Brandon Graham hosted a weekly show on 94.1 WIP for nine seasons alongside former host Howard Eskin. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Graham’s interest in the media began during his playing days, where he’d listen back and critique interviews he gave with reporters. It didn’t take long for his engaging personality to win over the press, who began offering him more opportunities to jump on the air.
An early break was with 94.1 WIP, a gig that transformed from him calling in on Tuesdays to hosting his own weekly show during the season at Chickie’s & Pete’s alongside former host Howard Eskin.
Learning on the job also meant sometimes wading in controversy. He was forced to walk back comments he made about then-teammates Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown in 2024. Graham was injured at the time and based his remarks on a video of Brown speaking, something he’s since learned to approach with caution.
“It was an emotional time and I should have been patient,” Graham said. “But I felt like it helped us a little bit, too, because we ended up winning the Super Bowl that year.”
Graham also got some early reps on 6abc during the 2015 season. After Sunday Eagles games, Graham would drive to the station’s studios on City Avenue to join the 11 p.m. edition of Action News and talk Birds with Ducis Rodgers.
“Boy, that was a grind,” Graham said.
In 2024, Graham participated in the NFL’s broadcast boot camp, which allows players to experience what it’s like working on a studio show or calling games. Graham said the experience was enlightening, and helped him land appearances on ESPN and the NFL Network.
“At ESPN, I went through what they call the car wash, when you appear on all the different shows,” Graham said. “They ended up liking me, and I got put on Good Morning Football before I went back to play … I expect I’ll do more of that.”
Joining PHLY and learning to criticize his former teammates
Brandon Graham is entering his second season hosting the “Unblocked” podcast for PHLY.PHLY
Graham is entering his second NFL season with PHLY, the digital start up that began in Denver in 2015 and expanded to Philly in 2023 as part of the ALLCITY Network.
The network took notice of Graham’s abilities during a July 2025 interview on the Exciting Mics podcast, hosted by Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean and former Birds safety Reed Blankenship (who signed with the Houston Texans in March). Graham said parent companyALLCITY made him a strong proposal, and within a few weeks he launched his Unblocked podcast, co-hosted by Bo Wulf.
“BG brings an incredible depth of knowledge and an understanding of the game, but what truly sets him apart is his authenticity and infectious energy,” said Todd Berman, PHLY’s general manager.
This year Graham is expanding his duties beyond Unblocked to include co-hosting PHLY’s crowded postgame coverage alongside Wulf, Fran Duffy, Brandon Lee Gowton, and former Inquirer reporter EJ Smith.
Graham won’t appear after every Eagles game — he’ll rotate with former Eagles defender and Super Bowl champ Vinny Curry. But his appearances will place Graham in the potentially awkward position of having to criticize his former teammates.
ButGraham isn’t too concerned. As a player, he understood the media had their own job to do, even during his first few seasons with the Eagles when “Philly people were really bashing me.”
“Everybody’s takes are different. Some people do it for clickbait just to get people to click on your show,” Graham said. “I’m going to be honest and tell viewers the truth … It will be challenging, because sometimes there’s certain stuff you can’t just beat around.”
While he’s entering the season hopeful about a future in the sports media machine, he’s open to different paths, including public speaking. For now, Graham’s happy to have a manageable schedule where he works a few days a week, spends time with his family, and has the freedom to explore different interests.
“Who knows what the media stuff will do,” Graham said, “But I’m trying to get this golf game right, too.”
He had a quiet OTAs. He missed the majority of training camp. Then, when he finally played in the Eagles’ final preseason game, he struggled, recording just 3 yards on three catches and a drop that led to an interception.
Time to hit the panic button? The Eagles certainly aren’t.
“He’s done a good job,” said wide receivers coach Aaron Moorehead. “I mean, Makai, like any rookie, is going to have things that [they do] really well and things that he is going to have to improve on. … You’re correcting everything, you’re praising everything, and you’re just allowing the guys to be in the best free position to go out there and play their best.”
Moorehead added that Lemon, the Eagles’ No. 20 pick in the first round of April’s draft, is still going through the motions after he missed nearly three weeks of training camp with a hamstring injury. Fellow Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith was sidelined the majority of camp too, but as Moorehead noted, it’s far easier for a veteran like Smith to ramp up than a rookie.
What’s the biggest hurdle Lemon must overcome following his injury?
Makai Lemon was sidelined for nearly three weeks of training camp with a hamstring injury.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
“It’s really just timing,” Moorehead said. “That’s really the big thing is this timing and getting on the same page with everybody and making sure that they’re kind of pressing forward.
“With Makai, we had to come up with creative ways to get him walk-throughs and get him doing different things that he could do while he was out. He couldn’t physically run, but he could walk through things or we could talk through things, and we could have him hear it, break the huddle, and go where he needed to go, just to catch him up that way. It wasn’t the most fun thing in the world. I know he wanted to be out there and we know we all wanted him to be out there, but that’s what you do. You sacrifice your time, you sacrifice your energy to get to where you want to go. He really took it really well.”
It’s clear the Eagles’ top brass isn’t panicking because of Lemon’s college resumé. Lemon starred at Southern Cal last season, earning unanimous All-American honors by finishing with 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. There’s a reason the Eagles traded up in the first round with the rival Dallas Cowboys in order to pick him.
General manager Howie Roseman raved about Lemon and the rest of position group in a press conference on Monday.
“The receiver core, obviously you would’ve liked them to be together a little bit more here through the summer but have a lot of confidence in that group,” Roseman said. “I think it’s a talented group from top to bottom. All those guys, they play different roles. It starts with Smitty, who I don’t think it’s a secret how high we are on him. Tay’s [Dontayvion Wicks] exactly what we thought he would be. Obviously, prior to the regular season, going into the regular season, have tremendous confidence in Makai Lemon, Hollywood Brown. Everyone saw Coop [Darius Cooper] and the growth that he showed and development that he showed.”
The Eagles’ drafts from 2021 to 2024 were successful, first and foremost, because the team identified talented prospects, particularly in the first three rounds. But hardly ever forcing a positional need with a draft pick expanded the pool and decreased the expectations that often come attached with being selected early.
Makai Lemon wasn’t necessarily drafted in the first round to replace A.J. Brown. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman had the parameters for a trade that would move the discontented wide receiver to the New England Patriots in place by the time Lemon was chosen with the 20th pick overall. But Roseman had already begun the process of restructuring the position.
It wasn’t a complete rebuild, of course. DeVonta Smith was returning as the now-bona fide No. 1 receiver. But Roseman signed free agents Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore and traded for Dontayvion Wicks by the time the draft arrived. Having them already on the roster would allow Roseman the freedom to take a receiver in the first round and potentially not rush him.
But what became apparent over the course of training camp was that the Eagles had not only intended for Lemon to play meaningful snaps from the jump, they needed him to start in the slot. Wicks, Brown and Moore all had their moments during the summer — to varying degrees — but the dropoff from Smith was significant.
Lemon, meanwhile, missed three weeks — including the increasingly important joint practices with the Patriots — with a recurring hamstring injury and didn’t play in the preseason until Saturday’s finale vs. the Cincinnati Bengals.
It was a small sample, but he looked far from ready to make an impact. He was receiving passes from a quarterback he hardly worked with in camp, but it wasn’t as if he had popped when Jalen Hurts was throwing during practices in which he was healthy.
The Eagles knew that tight end Eli Stowers would likely need more development, particularly as a blocker. But they had envisioned a scenario in which he would thrive as the “F” tight end on passing downs, much as Zach Ertz did in his first season with the team 13 years ago.
Eli Stowers struggled to make an impact in camp and did not work with the first-team offense. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
But Stowers never worked with Hurts in team drills throughout camp. And just when it seemed like he was making progress, a hamstring injury put him on the shelf for the final week of the preseason. Even before the injury, there was a question of whether the former quarterback would be active for the season opener on Sept. 13.
Roseman isn’t panicking — at least on the surface.
“This is the only business that you look at how guys are doing right away and sometimes there are early judgements made. Any other business there’s a long-term view,” Roseman said when asked about Lemon and Stowers contributing right away. “And we see it on our roster, guys how they have developed over two, three, four years. And I understand there are big resources into those guys — first- and second-round picks.
“Tremendous confidence in who those guys are as players, what their skill set is. Obviously, they had some setbacks here physically and we looked at that as a staff and a group and maybe can figure out some changes here to get those guys going a little bit sooner from a skill position perspective.
“But don’t have any doubt about what they’re going to be in the NFL over time. Still believe they’re going to contribute to our 2026 team.”
That may end up the case. But Roseman’s 53-man roster construction suggests he went deeper at receiver and tight end than he did a year ago to account for Lemon’s and Stowers’ stunted starts.
Moore, as the sixth receiver, could shoulder some of the load on concepts designed for Lemon if he struggles early. And while EJ Jenkins, as the fourth tight end, won’t factor much as a pass catcher, his blocking ability will allow for Dallas Goedert to line up more in the “F” role.
Howie Roseman did not make a trade as the roster came together, but will continue to look for ways to improve the roster. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Roseman’s actions, ultimately, will demonstrate how he feels about both positions. He’s yet to make a trade during this period — which is uncharacteristic — but he has a week until on-field preparation for the Washington Commanders begins and has other avenues to add players if necessary.
But Roseman seems to want to follow his own advice, which is to be patient. And that may apply to the new offensive system as much as it does the youngsters. Coordinator Sean Mannion kept his cards close in camp, joint practices, and the preseason. But the offense was objectively scattershot.
“I think that there has to be a level of patience about how guys are going to look,” Roseman said. “We’re not showing everything in the preseason. That’s not what anyone’s doing. You get an opportunity. The first four games of the season have always been kind of another ramp-up period for your football team.
“You get an opportunity to evaluate. The trade deadline’s a long way away.”
And this year the deadline was extended a week to Nov. 10. But Roseman doesn’t have to wait that long to address a need, and he doesn’t even have to part with a commodity if he wants someone sooner.
Ertz is on the street and available. There’s a question about his recovery from the knee injury that ended his season last December with Washington. But the 35-year-old is open to returning and finishing his career where it started. And he could step into the “F” spot, while also being the ideal mentor to Stowers.
“First, I’d say what an unbelievable player, what an unbelievable person, tremendous respect for him,” Roseman said when asked about Ertz. “At the same time, love what we have going in our tight end room, too.”
Could decorated tight end and fan favorite Zach Ertz be an option for the Eagles? DAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Goedert will run the majority of routes in the new scheme that asks for more point-of-attack blocking from its “Y” tight ends. That’s why Johnny Mundt was signed in the offseason and why Jenkins got the nod over Cameron Latu, who was claimed off waivers by New England.
“You see in this league where the position is going, where it’s trending,” Roseman said. “A lot of similar offensive systems to some of the things we’re running where these “Y” tight ends, they’re highly valued in free agency, they’re highly valued in the draft.”
And they may have even more value in the Eagles’ version of the Kyle Shanahan-Sean McVay offense because its effectiveness will likely be contingent on how well they can run the ball. There have been signs that the new wide-zone blocking scheme will capitalize on strengths at offensive line and running back.
But the health of the O-line, in particular left guard Landon Dickerson and 36-year-old right tackle Lane Johnson, warrants monitoring. And if defenses are once again allowed to focus on slowing Saquon Barkley, the deficiencies of the pass offense could be exposed.
And A.J. Brown, despite his issues last season, won’t be around to alter coverages and win one-on-ones. And it’s unclear whether Roseman did enough to offset his departure, especially if Lemon and Stowers need significant time.
Jalen Hurts (left) will have to find a way to get by in the post-A.J. Brown era. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
For the first time since Nick Sirianni became coach and Hurts his starting quarterback, there is some mystery to the offense. The element of surprise could be a good thing vs. defenses. Or it could be bad, with even Roseman unsure of how it will look.
Either way, the quarterback will be central to how it unfolds.
“I think Jalen’s adjusted really well to the new offense. Now again, we’re at a moment in time, we haven’t played a game,” Roseman said. “This isn’t in reference to Jalen; this is in reference to anything else. I think that a lot of the things that we’ll do during the regular season when we have game plans, I think from an offensive perspective, they’re going to be different than what we’ve done in the past.
“Jalen’s embraced it. He’s excited about it, and obviously we’ve got to be better than we were last year.”
Even if that’s a relatively low bar to clear, it is an uncertainty.
Who will back up Jalen Hurts when the Eagles host the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Sept. 13, to kick off their 2026 season?
The Eagles delayed publicly revealing their decision when they opted to keep all four of their quarterbacks — Hurts, Andy Dalton, Tanner McKee, and rookie Cole Payton — on the initial 53-man roster Sunday night, and Howie Roseman’s day-after press conference did little to clear up the pecking order behind the starter.
“Anything that goes into preparations for Washington, we’re going to keep close to the vest,” Roseman said when asked if the team had named a No. 2 quarterback.
Why did the Eagles go the unconventional route of keeping all four? The man who coined the term “Quarterback Factory” called it “the most important position in sports” on Monday.
“I feel like all those guys have value for our team,” Roseman said. “Obviously some is short-term value, some is long-term value when you think about Cole. And so as we went through the process here, just thought it was the right thing to do for our football team.”
It’s possible, perhaps even likely, that Roseman shopped Dalton and McKee around over the weekend. There were teams with holes in their depth chart at the position, and while some of them have been filled, a few remain. But considering neither quarterback separated themselves during training camp as the clear No. 2, it’s fair to wonder what kind of value either has on the trade market. Dalton, whom the Eagles acquired for a seventh-round pick in March, is almost 39 and four years removed from being a starter. McKee, 26, has shown flashes but did not have a strong camp and has one year remaining on his rookie contract.
It’s fair to wonder, too, if the Eagles would be comfortable with Payton as the No. 3 right now, which, when combined with the value of their own backups, makes it all the more likely they still have four quarterbacks on the roster by next weekend.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman (left) and head coach Nick Sirianni have a surplus of QBs on the roster. Monica Herndon / Staff Photo
It’s unorthodox, but the Eagles aren’t the only team with four quarterbacks on their active roster right now. The Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Minnesota Vikings all kept four quarterbacks on Sunday, though Minnesota released one on Monday.
The Steelers’ situation is most aligned with what the Eagles have. There’s an obvious starter (Aaron Rodgers), and then a bit of uncertainty behind him. Mason Rudolph figures to be the No. 2, but Pittsburgh has drafted a quarterback in each of the last two seasons and seems to want to continue to develop both players. They drafted Will Howard in the sixth round last year and Penn State’s Drew Allar in the third this year.
Roseman alluded to his own team’s sixth-round pick from last season, Kyle McCord, when talking about the quarterback situation on Monday. McCord struggled in camp last year and the Eagles made a move to acquire Sam Howell as the No. 3. McCord was waived after camp and spent the year on the Eagles’ practice squad. He then left the organization and joined the Green Bay Packers in free agency. But after a solid camp this summer, the Packers flipped him to Miami on Sunday for a 2028 sixth-round pick.
That surely factored into Roseman’s decision-making when it came to Payton, the team’s fifth-round pick, whose athleticism and upside the Eagles covet but who still needs a lot of time to develop after only throwing 282 passes at the collegiate level. Payton had limited reps during training camp and in preseason contests, but the Eagles didn’t want to risk losing him to waivers.
Andy Dalton (left), Cole Payton (center) and Tanner McKee are the backups to Jalen Hurts, though their order on the depth chart is in question. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
McKee would have had to clear waivers, too, and while Dalton is a vested veteran who isn’t subject to the waiver wire, he would have been free to sign with any team and there’s no guarantee he would have accepted a role on the practice squad.
“These guys are valuable,” Roseman said. “They take time to develop. At the same time, that position is so valuable to this organization over a long period of time. [We] want to be strong there and think both those guys behind Jalen have value, have shown that over the course of their careers, and we kind of take all the information at our disposal to make these decisions.”
Quiet August
For the first time since 2020, an August has come and gone — at least at the time of this writing — without Roseman making a trade. He did try, he said, but couldn’t find a partner.
“With the way that practices went and the games went, there wasn’t an opportunity to do some of the player-for-player trades we like, to get kind of looks at guys just because of where our numbers were,” Roseman said.
“I think you guys know me well enough to know that I like the action and was trying, but it just didn’t make sense for us at the time, we would’ve just been doing it to make a move.”
The Eagles kept four tight ends on the initial roster. Dallas Goedert is at the top of the depth chart, and behind him is a group that includes Eli Stowers, Johnny Mundt, and EJ Jenkins. Mundt and Jenkins are blocking specialists while Stowers, this year’s second-round pick, projects as a weapon in the passing game.
But the rookie doesn’t appear to be ready to make an impact with the offense just yet, which could lead Roseman to make a move.
According to a report from PHLY, a reunion with Zach Ertz is “on the table.”
Zach Ertz could be in the market for a reunion with the Eagles. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Ertz, who turns 36 in November, is recovering from a season-ending right leg injury and is a free agent. He had rejuvenated his career with the Commanders before suffering the injury in December. Signing him after Week 1 probably would be more palatable given that his contract wouldn’t be guaranteed for the entire season.
Roseman, when asked about Ertz on Monday, didn’t reveal much.
“What an unbelievable player, what an unbelievable person, tremendous respect for him, and at the same time love what we have going in our tight end room, too,” Roseman said. “I would say I’ve talked to Zach over a period of time, obviously rehabbing his ACL, and the relationship [is] just like our former players who have been here.”
Less than 24 hours after the Eagles announced their 2026 roster, The Inquirer’s Jeff Neiburg conducted an AMA (ask me anything) session with Eagles Reddit users, discussing topics including the quarterback plan, the possibility of general manager Howie Roseman making a deal or two, and what’s going on at tight end (including the possible return of fan favorite Zach Ertz).
The following has been edited for length and clarity.
What do you think of the roster? Any mistakes? Many concerns? How much are we winning the Super Bowl by?
Neiburg: Well, I’m both surprised and not surprised. In my final 53-man roster prediction that I submitted Friday night when the game went final, I had the Eagles keeping four quarterbacks. Just didn’t see a trade materializing over the weekend.
Mistakes? Howie Roseman has won two Super Bowls and I’m, well, me. So I can’t say there are any mistakes.
That being said, I did find a few things surprising. I didn’t expect both IPP players to get waived. I had both on my final 53, and I thought Joshua Weru was basically a lock. I don’t expect either to be claimed when waivers process today (Monday), but I thought the Eagles would avoid the risk, especially with Weru. (Editor’s note: Neither player was claimed and have been listed on the practice squad.)
Joshua Weru (46) being exposed to waivers was a mild surprise. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
I know EJ Jenkins is a great blocker, and Eli Stowers is a bit behind, but I didn’t expect Jenkins to be on the roster.
I will say I’m pleasantly surprised Elijah Moore made the team. I had them cutting him simply because he’s a vested veteran that wouldn’t have needed to clear waivers, and they could have brought him on the practice squad and promised him a gameday elevation. But Moore outperformed Hollywood Brown during camp and good camps deserve to be rewarded. Plus, he could’ve signed anywhere else if the Eagles released him, too, and given their question marks in a world without A.J. Brown, keeping six makes some sense.
Re: the last question … I wouldn’t be shocked if the Eagles won the Super Bowl. The defense is that good. But — spoiler alert — I’ll have them losing in the NFC title game to the Los Angeles Rams when our season preview comes out.
Which cut surprised you the most based on what you saw day to day throughout training camp?
Neiburg: I was a little bit surprised by the IPP guys just based on the risk and whatnot. But that’s not really the spirit of your question. Besides them, I’m not really sure. I did nail 50 of the 53 in my final projection. I guess I’ll say Cameron Latu being cut in favor of EJ Jenkins was a bit surprising, but Jenkins is a really good blocker.
Any positions you see the team adding someone at before opening day or do you think the roster is set?
Neiburg: I do not think the roster is set. And I wouldn’t be surprised if they brought in players at two or more positions between now and opening day.
Let’s list some spots.
Tight end: Eli Stowers doesn’t look ready to play NFL football right now. That’s not to say the pick is a bust. It’s way too early to say that, and anyone who believes he is a bust right now is being hyperbolic. But besides Dallas Goedert, there’s not another reliable weapon in the passing game in the room right now. Johnny Mundt and EJ Jenkins are block-first tight ends. Those are important in this new offense, but what good is 12 or 13 personnel if the defense knows one or two of the tight ends isn’t a real threat in the passing game?
Could Andy Dalton (14) still prove expendable?Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Quarterback: Is it possible the QB2 isn’t on the roster right now? I think so. Not saying it’s likely the Eagles trot out on opening day with a quarterback not named [Andy] Dalton or [Tanner] McKee backing up Hurts, but there’s definitely a chance. It’s easy to overreact to preseason games. But they are relatively meaningless and only one small part of the evaluation process. Fans don’t get to watch practice. I can tell you, though, that everything you’ve read about practice is true. Neither player was that good. If I’m the Eagles, I’m not sure I want to enter a season with Super Bowl aspirations and have either one of those dudes as my primary backup.
Safety: It’s still the thinnest position on the roster. They kept only three guys on the initial 53. But because Cooper DeJean will be on the field there at base, the need for multiple reserves isn’t really there. Still, besides 30-year-old Marcus Epps, there’s a dearth of experience at that spot. Drew Mukuba played 11 games last year as a rookie and is coming off a season-ending injury. Michael Carter II has primarily been a slot corner. DeJean might be an all-world defensive back, but he hasn’t really played safety at the NFL level.
Who was the ‘Camp MVP’ that stats or preseason games might not have fully captured, but who consistently stood out in practice drills and scrimmage situations?
Neiburg: Jalyx Hunt probably was the most consistent performer in camp (and you definitely didn’t see him play in a preseason game). Moro Ojomo was also a wrecker, and Jalen Carter, too. Based on what else was going on around him, Elijah Moore had a really good camp, too. Darius Cooper gets a lot of love, but Moore was super consistent throughout camp I thought, and he was deserving of a roster spot.
Is a Nick Sirianni and Zach Ertz reunion in the offing?David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Is there a world where Zach Ertz ends up on this roster, maybe after Week 1? What are the implications for the other tight ends if it happens?
Neiburg: There is definitely a world. My former Inquirer colleague EJ Smith, who now works at PHLY, reported that a return to the Eagles is possible.
If it happens, my guess is it happens after Week 1. Why? The Eagles wouldn’t need to guarantee his salary if he’s not on the roster for Week 1. If Ertz doesn’t work out, it’s not a waste of resources. Plus, this scenario allows them to play a game and see where they’re at, too.
I do think there’s a need for a second reliable pass catcher at the position given that Eli Stowers needs some more seasoning. The implications of signing Ertz or trading for a tight end for the others would be one of them gets cut (looking at you, EJ Jenkins).
Which wide receivers will be on the field most frequently for Jalen Hurts?Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
What is the expected WR depth chart? We know Devonta [Smith] is locked at WR1, [Dontayvion] Wicks seems to be 2. Has [Makai] Lemon done enough yet to get WR3?
Neiburg: Good question. I’m not sure there’s a firm answer yet, but I’d guess the depth chart looks like: Smith, Wicks, Lemon, Brown, Cooper, Moore. Not sure there’s a need to distinguish between WR2 and WR3 for Lemon, who will mostly line up in the slot. I don’t see him being on the field often in two-receiver sets.
Do you think Uar Bernard or Joshua Weru will provide any long term value to the team? What’s your record prediction? I say 12-5
Neiburg: The odds say no. But they both have athletic profiles worth trying to develop, and I think the Eagles would be thrilled if both cleared waivers and they had a chance to keep working with them. That’s the most likely outcome. It’s hard to imagine another team bringing either into their building on signing them to their 53, knowing they aren’t ready to play and won’t be for a while.
But the Eagles will only be able to designate one of them as their IPP player and theoretically will only be able to control one of them that way.
If I had to guess, I’d say Weru has the better chance at playing NFL snaps than Bernard.
I’m with you at 12-5, and I think the season ends in a conference title game loss to the Rams.
Will Jonathan Greenard be ready to make his Eagles debut in Week 1?David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Any concern at linebacker with the final number that made the roster?
Neiburg: If we’re talking off-ball linebacker? Absolutely not. Arguably the best position group on the team. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. would start on some teams, and Smael Mondon is progressing nicely and is a reliable special teamer (like Trotter). I didn’t see a reason for the Eagles to keep five off-ball linebackers, no matter how much Vic Fangio professed his love of Chance Campbell. Plus, UDFA Deontae Lawson might’ve been the one pushing for that fifth spot anyway.
If we’re talking outside linebacker/edge rusher, I do think there’s some concern entering the season. Jonathan Greenard may not be ready for Week 1, but since the Eagles didn’t put him on PUP/IR, they do expect him back within the first four games. Good sign. And Jalyx Hunt had an excellent camp and may reach double-digit sacks this year.
But beyond the top two, I think there’s some question marks. Nolan Smith Jr. is coming off another injury and has been passed on the depth chart by Hunt. Arnold Ebiketie is on a sort of prove-it one-year deal. A.J. Epenesa was signed off the street in June after things didn’t work out when he tried to sign with Cleveland. There’s some upside overall in the room, but there’s a low floor, too.
Saquon Barkley’s evolution in the Sean Mannion offense is worth watching. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Do you think the run game will improve this year? If so why?
Neiburg: Yes. If only because it can only go up?
Joking aside, the offensive line seems to be healthier right now. Cam Jurgens is moving around great and says he feels much better after getting his stem cell treatment in the offseason. Lane Johnson looks good, too. I still would be concerned about Landon Dickerson getting through the season if I were the Eagles, and they’re probably thrilled Drew Kendall is progressing well.
Besides the health of Saquon Barkley’s blockers, the wide zone blocking scheme should favor him and most of the linemen. The Eagles have an athletic bunch up front. They have some capable blockers at tight end in Johnny Mundt and EJ Jenkins and even Dallas Goedert.
It’s hard to imagine Barkley not having more holes to run through this year, and given the wider nature of some of these running plays, he should find himself in more advantageous situations with the ball in his hands.
Howie Roseman has all the pieces laid out in front as he whittles the Eagles’ 91-man roster down to 53 players ahead of Sunday’s 6 p.m. deadline.
Most of the team is in place, but it isn’t like some piece of furniture from IKEA with specific parts. Roseman will build his makeshift roster by balancing the Eagles’ immediate needs with the long-term, while also factoring in injury variables, the salary cap, and other potential moves.
The general manager is scanning the rest of the NFL for upgrades at positions in question. He’s yet to make any trades since camp started, but no one likes to wheel and deal as much as Roseman. C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Jahan Dotson are just two of the players Roseman acquired in and around this time.
Wide receiver, tight end, and safety are among potential areas that could be addressed.
The 16-man practice squad will also afford the Eagles a landing spot for vested veterans, players they will taxi up on game days, or prospects they hope to develop. So while only 53 will make the initial cut, Roseman considers his roster a 69-man outfit (70 if they have an international prospect).
It is an ever-evolving list that will likely change ahead of the season opener vs. the Commanders on Sept. 13. But for one fleeting moment there will be those who make it, and those who don’t. Here’s one beat reporter’s predictions:
Andy Dalton is a candidate to be moved, which would slot Tanner McKee in as the No. 2 quarterback. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Dalton’s play this summer hasn’t earned him the No. 2 job. McKee has been only marginally better, but has shown improvement. The best man doesn’t always win. But the educated guess here is that Roseman will trade Dalton to a backup-needy team — of which there are many. He may need to keep all four quarterbacks past Sunday’s deadline to get what he wants in return, however.
Payton has displayed more than last year’s rookie project — Kyle McCord — and probably wouldn’t pass through waivers if the Eagles consider stowing him on the practice squad.
Running backs (3): Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley.
Cut: Dameon Pierce, Carson Steele, Jordan Mims.
Practice squad: Steele.
A position of strength, the top three running backs have virtually been locked into place since the start of camp. Shipley’s development made Pierce expendable. Steele’s preseason film could make him a waiver claim. His fullback experience — which he never got to show in camp — makes him a versatile practice squad possibility.
Hollywood Brown (0) did not have the best training camp but the guess is that he stays.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Wide receivers (5): DeVonta Smith, Makai Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, Darius Cooper.
Injured reserve: Johnny Wilson.
Cut: Elijah Moore, Britain Covey, Quez Watkins, Danny Gray, Samori Toure, Erik Ezukanma, Tahj Washington.
Practice squad: Moore, Covey.
There was little chance the Eagles could replace A.J. Brown with just one player, so Roseman went the by-committee route with Lemon as the biggest investment. A nagging hamstring injury has stunted the first-round draft pick’s early development. Wicks solidified the No. 2 outside spot, but there’s a significant dropoff after Smith. That Cooper, who cooled off after a hot summer start, is the only receiver with some size could also be of concern.
Moore performed better than Hollywood Brown in camp, but the latter is guaranteed $5 million. He also has a proven track record. Moore is also primarily a slot and that job belongs to Lemon — for better or worse. Maybe he’s an early-season practice squad call-up to offset the rookie’s expected learning curve. Covey’s been down this road before and could stick on the practice squad, unless Lemon can field punts right away.
Tight end Cameron Latu’s ability to play fullback could help him stick on the roster. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Tight ends (4): Dallas Goedert, Johnny Mundt, Eli Stowers, Cameron Latu.
Cut: Grant Calcaterra, E.J. Jenkins, Stone Smartt.
Practice squad: Calcaterra, Jenkins.
Tight end has overtaken safety as the most likely area Roseman might address via trade or by some other means. The Eagles were probably expecting Stowers to need time, especially when it came to blocking. But he rarely practiced with Hurts, if at all, and recently suffered a setback with his hamstring. Redshirting the second-rounder would set off alarms, so it’s unlikely Roseman takes that route.
But a swap — or signing a veteran like Zach Ertz off the street — would also speak volumes. Goedert is still a competent “Y” receiver, while Mundt will shoulder some of the “F” blocking responsibilities. But tight ends often need to be dual-purpose within Sean Mannion’s new Kyle Shanahan-style scheme and neither is as competent in the opposite discipline.
If Stowers isn’t healthy by the opener, or is unable to contribute on special teams in the early going, Latu seems the likely fourth option. He can also fill the fullback role if Mannion adds that wrinkle to the offense.
Offensive linemen (10): Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, Markel Bell, Drew Kendall, Willie Lampkin, Micah Morris, Fred Johnson.
Cut: John Ojukwu, Jake Majors, Michael Jordan, Cameron Williams, Myles Hinton, Zeke Correll.
Practice squad: Ojukwu, Majors, Williams.
The starting five — among the best units in the NFL when healthy — has long been predictable. In question entering camp was if the youngsters would be viable backups. The answer appears to be a provisional yes after a promising summer of Bell, Kendall and Lampkin working with Jeff Stoutland replacement Chris Kuper. Ultimately, they have to go out there and do it against actual starters when called upon.
And that time will most likely come. Jurgens has looked more nimble than he did a year ago after back surgery. But Dickerson may be put together by Scotch tape and chewing gum after multiple injuries, while the 36-year-old Lane Johnson is entering his likely final season. Bell may have beat out Fred Johnson for the swing tackle spot, but the latter has helped the Eagles through multiple injuries the previous two seasons. He’s the last guy on here, but may not survive.
There also isn’t an obvious second reserve tackle with Williams and Hinton still not close to ready.
How the Eagles will handle International Player Pathway program Uar Bernard’s (93) case bears watching. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Defensive tackles (6): Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Byron Young, Ty Robinson, Uar Bernard.
Cut: Gabe Hall, Zion Wilson, David Blay.
Practice squad: Hall, Wilson.
Roseman has balanced winning in the short term vs. building for the long term better than most franchises (see: Mailata). Bernard has a ways to go before he sees the field in the regular season. But the Eagles have that luxury with significant depth at defensive tackle.
Carter, Davis and Ojomo give defensive coordinator Vic Fangio a formidable interior. Young and especially Robinson have taken steps forward in the offseason. Bernard, the International Player Pathway (IPP) program project the Eagles drafted in the seventh round, could befall injury and save a roster spot. But he wouldn’t be able to practice with the team while on injured reserve.
Edges (6): Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, A.J. Epenesa, Arnold Ebiketie, Joshua Weru.
Cut: Keyshawn James-Newby, Jose Ramirez, Tarron Jackson.
Practice squad: James-Newby.
Roseman’s continued investment in the trenches influences the roster makeup. Fangio has said he can get away with just a three-man rotation on the edge, which would theoretically not make it necessary to stockpile at the position. But Greenard’s pectoral muscle tear and Weru’s potential ceiling should make keeping as many as six here a necessity.
Fangio has hinted that Greenard may not suit up for Week 1, but if the veteran edge is going to be out for significantly longer he’ll likely stay on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. That would open a roster spot. Hunt and Smith, meanwhile, appear better equipped to start than they were a year ago.
Epenesa was a solid late spring addition. Ebiketie hasn’t stood out, and could be a surprise cut. But Weru, like Bernard an IPP project, needs polishing and strengthening. There’s little doubt another team would be willing to snatch the undrafted rookie off waivers.
Zack Baun (left) and Jihaad Campbell are linchpins of the defense. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Fangio has openly touted his depth at off-ball linebacker. He still harps on Jihaad Campbell’s mental inconsistency, but the former first-rounder has all the tools to thrive alongside Baun. Trotter has starter capabilities. He and Mondon will be core special teams performers.
Chance Campbell has put solid preseason film out there. Could he or Mondon be trade bait for a tight end or safety?
Cornerbacks (6): Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Riq Woolen, Jonathan Jones, Kelee Ringo, Mac McWilliams.
Mitchell, DeJean and Woolen — provided the latter keeps ascending — give the Eagles an impressive trio. If the outside guys were to get injured, DeJean would likely be the replacement. Fangio might want his third corner to come off the bench, but no one has made a claim to that spot. Jones was the best candidate. He has 78 career starts. But a shoulder injury got in the way and he wasn’t all that impressive before the setback.
Ringo can be a frustrating player on defense. But he has talent and length and ably fills the gunner role on special teams. McWilliams gets the benefit of being a former draft pick, but the second-year former fifth-rounder isn’t guaranteed anything. The same could be said for Bennett, who has also missed time to injury, and hasn’t justified the trade that sent Thomas Booker IV to the Raiders.
Michael Carter II acquitted himself well in the starting safety competition but fell just short. Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
Safeties (3): Andrew Mukuba, Marcus Epps, Michael Carter II.
Cut: Cole Wisniewski, Maximus Pulley, Andre Sam, Kapena Gushiken, Jaylen Mahoney.
Practice squad: Wisniewski, Pulley, Sam.
DeJean will play safety in base personnel, while Epps has all but won the nickel spot. Carter gave him a run for his money and may end up there at some point. But his versatility has been a blessing and a curse. He’s had to learn multiple spots in the secondary and never got the chance to major at safety. Carter allows Fangio the luxury of moving DeJean to outside corner if needed.
Wisniewski has just been hurt too much to warrant a roster spot at this point. Pulley and Sam have done enough to sneak in, but extra safeties are what the practice squad is for.
Specialists (2): Jake Elliott, Braden Mann.
Cut: Rocco Underwood.
Practice squad: Underwood.
Elliott faced no competition in camp after successive down seasons. The Eagles believe he will return to form, but how long could his leash be if he continues to miss key kicks? He had a decent camp, but wasn’t as automatic as in years past.
The flexibility of the practice squad has made it a more suitable spot for most long snappers. Underwood hasn’t made any glaring snafus, but experts can see he’s not yet elite. So the Eagles won’t have to worry about losing him to waivers and can scour the wire after teams with two long snappers get to 53.
The Eagles used to value the backup quarterback position, perhaps more than any other team in the NFL. Looking at their rosters in 2025 and 2026, it’s hard to believe they still do.
This might not matter at all, except Eagles starter Jalen Hurts gets hurt a lot, and quarterbacks are the most important players in all of team sports.
Still, it seems like a lot of energy to spend on a guy who won’t play much. Backup quarterback angst: The sort of nattering matter that makes the NFL preseason interminable; the sort of infuriating football geek-talk that fantasy nerds Snapchat about.
You know. Guys like Lurie and Roseman.
In 2017, the Eagles committed $11 million to their backup quarterback spot. So important was the position to owner Jeffrey Lurie that he told GM Howie Roseman to sign Nick Foles, whom Andy Reid had just cut from the Chiefs. It meant eating $7 million of the contract of Chase Daniel, whom the Eagles promptly released.
Despite missing the playoffs in 2016 with rookie Carson Wentz at quarterback, Lurie saw 2017 as a real chance to win the franchise’s first Super Bowl, and he considered Foles, who’d had a strong run as an Eagle, to be a better option than Daniel, who’d never had a strong run anywhere.
The rest, as they say, is history: Wentz got injured, Foles replaced him, played well down the stretch, and won the MVP award inSuper Bowl LII where he outplayed Patriots legend Tom Brady and outfoxed coach Bill Belichick.
Nick Foles became an unassailable Eagles legend, but that doesn’t mean all backup quarterbacks are created equal. Michael Bryant / Staff Photographer
“Our priority, as you’ve seen, is to make sure we have the very best possible other starting quarterback,” Lurie said during Super Bowl week.
That’s generally been true, and it’s generally made sense for the Birds, since Lurie prefers mobile quarterbacks, who, of course, are more likely to get hurt.
Lurie signed Michael Vick out of prison in 2009, and Vick supplanted Donovan McNabb the next season and went to the Pro Bowl in his second of four years as an Eagle. Lurie drafted Hurts in the second round in 2020 with plans that Hurts would be the long-term backup to Wentz, but that’s before Ginger Jesus lost his job, and maybe his mind. Lurie sanctioned the recent, sensible acquisitions of Gardner Minshew, Marcus Mariota, and Kenny Pickett.
But in 2019, Lurie also approved the signing of Josh McCown, a 40-year-old with a 79.7 passer rating with eight other teams. McCown replaced Wentz early in the Eagles’ home wild-card playoff game, played atrociously (predictably), and cost the Birds their postseason.
Last season, Lurie allowed the Birds to enter the season with third-year sixth-round pick Tanner McKee as the backup of a team defending its second Super Bowl title. It didn’t matter, since Hurts stayed healthy. But McKee got to start game 17 against the Commanders, and he was poor: 21-for-40, 241 yards, one touchdown, one interception, with a forgettable fourth quarter that cost the Eagles their chance to win the game and capture a better seed. It looked OK in the moment, but upon further review, the Eagles (and I) decided that McKee is not the answer.
The Eagles (not I) determined that Andy Dalton is the answer.
They were wrong.
The Eagles’ bet on Andy Dalton does not appear to be going according to plan. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
The Birds in March traded a seventh-round pick to the Panthers for Dalton.
No player at Eagles preseason work or in training camp has been a bigger disappointment than Dalton.
That isn’t really fair. There should have been minimal expectations of Dalton.
He’ll be 39 in October. He’s 1-6 in his last seven starts over the past three years, during which time his passer rating is 84.5. Aberration? No. In the five seasons before that, his rating was 85.5 in 57 games. He’s been the backup in Carolina the past three seasons, essentially a big brother for Bryce Young, the underperforming No. 1 overall pick from 2023, and an assistant coach of sorts.
That’s the role he was expected to serve in Philadelphia, where new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion has installed a new scheme. Dalton can help with the adjustment for Hurts, and you’d think Dalton would have a significant advantage over McKee in executing the offense.
Tanner McKee again appears to be the best backup option for the Eagles. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
But no. Dalton has looked appreciably worse than McKee — so much worse that McKee’s unremarkable performance looks good by comparison.
Entering the third and final preseason game Friday, the competition, such as it is, for the backup job clearly tilts in McKee’s favor. Which delivers this uncomfortable truth:
The Eagles, who have made the playoffs five years in a row, don’t really have a viable backup quarterback. That’s the fault of the front office.
Roseman.
Lurie.
What should they have done?
Maybe they should have signed Mitch Trubisky, who got two years and $10.5 million to back up Cam Ward in Tennessee. Maybe another dance with Minshew, who got $8.25 million to back up Jacoby Brissett in Arizona. Both would have cost a lot more than Dalton’s $1.5 million, but that’s also just about what Tua Tagovailoa got from the Falcons to be the emergency plan if Michael Penix Jr. wasn’t back in time from his knee injury.
All three of those QBs are in spots where they will have a likelier chance to resurrect their careers. Maybe that’s why the Eagles weren’t able to land one of them, and why they had to trade a pick for Dalton.
To be fair to Roseman and Lurie, the Birds also drafted a quarterback in April: Cole Payton, in the fifth round, out of North Dakota State, who currently is not close to being an option.
To be fair to Payton, he might be as good an option as the other two.
It’s just about last call for roster hopefuls as Eagles training camp enters its final week.
The team plays its last preseason game Friday night at home vs. Cincinnati, and the initial 53-man roster is due Sunday by 6 p.m.
Only a few practices and one last audition separate those vying for a spot from knowing their fates.
A second preseason game — this one a 24-21 Eagles loss in New England — brought a few changes to our latest 53-man roster projection. Who’s in, and who’s out?
Eagles quarterbacks (from left to right): Andy Dalton, Cole Payton and Tanner McKee prepare for Saturday’s preseason game against the New England Patriots. We don’t expect all three to be on the Eagles roster by next week.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
We’re sticking with the idea that one of the two quarterbacks hunting for the No. 2 job eventually will be traded, but for the first time this summer, Tanner McKee is in and Andy Dalton is out.
McKee outperformed Dalton Saturday night in New England, and while the Eagles certainly value Dalton’s experience and his practice film much more than two shaky, shortened preseason starts, it’s hard to argue that the 38-year-old looks more viable to back up Hurts than McKee does right now.
That being said, it actually might be Dalton who has more trade value than McKee. Will the Eagles end up flipping Dalton for the same price they paid for him (a seventh-round pick)? Maybe. This time of year, a team looking for a backup may be more likely to want Dalton as an experienced starter who may even mentor a young quarterback than they are to need McKee.
Cole Payton hasn’t wowed, and it remains possible the Eagles keep both Dalton and McKee and cut Payton, their fifth-round pick. But for now, Payton gets the roster spot and doesn’t get exposed to waivers.
Eagles running back Will Shipley carried the ball 11 times for 56 yards against the Patriots. We expect him to make the team’s initial roster.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Running backs (3): Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley
Cut: Dameon Pierce, Carson Steele, Ja’Quinden Jackson
No changes here, despite Carson Steele going full Saquon Barkley and hurdling defenders on more than one occasion Saturday night. Steele played like a guy pushing for a roster spot, but the Eagles don’t have the luxury of keeping four running backs with the way their roster is shaped.
Eagles wide receiver Elijah Moore is on the roster bubble.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Wide receivers (6): DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, Makai Lemon, Darius Cooper, Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore
Cut: Danny Gray, Britain Covey, Quez Watkins, Erik Ezukanma, Samori Toure, Brandon Hayes
Could Elijah Moore get cut and come back on the practice squad with the promise to be elevated on game day? It’s possible. He’s a vested veteran and doesn’t need to pass through waivers (though he’d be free to sign with any team). But Moore has done enough to make the roster and should be rewarded for having a better camp than Hollywood Brown, the guy the Eagles gave $5 million guaranteed.
Perhaps the Eagles use one of the two as a trade chip in the final week of camp, but they may want some extra insurance at the position considering Makai Lemon’s first NFL training camp has been marred by a hamstring injury.
The Eagles selected tight end Eli Stowers in the second round of April’s NFL draft.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Tight ends (3): Dallas Goedert, Johnny Mundt, Eli Stowers
Cut: Cameron Latu, Grant Calcaterra, Stone Smartt, E.J. Jenkins
Cameron Latu is the roster casualty of the Eagles keeping Moore. Latu would need to pass through waivers, but he’s done so before, and the Eagles shouldn’t have trouble getting him through to the practice squad and elevating him for Week 1.
Eli Stowers has had a rocky camp, but the second-round pick isn’t going anywhere. His need for more seasoning, though, makes it pretty important to have a strong fourth option in the building. That could work in Latu’s favor come Sunday evening.
Offensive lineman Tyler Steen, left, is pretty much a lock to return, but Micah Morris’ fate could be determined in the coming week.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Offensive line (10): Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, Lane Johnson, Fred Johnson, Markel Bell, Drew Kendall, Willie Lampkin, Micah Morris
Cut: Jake Majors, Michael Jordan, John Ojukwu, Myles Hinton, Cameron Williams, Zeke Correll
Willie Lampkin’s spot on the 53-man roster might be a lock at this point. The center/guard had another strong performance Saturday. Micah Morris, meanwhile, has shown some athletic traits that should keep the sixth-round pick on the initial roster.
Jake Majors played the entire game Saturday (63 snaps) and had some good moments. Like Lampkin and Drew Kendall, he has the ability to play center and guard. But Morris beats out the 2025 undrafted free agent who landed on the Eagles’ practice squad after training camp last year.
Eagles defensive tackle Ty Robinson had a pair of sacks in Saturday’s preseason game against the Patriots.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Defensive tackles (6): Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Byron Young, Ty Robinson, Uar Bernard
Cut: Gabe Hall, Zion Wilson, David Blay
No changes here other than Ty Robinson pulling himself off life support (Vic Fangio’s words) and pretty much locking up his roster spot.
The 2025 fourth-round pick had two sacks Saturday and has had a strong last two weeks after working with the developmental group at the beginning of camp.
Uar Bernard played in his second football game Saturday and notched his first tackle. He’s improved throughout his first football camp, and it remains a risk for the Eagles to expose him to waivers even though he won’t play meaningful snaps this season.
Eagles linebacker Joshua Weru got his first sack against New England Patriots quarterback Behren Morton Saturday night.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Edge rushers (6): Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, Arnold Ebiketie, A.J. Epenesa, Joshua Weru
Cut: Tarron Jackson, Keyshawn James-Newby, Jose Ramirez
The decision on Joshua Weru will be a fascinating one for Howie Roseman next weekend. The former rugby player one-upped his padded football debut last weekend, when he had a quarterback hit, with his first sack during Saturday’s game. He’s a flashy athlete, and there may be enough on tape out there for one of the 31 other NFL teams to make him their own project and sign him to their 53-man roster if the Eagles decide to cut him.
Fangio expressed some concern Jonathan Greenard might not be ready to return from his pectoral injury for Week 1, though that’s still three weeks away.
Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. could be a starter on several NFL teams. Will that make him attractive in a potential trade?Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Cut: Chance Campbell, Deontae Lawson, Brandon George
The Eagles have an abundance of talent here. It’s probably a toss-up between off-ball linebacker and interior defensive line in terms of which position group is their best.
The top four are locks, though Fangio likes Chance Campbell a lot. Still, as we’ve written before during this exercise, the need for a fifth linebacker given this roster construction makes it hard to keep the former Titan.
Could Roseman pull off a trade to make room for him? Smael Mondon Jr. has looked capable, and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. could start on some teams.
Another spot with no changes, though there was more pause before typing Mac McWilliams over Kelee Ringo than last week. Ringo had a decent showing on the road trip to New England, while McWilliams hasn’t had the best couple of weeks.
Ringo’s value on special teams has been well-documented, but is it worth a roster spot? We’ll see.
We have Eagles safety Cole Wisniewski (bottom) making the roster, but that could change this week.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Safeties (4): Drew Mukuba, Marcus Epps, Michael Carter II, Cole Wisniewski
Cut: Kapena Gushiken, Andre Sam, J.T. Gray, Max Pulley
The fourth spot here still feels like a bit of a dart throw. Cole Wisniewski returned to the practice field and saw his first game action. He had a nice tackle on special teams, which he’ll need to make a big part of his game if he’s on the roster.
Kapena Gushiken and Max Pulley have had nice camps, Andre’ Sam has been around the team for the last few seasons, and J.T. Gray is an elite special teamer. You can make a worthy argument for any of them to get the fourth spot.
But it’s possible the Eagles go light here and go with three safeties, especially with Cooper DeJean playing on the back end in the base package. That route probably would be good news for Ringo.
Philadelphia Eagles place kicker Jake Elliott (right) and punter Braden Mann (left) are locks.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Special teams (3): Jake Elliott (kicker), Braden Mann (punter), Rocco Underwood (long snapper)
These are the only three specialists on the roster. It’s possible the Eagles punt — excuse the pun — on a bubble decision and cut Rocco Underwood. The team only kept Jake Elliott and Braden Mann on the initial 53-man roster last season before bringing Charley Hughlett back to the active roster a day later during a series of roster moves after initial cuts were made around the league.
