A normal NFL halftime typically lasts between 12 and 14 minutes, give or take, from the final first-half whistle to third-quarter kick.
For Eagles coaches, it’s a pretty frenetic period. Offensive coordinator Sean Mannion takes an express ride on an elevator down from the coaches’ booth and gets together with his staff. They talk about the looks they’re seeing, the notes they’ve taken.
“We quickly put together and chart our course for the second half, communicate it with the players, and then we’re out,” Mannion said Thursday.
Nick Sirianni, who usually is pretty guarded, didn’t want to go into too much detail about the halftime routine when asked about it a day later. But he did mention that the idea is to be making adjustments on the fly between series as the game goes on.
“That’s so important that they’re going through that process at that time because halftime, there may be certain things that you say, ‘OK, we can’t get that drawn up right,’” he said. “‘Hey, we want to put this in here. Hey, we can’t get that drawn up. Draw it up for halftime. We’ll put it in there.’
“There are some things that are saved for halftime, but the majority of it is happening within the game.”
Nick Sirianni and the Eagles are looking to bounce back after their first loss of the season.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Regardless of when and how the Eagles are adjusting, whatever is happening at halftime might need a makeover. It’s only been three games, but no one is worse in the third quarter right now than the Eagles, who have eight three-and-outs on 11 third-quarter drives. That’s three more than anyone else in the NFL.
There have been various reasons for each punt. No series is identical. The Eagles have had negative runs, negative swing passes, penalties, and other detrimental plays. But the play sequencing and planning certainly has contributed. It’s something Mannion, a first-time play caller, said the staff is trying to correct.
“Certainly, as a staff and as a team, we’re working through getting better there,” Mannion said. “You hate to do a lot of nice things in the first half of some of these games and kind of fall into a rut in the second half.
“We’re working at that. We’re attacking it each day to be better there coming out of halftime.”
The Eagles and Rams kick off at 1 p.m. Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. The game will be aired on Fox29 and called by the network’s top duo of play-by-play man Kevin Burkhardt and analyst Tom Brady. Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi are the sideline reporters.
As usual, Merrill Reese and Mike Quick will have you covered for the local radio broadcast on 94 WIP.
DeVonta Smith scored a big fourth-quarter touchdown against the Rams last season, but he won’t be available for Sunday’s game — and likely longer.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Eagles
Fixing the ugly third-quarter trend won’t get any easier with DeVonta Smith slated to miss Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury. He may be out beyond this week, too.
The Eagles also will be without a key defensive starter in Zack Baun, who remains in the concussion protocol. Those absences mean Dontayvion Wicks is slated to be the No. 1 wide receiver on Sunday while Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is the next man up at linebacker.
Out
WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring)
LB Zack Baun (concussion)
TE Dallas Goedert (knee)
S Marcus Epps (groin)
WR Hollywood Brown (ankle)
T Fred Johnson (knee)
Rams
Puka Nacua is on track to the return for the Rams, who, entering Week 3 and dating back to when he was drafted in 2023, were averaging 6.1 yards per play with Nacua on the field, compared to 5.1 yards when he’s off the field. But the big news of the day Friday came when Sean McVay ruled Aaron Donald (back) out.
Donald came out of retirement and rejoined the team after training camp. His absence means Los Angeles is without two of the better defensive front-seven players in the NFL in Donald and Myles Garrett, who is on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Out
DT Aaron Donald (back)
TE Terrance Ferguson (ankle)
CB Jaylen Watson (shoulder)
Questionable
TE Colby Parkinson (shoulder)
OLB Josaiah Stewart (groin)
Storylines to watch
Smith’s absence is a big blow to the Eagles. In previous seasons, they have withstood the loss of Smith or A.J. Brown knowing the other would be out there. Can Wicks provide the same comfort? We’ll find out Sunday, and maybe next week in London, too.
The team’s best pass catcher being out comes at a pivotal time for an offense that needs to start putting things together. The Eagles haven’t successfully married their run and pass games the way they said they wanted to. The running game showed some signs of life in the first half on Monday night, and the Eagles will hope to build off of that Sunday.
There are some defensive concerns, too, that may be amplified with Baun out. The Eagles had a key miscommunication Monday that led to a Bears touchdown, and Cooper DeJean said there’s not enough talking happening on the field right now.
What went wrong Monday, and what can we expect Sunday vs. the Rams? Plus, what are the biggest concerns so far for the Eagles? I broke it down with my colleague Olivia Reiner earlier this week in our latest Gameday Central pregame show.
The Eagles are a home underdog for the first time since 2023. They were 10-1 when they hosted the San Francisco 49ers in Week 13 of the 2023 season. A 42-19 beat down at Lincoln Financial Field started a late-season collapse.
Jordan Davis and the Eagles blocked a last-second field goal attempt last season to complete their comeback win against the Rams.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
32.9% — That’s DeVonta Smith’s target share through three games. Brandon Graham, now away from football and in the podcasting world, got some traction last week after the Eagles’ Week 2 win when he said he thought Jalen Hurts was playing freely and not having to force the ball to certain players.
Maybe he meant the way the offense is designed gives Hurts more answers, or maybe he was referring to Hurts not having to force the ball to A.J. Brown. Either way, the numbers tell a different story. If Smith’s target share number holds up, he would have the highest single-season target share of any Eagles player since at least 2000, according to Next Gen Stats.
Smith is slated to miss this week’s game and possibly next week’s in London. Goedert still isn’t back from injury. Hurts is going to have to put his trust in others.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026 in Nashville, Tenn.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
“Who are we?”
Well, that’s kind of existential, Jalen.
But it’s the question the quarterback said he posed to the locker room in the aftermath of their 27-7 loss on Monday night.
“Ask yourself that question because that’s a choice you can make, and being deliberate and intentional on how we move forward, so we can continue to improve,” Hurts said.
Thanks for reading. The weekly Eagles newsletter will be back again next Saturday sent to your inbox all the way from London, where the Eagles take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5.
Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter has a hairline fracture in his right wrist, NFL sources told The Inquirer.
Carter suffered the injury in the Week 1 win over the Washington Commanders and has played with a soft cast in the last two games.
He was an estimated full participant in Wednesday’s walkthrough ahead of Sunday’s game vs. the Rams.
Carter’s playing time has decreased since the injury. He played 66 snaps in the opener (94%), 41 snaps vs. the Titans in Week 2 (77%), and 51 snaps (71%) in Monday night’s 27-7 loss at the Bears.
The 25-year-old declined to go into detail about his wrist injury when it first popped up on the injury report two weeks ago.
While he has made a few splash plays in the last two games, Carter hasn’t been as productive as usual. He has yet to record a sack and has just one quarterback hit. The Eagles defense, as a whole, has just three sacks and has yet to force a turnover.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was asked how effective Carter can be playing with the injury on Wednesday.
“It’s a negative,” Fangio said. “There’s no way it can’t be, but to be honest with you, he’s done better than I thought he would with it.”
Carter played through shoulder injuries last season. He struggled in last November’s loss to the Bears and underwent procedures on both shoulders and missed four of the next five games.
The former first-round draft pick signed a four-year, $152 million extension in July ahead of training camp that made him the highest-paid interior defensive lineman in the NFL.
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.
Entering the game Monday Night in Chicago, the good news for the Eagles’ defense is that veteran linebacker Zack Baun remains elite.
The bad news: Newly extended tackle Jalen Carter, as well as soon-to-be-extended defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, have not played to their elite standard. They have forced zero turnovers, have one sack combined, and remain, as a group, unremarkable through two games.
Mitchell, among the best cover corners since he was drafted in 2024, suddenly is mediocre, if you consider the grades from Pro Football Focus relevant. Most folks pointed to PFF rankings the past two seasons, when Mitchell was blowing folks away with grades that hovered around 80, which was top-six. Mitchell’s at 62.3 entering MNF, which ranks 48th among corners with about as many snaps as he has, and Mitchell remains without an interception in his 34 regular season games.
Carter, who got a $152 million extension just before training camp, disappears for large spans of the game, just like he did as a rookie three years ago. Carter has a wrist injury, but still.
And DeJean — he’s just been awful. He was ranked No. 1 by PFF among all corners as a rookie in 2024 and No. 2 among nickel corners last season. But since DeJean moved to safety part-time this season, he’s been a liability. Like Carter, DeJean is not 100% (calf, abdomen), but, again … still.
Asked if he would consider simplifying DeJean’s life by moving him to safety full-time instead of shuttling him between there and nickel corner, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said, “No.”
Fangio’s defense is one of three in the NFL without a takeaway.
Deshaun Watson’s (4) competent play creates some tension both for the Browns and the league. David Richard
Deshaun Watson’s resurrection
Three weeks into the season, the league’s least likable quarterback has resurrected hope in football-crazed Cleveland.
Understand that calling Deshaun Watson the least likable quarterback in the NFL is saying something, considering the NFL still suffers the presence of Aaron Rodgers and, tangentially, the top in-game analyst is the insufferable G.O.A.T., Tom Brady.
However, between accusations of Watson’s serial sexual misconduct with massage therapists (he has settled or resolved 24 lawsuits), the smarminess with which he has comported himself since the accusations were made in 2021, the astonishing decision of the Browns in 2022 to mortgage their future on Watson by trading for him and guaranteeing him $230 million despite pending litigation, and his generally poor play, Watson, who often is booed in his own stadium, has few friends and fewer allies.
Injuries to his shoulder and his right Achilles tendon cost him most of the past three seasons, but the Browns failed to acquire competent replacements. Watson outplayed Shedeur Sanders in training camp and he has been the Browns’ starter this season.
For better or worse, since Game 1, Watson has played well. His play was key to wins in Games 2 and 3, in which he compiled a 106.4 passer rating with no interceptions and ran for 67 yards on 18 carries. He looks a lot like the player who went to Pro Bowls from 2018 to 2020.
The Browns were expected to founder this season after they traded superstar defensive lineman Myles Garrett to the Rams in June, hired rookie coach Todd Monken, and had no clear starter at QB. Instead, after beating the Panthers on Sunday, they’re 2-1, they have winnable games on deck against the Steelers and Jets, and they have a clear leader in Watson.
The NFL suspended Watson for 11 games and fined him $5 million in 2022 in connection with the misconduct. If he continues to lead the Browns to wins, it will be fascinating to see how the NFL, its in-house media wing, and its national broadcast partners deal with this unique tale of … redemption?
Matthew Stafford and the Rams will come to Philly next week as a 1-2 team. Jack Dempsey
Extra Points
The Rams, who visit Philly on Sunday, fell to 1-2 when the Broncos completed a touchdown drive in the last minute, then intercepted reigning MVP Matthew Stafford for a second time in the fourth quarter, this one at the buzzer. The first interception was a 66-yard pick-six with 4:49 to play. … The Ravens stunned the Cowboys (1-2) in Rio de Janeiro with a last-second field goal set up by the Cowboys’ decision, with the game tied, to kick off for a touchback, which gave the Ravens the ball at their own 35, then played man coverage and surrendered a 27-yard completion and called a timeout with 1 second to play. Tyler Loop then kicked a 56-yard field goal. … The Super Bowl champion Seahawks had won 12 in a row and they got Sam Darnold and his strained rear end back in time to visit D.C., but, with Jayden Daniels sidelined for a third time in two seasons with a dislocated left elbow, former Eagles backup Marcus Mariota led the Commanders to a 33-31 win. … Retread quarterback Kirk Cousins, 38, and first-time head coach Klint Kubiak, 39, have the Raiders at 3-0, as the Saints committed four fourth-quarter turnovers, including a game-clinching fumble forced by former Eagles star linebacker Nakobe Dean. … The battered Niners also moved to 3-0 with a win in Arizona, but they lost two more players: receiver Mike Evans (rib) and left tackle Trent Williams (stinger).
NASHVILLE — Instant grades on the Eagles’ performance in their 24-20 win over the Tennessee Titans:
Quarterback – B+
Jalen Hurts was excellent. Yeah, he tossed two bad interceptions. But good far outweighed the bad and Hurts ultimately drove the Eagles to victory with his two-minute, touchdown scoring drive. He threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns on 26 of 37 passing. Hurts also had some key moments on the ground. He did all of this despite the schematic and execution issues with the offensive line.
Aside from the interception, Hurts was nearly flawless in the first half. He kept bailing the offense out on third-and-longs and converted five first-downs of four yards or more. He also did it with his legs once, running for a first down on third-and-4. Hurts has a 7-yard scramble that set up a fourth-and-2 he would subsequently convert with a throw to Wicks.
Video: Jalen Hurts lauds the Eagles’ perseverance after win over Titans
Hurts looked comfortable in the pocket despite some pressure. He hooked up with Wicks for a 27-yard pass over the middle with a rusher in his face, and later got the ball out to Wicks for a 15-yard gain on third-and-12 — just before Simmons hit him. His 22-yard touchdown pass to Smith before the break came on second-and-19.
There was the costly interception on third-and-goal, of course. The pass to Smith was undercut by safety Amani Hooker, who went 92 yards the other way. The Titans converted the turnover into a touchdown.
Saquon Barkley left on the first play when he suffered a stinger. He returned to the sideline after a brief stay in the locker room, but didn’t play until the second half. Barkley caught an 11-yard swing pass on third-and-5. As a rusher, he finished with just nine yards on four carries.
With Barkley out for most of the first half, Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley shouldered the load in the backfield. They ran hard and had some nice moments, but the blocking up front was mostly porous. The duo rushed 17 times for a combined 51 yards (3.0 average) before the break.
Tank Bigsby (8) found the end zone in relief of an injured Saquon Barkley. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Bigsby kept churning on a 9-yard carry down to the 2-yard line early in the second quarter, and went into the end zone on the next play for the Eagles’ first touchdown. He slipped and lost two yards on his first carry of the second half.
Shipley got the nod on the Eagles’ last drive. He helped pick up the blitz on Hurts’ 20-yard throw to Wicks.
Video: Gameday Central: Initial reaction to the Eagles’ comeback win vs. Titans
Receiver / Tight end — A-
Receiver DeVonta Smith did all could do. He made one tough catch after another and led the Eagles with 10 catches for 117 yards. He caught a 22-yard touchdown on a corner route in the second quarter. Smith converted an early third down on an 8-yard slant. He also had a key lead block on Hurts’ third-down conversion on the ground in the second quarter. He made a difficult toe-dragging grab near the sideline and then a 19-yard snag down to the 3-yard line on the final drive.
Dontayvion Wicks was just as reliable when targeted. He caught a 27-yard pass over the middle on third and 12 on the Eagles’ first drive. Wicks converted fourth down with a 5-yard catch in the second quarter. He finished with five receptions for 74 yards, but left late with an injury. Rookie Makai Lemon is still finding his NFL legs.On his first career first down, he pulled in a 14-yard grab on third down late in the first quarter. Another screen pass, though, resulted in Lemon getting dropped for a loss in the second quarter. He had nowhere to go.
Dontayvion Wicks continued to add value for the Eagles passing game. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Darius Cooper made the game-winning touchdown catch when he went up for Hurts’ lob and kept both feet inbounds. Earlier in the fourth quarter, he got open and picked up 23 yards.
Tight end Dallas Goedert got upended while run blocking in the second quarter and didn’t return because of the knee injury. Johnny Mundt had more receiving responsibility with Goedert out. He drew an illegal use of the hands penalty in the second quarter. Mundt seemed to miss his assignment on an outside zone run that netted few yards just before the half. He held on a Hollywood Brown end around in the fourth quarter.
After not playing a snap in the first game, Brown was featured at times on offense. He ran nine yards on a sweep play in the second quarter.
To some surprise, the Eagles made changes at two spots when they only needed to replace Landon Dickerson. They moved Cam Jurgens to left guard and started Drew Kendall at center. It was often ugly. But it was another shaky outing from new O-line coach Chris Kuper’s entire group. The run blocking just wasn’t sound. The pass protection was only a little better.
There was the matter of containing Jeffery Simmons. The All pro defensive tackle owned Kendall on the Eagles’ opening drive and forced Hurts to burn a throw into the ground. Kendall appeared to miss a block. The second-year O-lineman had a tough assignment, but it was a grind.
Drew Kendall (66) and the Eagles offensive line had its struggles on Sunday. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Jurgens struggled vs. Simmons and others. He got spun around by the defensive tackle on a run play in which Bigsby was stretched out for no gain. Jurgens also got knocked off balance by Titans D-tackle John Franklin-Myers in the second quarter. He was a turnstile on edge Jacob Martin’s third-down sack of Hurts in the third quarter.
Right guard Tyler Steen didn’t hold up either. He got beat by D-tackle Nazir Stackhouse and later by Simmons on late second quarter runs that resulted in losses. He committed a holding penalty to open the second half. Steen got beat again on a third-down rush in the third quarter in which Hurts had to escape.
Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata were decent in pass protection, but they had breakdowns, too. Johnson struggled with his block on the play in which Barkley got hurt. He also lined up illegally early in the second half. Mailata got surprised by an outside twist by Simmons, and landed on his rear on Hurts’ touchdown throw to Smith.
Defensive line — B-
The front looked gassed at times, and understandably so. It was hot. There were a lot of D-linemen with hands on their hips at the end of the Titans’ 12-play touchdown drive late in the third quarter. The run defense was leaky at times. There wasn’t enough pressure on the few times quarterback Cam Ward dropped on obvious pass downs. They did stand tall and force a field goal at the end.
Jalen Carter, playing with a soft cast on his wrist, was relatively quiet for the first three quarters. He did bust through on a run play in the third quarter and sacked Ward late in the fourth. Jordan Davis didn’t dominate in the run game like he normally does. Moro Ojomo had a big tackle for loss in the fourth quarter.
Nolan Smith Jr. (3) had a sack of Cam Ward on Sunday. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Edge Jonathan Greenard (pectoral) was out for a second straight week. Jalyx Hunt got things started with a tackle for loss on Pollard’s first carry. Hunt later squeezed into the backfield to force running back Tyjae Spears into Davis’ arms. As a pass rusher, he drew a face mask when he penetrated on an inside stunt in the second quarter.
In the second half, his edge setting contributed to a Pollard run for no gain. Nolan Smith Jr. got home for a sack with an inside rush late in the second quarter. Smith also had a tackle for loss on a run in the fourth quarter.
Defensive tackles Byron Young and Ty Robinson got some snaps in the heat.
Linebacker — C+
There was just too much leakage against a Titans offense that looked near-pathetic in the first week, and the off-ball linebackers were just as responsible. Zack Baun appeared to over-pursue on Pollard’s 13-yard run on third-and-1 in the second quarter. Baun also missed an open field tackle on a dump pass that sprung Spears for 27 yards just before the half. He did stop Titans running back Nick Singleton for a loss in the third quarter.
Jihaad Campbell didwell to shed a block and stop a screen for no gain on the Titans’ first possession. He was targeted through the air several times. Both linebackers bit on a play fake and Ward hit receiver Calvin Ridley for a 25-yard catch in the third quarter.
Riq Woolen and the Eagles cornerbacks had their share of challenges against a nondescript Titans receiving corps. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Cornerback — B
Ward didn’t drop to throw much downfield, but when he did he was more efficient than he should have been. Quinyon Mitchell and Riq Woolen did keep Titans receivers from winning often on the outside. Receiver Calvin Ridley hauled in a first down on a slant in front of Mitchell. His run defense on Spears’ 27-yard run was not ideal.
Cooper DeJean rebounded from last week’s rough outing. He tackled rookie receiver Carnell Tate short of the sticks on third down in the third quarter. Mitchell and Cooper were victimized by a soft zone on third and 13 when Ward hit receiver Elic Ayomanor for 28 yards on a slant route.
Safety — C-
The tackling at the safety spot just wasn’t good enough. Andrew Mukuba played despite being questionable after suffering a knee injury in practice. He drilled Tate over the middle early on. Mukuba appeared to lose receiver Wan’Dale Robinson on a third-and-5 conversion in the third quarter. It came when DeJean blitzed off the edge.
Mukuba made a strong run stop at the goal line in the third quarter. But he had a weak tackle tackle on a Pollard 18-yard bolt up the middle in the fourth quarter.
Marcus Epps was in the vicinity over the top on Ayomanor’s 28-yard catch in the middle of the Eagles’ Bermuda Triangle. Epps got hurdled over in the fourth quarter. Later in the drive, he totally overran the play on Spears’ 27-run on third-and-22.
Jake Elliott (4) nailed a 58-yarder in the Nashville heat. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Special teams — A
Kicker Jake Elliott nailed a 58-yard field goal in the third quarter. It tied the fourth-longest kick of his career.
Braden Mann averaged 50.5 net yards on two punts. His first punt didn’t come until the third quarter when he booted a 57-yarder that was fair caught. Britain Covey averaged 15.5 yards on two punt returns and had a 23-yarder. He was also back on kickoffs, along with Shipley, given Titans kicker Joey Slye’s ability to hit knuckleballs. Alas, Slye never tried one.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni (left) and assistant to the head coach Cole Peterson (right) dance off the field after beating the Tennessee Titans 24-20 in Nashville, Tenn. on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerEagles head coach Nick Sirianni celebrates after the Eagles beat the Tennessee Titans.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts celebrates with running back Saquon Barkley after throwing the game-winning touchdown against the Tennessee Titans.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles wide receiver Darius Cooper catches the game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver Darius Cooper catches a touchdown with 9 seconds left in the fourth quarter.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni celebrates after they beat the Tennessee Titans.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerHappy Philadelphia Eagles fans after the Eagles scored a touchdown with seconds left in the fourth quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles center Cam Jurgens lifts up Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Darius Cooper after Cooper makes the winning touchdown with seconds left in the fourth quarter. David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles fan holds up a Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith jersey with seconds left in the fourth quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throws the football late in the fourth quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter gets help coming off the field in the fourth quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles fan is sweating it out with the Eagles trailing 20-17 in the fourth quarter.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon gets stopped by Tennessee Titans cornerback Marcus Harris.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith catches first down pass against Tennessee Titans cornerback Alontae Taylor.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles cornerback Riq Woolen defends Tennessee Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate with 12:50 left in the fourth quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts scrambles out of trouble and throws an incomplete pass with 8 seconds left in the third quarter.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Johnny Mundt is brought down by Tennessee Titans linebacker Cody Barton in the third quarter.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni while the Tennessee Titans are driving in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun stop Tennessee Titans running back Nicholas Singleton in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley pushed out of bounds by Tennessee Titans linebacker Cedric Gray in the third quarter.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith hauls in a pass, but it was incomplete during the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott watches his long field goal in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley running with the ball in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles defensive tackle Ty Robinson (left) and Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (right) try to block a field goal as time runs out in the first half against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville, Tenn. David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun brings down Tennessee Titans wide receiver Elic Ayomanor after Titans’ drive to the end zone late in the second quarter.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith celebrates a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Will Shipley runs along the sideline with Tennessee Titans cornerback Alontae Taylor defending.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles fans cheer as the Eagles drive towards the end zone.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles head of security Big Dom DiSandro stops Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts as he is running out of bounds so he doesn’t hurt himself in the second quarter.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby runs with the football during the second quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby celebrate Bigsby’s touchdown in the second quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks gets a first-down catch passed Tennessee Titans linebacker Cody Barton and Tennessee Titans linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. in the first quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerTennessee Titans safety Amani Hooker intercepts the ball from Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts in the first quarter and runs it just short of the end zone.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith gets a first down pass with Tennessee Titans cornerback Alontae Taylor defending in the first quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver Britain Covey returns the first punt of the game, defended by Tennessee Titans safety Erick Hallett, in the first quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles fans get ready for the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Coaching — B-
Coach Nick Sirianni ended the Eagles’ streak of forgettable trips to the Music City. It looked like they might exit Tennessee with another nasty loss. But Hurts carried his team to victory and a 2-0 record despite the sloppy game against an inferior opponent. Real tests are forthcoming.
We saw the return of the Tush Push for the first time this season. It led to a Titans offsides penalty on the first try and Hurts converted on the second.
Video: Nick Sirianni greets Eagles players outside of locker room after win vs. Titans
Offensive coordinator Sean Mannion is still feeling his way in the new job. The new stuff he brought from the Kyle Shanahan scheme just hasn’t clicked enough. Hurts had more success when he was in shotgun on third downs. Mannion’s play-calling had more rhythm than it did in the first week, but the issues on early downs continued. There just wasn’t a good plan nor execution on first- and second-down run plays.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s unit held the Titans to just 20 points, but it’s not like Ward and Co. were considered a top offense. Fangio had some suspect calls on third down and probably played it too passive on third-and-13 before the half.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — On Sunday afternoon in the Music City, the Tennessee Titans wound up singing the blues.
After the Titans took a three-point lead on a 32-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter, the Eagles got the ball back with 1 minute, 56 seconds left to play.
Jalen Hurts, who threw two interceptions earlier in the game, orchestrated a nine-play, 65-yard scoring drive, capped by a 3-yard Darius Cooper touchdown catch in the back of the end zone to seal the 24-20 Eagles comeback victory.
Eagles wide receiver Darius Cooper catches a touchdown with 9 seconds left in the fourth quarter on Sunday against the Titans. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
DeVonta Smith also came up clutch. His 19-yard reception on an out-breaking route toward the left sideline, in which he managed to tap his toes inbounds, kept the drive alive on third-and-6 from the Titans’ 22.
Here’s our instant analysis of the Eagles’ narrow victory in Week 2:
Hurts throws two picks, but rebounds
Disaster seemed to strike early for the Eagles when Saquon Barkley went down with a stinger on the first play and was absent for the rest of the first half. Then, after leading a 15-play, 59-yard drive down the field, Hurts tossed an interception in the end zone on a pass intended for Smith and picked off by Amani Hooker.
The Titans safety returned the interception 92 yards, setting up a four-play scoring drive which was capped off by a Cam Ward touchdown on a quarterback sneak. His score put the Titans up, 7-0, late in the first quarter.
But Hurts and the Eagles offense initially responded well to his early blunder. In the first half, the group amassed 210 yards on 40 plays, going 6-for-9 on third down (67%) and 1-for-1 on fourth.
The Eagles’ efficiency on third and fourth down was critical. Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, and Makai Lemon all had third-down snags. Lemon made the biggest play of his young career on the final play of the first quarter with his 14-yard catch over the middle of the field on third-and-8.
Even with Barkley out of commission, the Eagles managed to run the ball. Tank Bigsby shouldered most of the load on the ground in his absence, including a 1-yard rushing touchdown that tied the game, 7-7, early in the second quarter.
Barkley returned to action in the second half. He continued the Eagles’ positive trend on third down, reeling in an 11-yard pass in the flat on third-and-5 halfway through the third quarter. His play kept the drive alive, but the offense sputtered just beyond midfield, leading to a 58-yard field goal from Jake Elliott that put the Eagles up, 17-10.
Hurts stepped up on third-and-12 from the Eagles’ 29 halfway through the fourth quarter, delivering a 13-yard strike to Smith just past the marker to keep the drive alive. A Johnny Mundt holding penalty on the next play put the Eagles behind the sticks, but Cooper compensated for it, going 23 yards on a catch-and-run reception over the middle.
Titans cornerback Marcus Harris intercepts the pass by Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts on Sunday.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Disaster struck again, though, with six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Hurts threw another interception on an underthrown deep pass down the left sideline intended for a wide-open Smith, this time to Titans cornerback Marcus Harris, with the game tied, 17-17.
While the Eagles lost the turnover battle, Hurts still managed to keep the offense in it thanks to his game-winning touchdown drive. Hurts finished the game going 26-for-37 passing for 264 yards and two touchdowns, plus the two interceptions.
“I don’t even think words can describe how much you’ve got to manage as a quarterback in this league from a responsibility standpoint,” Hurts said. “The weight that comes with the position. And the responsibility. Ultimately, you’ve got to keep the main thing the main thing throughout that. You’ve got to keep your poise and keep your focus. Today we were able to do that.”
Video: Breaking down Jalen Hurts’ first game in Sean Mannion’s offense
O-line shuffles
With Landon Dickerson (knee) on injured reserve, the Eagles reconfigured their offensive line, moving Cam Jurgens from center to left guard and slotting Drew Kendall in at center.
Kendall, the Eagles’ 2025 fifth-round pick out of Boston College, previously had just one start at center, which came during his rookie year in the Week 18 game against the Washington Commanders in which the starters rested.
All eyes were on the interior offensive line, with All-Pro Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons lined up on the opposite side.
Simmons gave the offensive line fits all afternoon. Just before the two-minute warning in the first half, Hurts managed to deliver a big-time 27-yard completion to Wicks on third-and-12 at the Eagles’ 26 with Simmons bearing down on him. Simmons pancaked Jordan Mailata on a stunt and hit Hurts, but the 28-year-old quarterback managed to get the ball out in time.
The Eagles didn’t do themselves any favors on their first possession of the second half, as Tyler Steen (holding) and Lane Johnson (illegal formation) both incurred penalties. On third-and-12 that same drive, another stunt involving Simmons resulted in a sack for defensive end Jacob Martin, forcing the Eagles to punt.
Drew Kendall and Cam Jurgens in the second quarter on Sunday.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
On third-and-8 late in the third quarter, the pocket collapsed again, forcing Hurts to throw incomplete to Mundt. Braden Mann punted for a second time in the third quarter.
Simmons was behind Hurts’ second interception. He hit Hurts on a Titans simulated pressure on third-and-12 from the Tennessee 44. But Simmons’ efforts weren’t enough to help the Titans to victory.
Jurgens said after the game that he learned he would be starting at left guard at the start of the week. He acknowledged that he will learn a lot from his first outing at left guard.
“Jeffery Simmons is a damn good player,” Jurgens said. That’s a good defensive front. Yeah, it was a challenge. I was excited for it. Nervous, anxious. Everything that goes along with playing a football game and playing a really good player.”
The Titans capitalized on Hurts’ interception early in the first half. Still, the Eagles were up 14-7 with just under two minutes to play before halftime. They were the dominant team in terms of time of possession.
But the Titans weren’t dismayed. They broke off a couple of explosive plays inside of the two-minute warning — a 28-yard catch for Titans rookie receiver Elic Ayomanor and a 27-yard catch-and-run for running back Tyjae Spears.
Their efforts brought the Titans into the red zone, where they would settle for a 37-yard field goal. The Eagles led, 14-10, going into halftime.
As the Eagles offense struggled to stay on the field in the second half, the Titans offense got into a rhythm. Halfway through the third quarter, Ward led a 12-play, 69-yard scoring drive. Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley came to life, contributing a 25-yard catch and a 10-yarder.
Again, Ward capped off the drive with a touchdown run, this time on a 1-yard hurry off a fake handoff, tying the game, 17-17.
However, the Eagles’ defense held strong at the start of the fourth quarter. A tackle for a loss from Nolan Smith Jr. on a Tony Pollard carry on first-and-10 from the Titans’ 39 led to third-and-9, in which Ward threw an incomplete pass for rookie receiver Carnell Tate on the run with Moro Ojomo in his face.
Pollard got into a rhythm on the ground following Hurts’ second interception. He rattled off back-to-back 9-yard carries. Then, Ward connected with Ayomanor for 41 yards on an out-breaking route, the rookie tight end hurdling over Marcus Epps on his way to the Eagles’ 24.
After a pair of Titans penalties, Spears kept the momentum going, ripping off a 29-yard run and forcing a missed tackle from Epps. Jalen Carter sacked Ward, who was attempting to roll out on a bootleg, on first-and-goal from the 9-yard line.
“It was a little boot action,” Carter said. “I was studying it through the game … it’s a feel out there where you can just feel it. That’s pretty much it. Coach Vic [Fangio] called a good call, where I was able to beat the guy who contains if it was a boot. That was it.”
Eagles defensive tackles Ty Robinson and Jalen Carter try to block a field goal as time runs out on Sunday.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Moro Ojomo tackled Spears for a loss of 3 yards with just under four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, a glimmer of hope for the Eagles defense.
Latham was called for illegal formation on the following play. The Eagles initially declined the penalty, but they pivoted and decided to enforce it, bringing up second-and-28 from the Eagles’ 42. Carnell Tate had a 5-yard reception, then Spears followed it up with an explosive 27-yard carry on third-and-22, forcing a missed tackle by Marcus Epps.
The Titans went up 20-17 on the 32-yard field goal from Joey Slye. But it wasn’t enough to win, as the Eagles pulled off the late comeback.
Tight end Dallas Goedert left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury and did not return to action.
Barkley declined an interview request after the game, but he said that he was “all right” and that the team would know more about his injury later in the week.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni (left) and assistant to the head coach Cole Peterson (right) dance off the field after beating the Tennessee Titans 24-20 in Nashville, Tenn. on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerEagles head coach Nick Sirianni celebrates after the Eagles beat the Tennessee Titans.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts celebrates with running back Saquon Barkley after throwing the game-winning touchdown against the Tennessee Titans.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles wide receiver Darius Cooper catches the game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver Darius Cooper catches a touchdown with 9 seconds left in the fourth quarter.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni celebrates after they beat the Tennessee Titans.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerHappy Philadelphia Eagles fans after the Eagles scored a touchdown with seconds left in the fourth quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles center Cam Jurgens lifts up Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Darius Cooper after Cooper makes the winning touchdown with seconds left in the fourth quarter. David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles fan holds up a Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith jersey with seconds left in the fourth quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throws the football late in the fourth quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter gets help coming off the field in the fourth quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles fan is sweating it out with the Eagles trailing 20-17 in the fourth quarter.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon gets stopped by Tennessee Titans cornerback Marcus Harris.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith catches first down pass against Tennessee Titans cornerback Alontae Taylor.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles cornerback Riq Woolen defends Tennessee Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate with 12:50 left in the fourth quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts scrambles out of trouble and throws an incomplete pass with 8 seconds left in the third quarter.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Johnny Mundt is brought down by Tennessee Titans linebacker Cody Barton in the third quarter.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni while the Tennessee Titans are driving in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun stop Tennessee Titans running back Nicholas Singleton in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley pushed out of bounds by Tennessee Titans linebacker Cedric Gray in the third quarter.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith hauls in a pass, but it was incomplete during the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott watches his long field goal in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley running with the ball in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles defensive tackle Ty Robinson (left) and Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (right) try to block a field goal as time runs out in the first half against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville, Tenn. David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun brings down Tennessee Titans wide receiver Elic Ayomanor after Titans’ drive to the end zone late in the second quarter.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith celebrates a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Will Shipley runs along the sideline with Tennessee Titans cornerback Alontae Taylor defending.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles fans cheer as the Eagles drive towards the end zone.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles head of security Big Dom DiSandro stops Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts as he is running out of bounds so he doesn’t hurt himself in the second quarter.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby runs with the football during the second quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby celebrate Bigsby’s touchdown in the second quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks gets a first-down catch passed Tennessee Titans linebacker Cody Barton and Tennessee Titans linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. in the first quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerTennessee Titans safety Amani Hooker intercepts the ball from Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts in the first quarter and runs it just short of the end zone.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith gets a first down pass with Tennessee Titans cornerback Alontae Taylor defending in the first quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver Britain Covey returns the first punt of the game, defended by Tennessee Titans safety Erick Hallett, in the first quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles fans get ready for the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Jalen Carter returned to practice on Thursday, sporting a beige cast on his right wrist.
Carter, the Eagles’ 25-year-old defensive tackle, missed Wednesday’s practice with a wrist injury. He was a limited participant on Thursday. While he declined to reveal the precise nature of his injury after practice, Carter said he will play on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
“Just a minor adjustment, and I’m still out there practicing and ready to play,” Carter said.
Carter said he sustained the injury in Week 1 against the Washington Commanders while attempting to punch the ball out of wide receiver Terry McLaurin’s hands in the fourth quarter.
The two-time Pro Bowler has experienced his share of injuries. Dating back to the start of training camp last year, Carter had issues with his shoulders that required injections. He ended up missing three weeks late last season. At the time, he admitted that his shoulders gave him issues throughout the year, as he finished the season with just three sacks.
On Sunday, Carter didn’t miss any playing time. In fact, he played 94% of the defensive snaps, which led all Eagles defensive linemen.
Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter played 94% of the snaps on Sunday.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Carter didn’t record a sack or a quarterback hit, but still had three quarterback pressures, according to Next Gen Stats. He also blocked a Commanders extra point attempt in the second quarter, bringing his career total to four blocks (two extra points, two field goals).
His study of the kicking operation during the week helps set him up for success on game day, he said. Carter times up the snap, gets off the ball quickly and generates knock-back, and jumps as high as he can.
But it’s not just about execution for Carter — it’s also about his mindset.
“You want to go out there,” Carter said. “You don’t want them to score at all. But if it’s a three-point field goal or a field goal after a touchdown, you still want to stop them from getting an extra point.”
The Eagles will rely on Carter’s impact on defense, too, when they travel to Nashville for the second game of the season. On Tuesday, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio criticized the Eagles’ pass rush in their win over the Commanders, calling it “inconsistent” and claiming it “really wasn’t good enough.”
The Eagles sacked Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels just once. They pressured Daniels on half of his 38 dropbacks, according to Next Gen Stats. But Daniels extended plays with his legs and scrambled, to the detriment of the Eagles’ defense.
“I’d just say it’s Week 1,” Carter said. “We’ve got 17 more games. It’s going to get better throughout the weeks, and we could watch the film off Week 1, but we also can’t go back and change what happened.”
Carter, who signed a contract extension before training camp that made him the highest-paid defensive tackle in league history, could fare better on Sunday against the Titans.
Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward had to frequently evade pressure vs. the Jets in Week 1.George Walker IV
Titans quarterback Cam Ward is capable of using his legs, too, but not at the same level as Daniels. Ward’s protection isn’t as sound, either. The Titans’ offensive line was porous in their Week 1 loss to the New York Jets, conceding 16 total pressures, including three sacks.
Carter could have opportunities to take Ward down, so long as he can stay healthy and shoulder a substantial workload. He said he has been playing a high percentage of the defensive snaps dating back to 2024 and doesn’t have a problem maintaining that pace.
Whether he is required to play through the wrist injury or the mid-September Tennessee heat in Sunday’s forecast, Carter isn’t letting anything deter him.
“I’m from Florida,” Carter said. “I love the heat. I’m not going to complain. They do got the turf [at Nissan Stadium], but got to play through anything to get a dub, whatever the case may be.”
Jalen Hurts answered some questions about how he’ll adjust to maybe the most significant scheme and play-caller change of his NFL career. It wasn’t always pretty, particularly when Washington pressured him or changed the coverage picture post-snap. But Hurts delivered when needed with his arm and legs.
Overall, he completed 14 of 25 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns. He scrambled five times for 48 yards before game-ending kneels. In the fourth quarter, he found Dallas Goedert over the middle and the tight end did the rest for a 43-yard touchdown. Earlier on the drive, Hurts had a huge 22-yard scramble on third-and-18. There weren’t any designed quarterback runs, but Hurts looked more mobile than he has in a few years.
In the third quarter, Hurts tear-dropped a 31-yarder to DeVonta Smith on a third down. Until that moment in the second half, the offense looked ugly. Hurts and his protection struggled vs. Washington’s blitzes and simulated pressures.
Jalen Hurts (right) completed 14 of 25 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Hurts was mostly excellent in the first half when he had time to throw. He heaved a deep dime to wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks on a 64-yard corner route. He hit Goedert down the seam for a 17-yard touchdown. And he was on time with Wicks on an out route that resulted in a 9-yard touchdown.
After the Eagles guarded the identity of their No. 2 quarterback like it was a state secret, Andy Dalton got the nod ahead of Tanner McKee.
Saquon Barkley did the best he could. There were several rushes in which Barkley was met in the backfield just after the handoff. It looked like last year’s leaky run game at times as he was dropped for a loss on at least four carries. It could have been worse if not for Barkley’s spins, jukes, and strength.
He converted third-and 2 in the second quarter when he broke a tackle and chugged 42 yards. Barkley finished with 83 yards rushing on 15 carries. In blitz pickup, he might have missed an edge pressure in which Hurts was decked in the second quarter. He had a few pickups that gave the quarterback time, but got steamrolled by rookie linebacker Sonny Styles, who recorded a third-quarter sack.
Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley weren’t given much of a workload. Shipley had two carries for 4 yards and caught an 8-yard pass out of the backfield before the half, while Bigsby finished with one carry for 3 yards.
Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (center) finished with 73 yards.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Receiver / Tight end: B-
It was a new world for Smith being the No. 1 receiver that drew cloud coverage. He didn’t see the ball much in the first half. But Smith stayed patient and caught two big passes in the second half, including a 31-yard over-the-shoulder grab in which he got both feet inbounds. He made it look easy.
Goedert picked up where he left off last season, catching two touchdowns a year after he had a team-high 11. His first touchdown came on the 17-yard seam route and then he scored from 43 yards out when he reversed field after an over-the-middle grab that sealed the game. Goedert led the Eagles with four catches for 77 yards.
Makai Lemon has a ways to go before he’s a steady contributor. The Eagles forced several passes to the rookie receiver on short passing concepts. He finished with three catches for minus-5 yards. The first catch of his career was a 3-yard dump, the second a 5-yard loss on a screen after Wicks missed a block, and third was another bubble in which he was dropped behind the line. Lemon was hardly at fault for the latter two negative plays. The blocking just wasn’t there.
Makai Lemon had a quiet NFL debut with minus-5 yards on three catches.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Wicks had a solid Eagles debut. He broke free over the top on a corner route on his 64-yard reception. Wicks ran a wicked stem route in which he beat cornerback Mike Sainristil on the 9-yard touchdown catch. There was some confusion at times. Smith had to signal to Wicks a few times for him to motion in the second quarter.
Eli Stowers was placed on injured reserve with hamstring and quadriceps injuries. The rookie tight end was unlikely to play much, if at all. Johnny Mundt had some solid moments as the main point of attack blocker on the run side, but no one had a great day trying to open holes in the ground game.
Offensive line: C
The pressure Hurts faced wasn’t all on the quarterback, just as it wasn’t all on the O-line. But there were multiple breakdowns up front, especially vs. left guard Landon Dickerson. He looked like a turnstile at times. Was Dickerson solely at fault? Of course not. But the oft-injured guard who’s as tough as they come appeared slower than even a year ago when he returned too early after knee surgery.
It was downright ugly in the third quarter when Dickerson got toasted on back-to-back rushes, one of which led to a holding penalty. Earlier, the Commanders’ Javon Kinlaw beat the guard for a run tackle for loss in the first quarter. Dickerson was late to help on a third-down stunt in which Hurts was hurried in the second quarter.
Center Cam Jurgens struggled, as well, particularly in the first quarter. He had a holding penalty when Barkley was nearly dropped in the backfield and then another when it was all on him after he grabbed defensive tackle Shy Tuttle. Right guard Tyler Steen had a tough time getting to the perimeter on a pull block, but he seemed to hold up much more than the other two interior O-linemen.
Tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata were far less at fault in the run blocking. But the O-line unit failed to work as a cohesive unit and everyone was affected. Mailata did turn linebacker Frankie Luvu around on a Barkley 5-yard tote in the first quarter. Johnson and Mailata were much better in pass protection, particularly in one-on-one situations.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts after winning the season opening game against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts celebrates a touchdown with Keyshawn James-Newby (center) and offensive tackle Lane Johnson during the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo celebrates a two-point conversion stop late during the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles stop the two point conversion attempt during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert celebrates his fourth quarter touchdown at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles tight end Dallas Goedert scores a fourth quarter touchdown past Commanders cornerback Darius Rush during the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert runs for a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles tight end Dallas Goedert catches the football for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts first down run during the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerWashington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs hugs the goalpost after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. Unsportsmanlike penalty was called pushing the Commanders back.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerWashington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs scores in the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith catches the ball for a big first down during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts gains fourteen yards on a run in the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerEagles place kicker Jake Elliott kicks a third quarter field goad during the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles cornerback Cooper DeJean stops Commanders wide receiver Jaylin Lane during the third quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith catches the ball against Commanders cornerback Darius Rush during the third quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts sacked in the third quarter by Washington Commanders linebacker Odafe Oweh at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts scrambles on a third down during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles head coach Nick Sirianni racts during the third quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is sacked by Washington Commanders linebacker Sonny Styles in the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts passes to tight end Dallas Goedert late during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter celebrates a blocked extra point late during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts hands off to Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert congratulates Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks after a second quarter touchdown at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni congratulates Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks after his second quarter touchdown at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith tries to block Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo goes after Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks celebrates a touchdown with Darius Cooper (left) and DeVonta Smith (right) during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles linebacker Zack Baun celebrates after breaking up a pass intended for Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun stops Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt for a loss, Washington punts on the drive, at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley with a big run in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun sandwich Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerEagles running back Saquon Barkley gains 42 yards during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert celebrates second quarter touchdown with Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert spikes the ball after a touchdown in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles tight end Dallas Goedert catches a touchdown against Commanders safety Quan Martin during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.nYong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles fans cheer in the first quarter of the season opener against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts reacts during the first quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles wide receiver Makai Lemon catches the ball against Commanders cornerback Amik Robertson during the first quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is sacked by Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu in the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley misses a pass in the first quarter, defended by Washington Commanders linebacker Sonny Styles, at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts during a moment of silence before the start of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley runs out of the tunnel at the season opener against the Washington Commanders in Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts runs out of the tunnel during player introductions before the season opening game against the Washington Commanders in Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerGreg Gorski, of Elkins Park, poses for a portrait while tailgating before the Eagles play the Commanders in Philadelphia on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Defensive line: B+
The sacks weren’t in the stat sheet, but the Eagles’ front pressured Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels throughout the game. They should have against a suspect offensive line. Nevertheless, defensive tackle Jalen Carter pushed the pocket on many occasions. He had a third-down pressure that forced Daniels outside and unable to complete a pass downfield in the second quarter. Carter was too aggressive on a Jacory Croskey-Merritt 9-yard rush up the middle.
Jordan Davis was superb as a run defender and finished with eight tackles. Moro Ojomo made the game-sealing play when he wasn’t fooled by Washington’s shovel pass on their two-point try to tie the game.
With Jonathan Greenard (pectoral) still not cleared to return, Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith shouldered most of the load on the edges. They didn’t get to Daniels, and lost him at times when he scrambled, but they kept him from escaping when it mattered the most.
Zack Baun celebrates after breaking up a pass intended for Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs during the second quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Linebacker: A-
Zack Baun was the defensive player of the game. He was all over the field. Baun was a beast on back-to-back plays in the second quarter, breaking up a pass over the middle and notching a tackle for loss on a screen pass. Earlier, Baun lowered his head to stuff Rachaad White on third-and-1 in the first quarter. Carter chipped in for the stop. He nearly had a downfield interception before the half, but was out of bounds. He led the Eagles with 12 tackles.
To open the second half, Baun made an open-field stop on third down. Jihaad Campbell was the first to meet running back White when he was stopped on a third-down run on Washington’s first possession. Croskey-Merritt ran through his arm-tackle attempt on a 9-yard run. He got beat by tight end Chig Okonkwo’s 15-yard catch in the third quarter.
Cornerback: B
Cooper DeJean had a rough outing in the slot with outside corners Quinyon Mitchell and Riq Woolen having the boundary sides on relative lockdown.
DeJean appeared to get dinged late in the first half after he allowed a catch over the middle. He got up and winced, but stayed in. Daniels was wise to go back at the slot corner and connected with rookie receiver Antonio Williams on in-breaking routes to the 1-yard line. Washington scored a touchdown on the next play.
Earlier, DeJean got turned around on a third-and-10 conversion. He committed an illegal-contact penalty in the third quarter. His blitz in the third quarter forced Daniels into an incompletion. And he made a tackle short of the sticks later in the quarter.
Mitchell made a stop on a short pass in the second quarter, while Woolen nearly got his hands on multiple balls in the first half.
Eagles safety Marcus Epps (right) makes a run stop in the first quarter.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Safety: B
The Eagles had some leaky moments in the middle of the field as Daniels was forced to throw between the numbers. But Andrew Mukuba, Marcus Epps and DeJean more than acquitted themselves. Mukuba might have been a touch late to help Campbell on Okonkwo’s 15-yarder.Epps came up from deep to make a run stop near the line in the first quarter. Epps left briefly with a shoulder injury, but returned in the second quarter.
There was no deep-middle help on Williams’ 33-yard grab in the fourth quarter.
Special teams: B+
Punter Braden Mann was fantastic. He averaged 51.6 yards on seven punts and dropped four inside the Washington 20. Mann pinned Washington deep at the 6-yard line on his first punt. Just before the half, Mann spun a six-iron down at the 2-yard line.
Kicker Jake Elliott split the upright all three of his kicks — a 35-yard field goal and two extra points.
Carter blocked the extra point after the Commanders’ first touchdown. Darius Cooper had some impressive moments as a gunner.
Britain Covey averaged 9.3 yards on four punt returns. Bigsby and Shipley averaged 25 yards on three returns combined.
Nick Sirianni moved to 6-0 in regular season openers with Sunday’s win.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Coaching: B
Coach Nick Sirianni moved to 6-0 in openers. He found a way to get it done despite some offensive sloppiness and late defensive letdowns. Still, Sirianni just knows how to win.
New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion will need time as a first-time play-caller. He had some rough calls, particularly in forcing the issue to Lemon. There were too many run calls that resulted in losses. The Eagles also didn’t look quite prepared for Washington’s simulated pressures.
Mannion had some solid calls in the first half, though, in which multiple receivers were open. He dialed up the Hurts-to-Wicks 64-yard bomb out of “13″ personnel and off play-action. Goedert was also wide-open underneath. Mannion’s four-verticals call that led to Goedert’s 17-yard score was also timely vs. Cover 2. Was he throwing shade as his predecessor with the call? Probably not, but it was ironic justice after last season’s fateful end. Earlier on the drive, tempo helped spring Barkley on the 42-yard inside zone run.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio got his players to mostly dominate. They had some rough turns, but they were also on the field far too much in the third quarter because of the offensive inefficiency. Fangio had a rough call when Campbell got matched up against a receiver downfield and the Commanders converted third-and-14 in the fourth quarter. Ultimately, his guys got the job done.
The two-time defending NFC East champion Eagles begin their season Sunday, with the Washington Commanders coming to town for the Week 1 opener at the Linc (4:25 p.m. Fox). With that in mind, let’s meet every member of the 53-man squad. Players are listed by expected order on the Eagles’ depth chart.
Quarterbacks (4)
Jalen Hurts
College: Oklahoma | Years pro: 6 | 6-1, 223
Another year, another new offensive coordinator and play caller for Hurts, who has dealt with constant change since he was in college. All eyes are on the quarterback as the Eagles enter 2026 with a revamped offense under new coordinator Sean Mannion. How will Hurts take to running an offense that has him taking more snaps from under center, utilizing more play action, and one that may even ask him to run a little more often? How will he deal with a wide receiving corps that doesn’t have A.J. Brown anymore? There are a lot of question marks hanging over the offense, and Hurts is under the spotlight. — Neiburg
Andy Dalton struggled in the preseason. Could he still be a trade target?Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Andy Dalton
College: TCU | Years pro: 15 | 6-2, 220
The Eagles traded a seventh-round pick for Dalton in hopes that the 38-year-old could compete for the No. 2 job behind Hurts or, if Tanner McKee outperformed him in camp, could be used as trade bait to a quarterback-needy team. Neither happened, and so Dalton enters the 2026 season either second or third on the depth chart. Dalton has played a lot of football, but he’s four years removed from being a starter. — Neiburg
Tanner McKee
College: Stanford | Years pro: 2 | 6-6, 231
Coach Nick Sirianni and GM Howie Roseman are hesitant to name a backup quarterback, so McKee will either be the No. 2 or No. 3 guy behind Hurts on the depth chart. It’s a clear battle between him and Dalton, who might have the edge due to his experience. McKee has shown flashes over the years — tossing 269 yards and two touchdowns in a meaningless game against the Giants in 2024 — but he hasn’t quite jelled with Mannion’s offense. — Novozinsky
Cole Payton
College: North Dakota State | Years pro: 1st | 6-3, 232
Payton, a rookie fifth-round pick from North Dakota State, fell victim to the QB battle in front of him this summer. He saw some garbage-time action in the preseason, but it wasn’t nearly enough to showcase his dual-threat potential. Roseman and Sirianni (rightly) gave his reps to Dalton and McKee, who are still battling for the QB2 job. — Novozinsky
Saquon Barkley’s effectiveness in Sean Mannion’s offensive scheme will be a major storyline. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Running Backs (3)
Saquon Barkley
College: Penn State | Years pro: 8 | 6-0, 233
The offense took a step back last year in part because Barkley could not come close to replicating his 2024 season, when he became the ninth player in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season. Doing it again would have been a big ask, but Barkley’s ability to pile up yards was hampered by an offensive line that was injured and an offensive scheme that couldn’t find ways to get him the ball in space. This year, the Eagles are implementing a wide zone running scheme that should favor Barkley and a running game that will be pivotal to the team’s success. — Neiburg
Tank Bigsby
College: Auburn | Years pro: 3 | 5-11, 215
The Eagles acquired Bigsby a few weeks into the 2025 season and the backup running back was one of the few bright spots on offense. He rushed 58 times for 344 yards (5.9 per carry) but had more than four carries in only three games. A new-look rushing attack could ask for Bigsby to spell Barkley more often this year. — Neiburg
Will Shipley
College: Clemson | Years pro: 2 | 5-11, 209
Shipley enters his third season with the team as the third-string running back behind Barkley and Bigsby and as a key special teams contributor, particularly at kick returner. He won’t likely have ample touches on offense, but he acquitted himself nicely in the preseason, both as a runner and as a receiver. Mannion could find a role for him in the offense in certain situations. — Reiner
is DeVonta Smith ready to embrace WR1 status?David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Wide receivers (6)
DeVonta Smith
College: Alabama | Years pro: 5 | 6-0, 170
With A.J. Brown shipped off to the Patriots, all eyes are on Smith as the Eagles’ WR1. Prominent members of the organization, including Sirianni and Roseman, have stated they believe Smith is ready to take on a bigger role in the offense. Smith, who turns 28 in November, could be the team’s leading receiver for the first time since 2021. He missed most of training camp with a hamstring injury, but he is expected to be available for Week 1. — Reiner
Dontayvion Wicks
College: Virginia | Years pro: 3 | 6-1, 206
The Eagles acquired the 25-year-old Wicks from the Green Bay Packers this offseason. He made the most of his opportunities throughout camp, and with Makai Lemon sidelined for a significant portion of the offseason with a hamstring injury, Wicks made his case for the WR2 job. Wicks’ best season came in his rookie year in 2023, when he racked up 581 yards and four touchdowns on 39 receptions. The two seasons that followed paled in comparison. Wicks will look to prove he’s capable of taking on a greater workload in the Eagles offense. — Reiner
Can Makai Lemon recover from a low-impact preseason and training camp?Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Makai Lemon
College: USC | Years pro: 1st | 5-11, 192
Fans and pundits will be looking at Lemon under a microscope this season — and for good reason. The 22-year-old rookie was drafted in hopes that he could help replicate Brown’s production in the aggregate, alongside the Eagles’ other weapons. Lemon isn’t off to the best start, missing the majority of training camp then struggling in his lone preseason appearance (3 yards on three catches and a drop that led to an interception). — Novozinsky
Darius Cooper
College: Tarleton State | Years pro: 1 | 5-11, 210
Last year’s training camp darling earned a roster spot by doing a lot of what Sirianni called the “dirty work.” The Eagles asked Cooper mostly to be a blocker and play special teams. He was targeted just 11 times on 212 offensive snaps. Cooper had a good start to training camp but seemed to fade a little down the stretch. That being said, there’s an opportunity for Cooper to have a bigger role in the offense this year. — Neiburg
Hollywood Brown is a former 1,000-yard receiver who is looking to revive his career in Philly. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Hollywood Brown
College: Oklahoma | Years pro: 7 | 5-9, 170
Roseman signed Brown to a one-year deal in free agency worth $5 million guaranteed after Brown followed up an injury-shortened 2024 campaign by catching 49 passes for 587 yards and five touchdowns last year with Kansas City. He’s not the same receiver he was when he broke into the league as a 2019 first-round pick with Baltimore, but Brown could be a reliable third or fourth option despite being invisible at times during his first training camp in Philly. — Neiburg
Elijah Moore
College: Ole Miss | Years pro: 5 | 5-10, 178
Out is A.J. Brown, in is his college friend and teammate. The Eagles signed Moore to a one-year deal to add some depth to the position group. The 2021 second-round pick then went out and earned his spot with a strong training camp. Moore’s 2025 season with the Bills and Broncos was rocky, and he came to the Eagles facing a career crossroads. He could have a revival, especially if Lemon struggles early and the Eagles ask Moore to be their slot receiver. — Neiburg
Video: unCovering the Birds: Is tight end the biggest area of concern?
Tight ends (4)
Dallas Goedert
College: South Dakota State | Years pro: 8 | 6-5, 256
Goedert is back with the Eagles for a ninth season after the team signed the 31-year-old to a one-year deal. Goedert is coming off a productive 2025 season where he had more touchdowns (11) than he did in the previous three seasons combined. Goedert will again be relied on in the passing game, but the Eagles will need him to give a little more as a blocker in a run scheme that asks more of the tight ends than the previous one did. — Neiburg
Johnny Mundt
College: Oregon | Years pro: 8 | 6-4, 245
Blocking from the tight end spot was a struggle at times for the Eagles in 2025, so they tried to rectify that by signing Mundt, who has become one of the better blocking tight ends in the NFL over the last few seasons. What’s more, he’s also experienced in the Eagles’ new style of offense, having played on multiple teams that deploy some version of the Kyle Shanahan-Sean McVay offense. — Neiburg
Eli Stowers’ ability to make a Year 1 impact is in question. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Eli Stowers
College: Vanderbilt | Years pro: 1st | 6-3, 239
The Eagles selected Stowers with their second-round pick in part because it’s past time they started planning for the future at the position. Stowers is a former quarterback who transitioned to tight end in college after a shoulder injury. The Eagles loved his athleticism and think they’ll eventually be able to take advantage of some mismatches when he’s running routes, but it’s unclear how involved the rookie will be in the offense early in the season. — Neiburg
EJ Jenkins
College: Georgia Tech | Years pro: 1 | 6-6, 245
Jenkins was one of the bubble offensive skill players who made the initial 53-man roster. He has been with the Eagles for most of the last three years, primarily on the practice squad, and he has appeared in 14 games between the regular season and the postseason. Jenkins checks the box as another “Y” tight end responsible for lining up inline and blocking, a coveted role in the Shanahan/McVay offense. — Reiner
Jordan Mailata returns as one of the Eagles’ most reliable players. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Offensive linemen (9)
Jordan Mailata
College: N/A | Years pro: 8 | 6-8, 365
While most of the offensive line was hampered by injury last season, Mailata was one of the unit’s healthiest members, starting in all 16 games that the starters played (not including Week 18). He has seemingly improved with age — according to Pro Football Focus, Mailata conceded two sacks in 2025, the second-lowest total of his career (he gave up one sack in 2024). Two years ago, he earned second-team All-Pro honors. Can he earn leaguewide acclaim in 2026? — Reiner
Landon Dickerson
College: Alabama | Years pro: 5 | 6-6, 332
Dickerson admitted that last season, he returned to action too quickly after undergoing meniscus surgery. He had a full offseason to recover from his various injuries, which included traveling to Colombia to receive stem cell therapy to manage his pain. Now, Dickerson says he’s healthy as he aims to bounce back in his sixth season as the starting left guard. Can he get back to the standard he established from 2022-24 when he was an original-selection Pro Bowler for three straight years? — Reiner
A healthy Cam Jurgens would be a mark in the Eagles’ favor in 2026. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Cam Jurgens
College: Nebraska | Years pro: 4 | 6-3, 303
Chronic back pain slowed Jurgens at times in 2025, though he still was named to the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive season. Like Dickerson, Jurgens sought to rid himself of that pain by flying to Colombia for stem cell therapy treatment during the offseason. Jurgens says he’s feeling a lot better, and he appears to be moving around a lot better, too. The new running attack should fit his athletic profile. — Neiburg
Tyler Steen
College: Alabama | Years pro: 3 | 6-6, 321
Steen is heading into his second season as the starting right guard. He was solid in his first season, conceding just two sacks, according to PFF. His teammates have lauded his improvement throughout training camp as he heads into a contract year. Steen will have an opportunity to play his way into a pay raise, either in Philadelphia or elsewhere. — Reiner
Lane Johnson said 2026 will probably be his last go-round. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Lane Johnson
College: Oklahoma | Years pro: 13 | 6-6, 325
Johnson’s reign at right tackle is nearing its end. During training camp, Hurts’ 36-year-old protector said that 2026 will “probably” be his final season. Johnson played just 10 games last season, as he was sidelined with a Lisfranc foot injury. The six-time Pro Bowl, two-time All-Pro right tackle will have an opportunity to end his career on a high note in a new offense featuring a different blocking scheme in the run game, so long as he can stay healthy. — Reiner
Fred Johnson
College: Florida | Years pro: 7 | 6-7, 326
Johnson has been a quiet mainstay in his previous three seasons with the Eagles, appearing in all 57 of the team’s games from 2023-25 (51 regular season, 6 playoffs). He’s mainly played on special teams units but has also earned 14 starts as the swing tackle during his time in Philly, including eight last year. Whether he serves as the primary tackle backup this season remains an open question — the team is high on rookie Markel Bell — but Johnson will provide veteran depth no matter his place on the depth chart. — Novozinsky
Markel Bell could be the Eagles’ starting tackle of the future. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Markel Bell
College: Miami (FL) | Years pro: 1st | 6-9, 346
The Eagles identified Lane Johnson’s heir apparent when they selected Bell in the third round of the draft. Throughout camp, he made the transition to right tackle, as he had primarily played at left tackle in college. Bell will have the opportunity to develop this season behind Johnson. If the 14-year veteran gets hurt, the Eagles don’t necessarily have to turn to Bell right away, as they also have Fred Johnson in a reserve role. — Reiner
Drew Kendall
College: Boston College | Years pro: 1 | 6-4, 308
The Eagles drafted Kendall, a college center, in the fifth round last year and then started cross-training him at guard. A year working behind some veteran offensive linemen and getting in an NFL training facility has done wonders. Kendall is bigger, stronger, and looks ready to step in if called upon to play any of the three interior offensive line positions. — Neiburg
Willie Lampkin was one of the stories of training camp for the Eagles. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Willie Lampkin
College: North Carolina | Years pro: 1 | 5-11, 290
The Eagles claimed Lampkin at the end of camp last season after the Los Angeles Rams waived him with an injury designation. He spent the entire season on injured reserve. Finally healthy, Lampkin impressed throughout the preseason despite his undersized stature and earned himself a spot as a depth interior lineman on the initial 53. Can the Eagles find a way to get him on the field in specialized personnel packages this season? — Reiner
Micah Morris
College: Georgia | Years pro: 1st | 6-5, 334
It’s easy to see why the Eagles, in search of offensive line depth, used a sixth-round pick on Morris this year. He has the body type and athleticism to play guard in the NFL. Morris showed some flashes during training camp and in preseason contests. He’s likely the last guy on the depth chart and won’t be called upon to play much, but the 23-year-old could be an intriguing prospect for the future. — Neiburg
Jalen Carter (left) and Jordan Davis are both looking to deliver in 2026 after earning huge offseason contract extensions. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Interior defensive line (5)
Jalen Carter
College: Georgia | Years pro: 3 | 6-3, 314
He got paid. Now can he bounce back? Last season, Carter generated a career-low 7.7% pressure rate while facing a double-team on a career-low 41.7% of his pass rushes, according to Next Gen Stats. This came after his wildly successful 2024 season, during which he helped propel the Birds to a Super Bowl win. Now recovered from injury and 10 pounds lighter, Carter should be one of the top defensive tackles in the league this season. — Novozinsky
Jordan Davis
College: Georgia | Years pro: 4 | 6-6, 336
It’s clear that Davis has a different mindset entering this season. Look no further than the fact that the Eagles named the 26-year-old a first-time captain on Friday. Davis, who inked a three-year, $78 million extension in March, is going to be a force in Vic Fangio’s defense once again this year. He’s coming off a career-best 72-tackle and 4.5-sack season and should replicate that this season. — Novozinsky
Moro Ojomo had a strong training camp for the Eagles. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Moro Ojomo
College: Texas | Years pro: 3 | 6-3, 292
Ojomo watched Carter and Davis — who sit ahead of him on the depth chart — become two of the highest-paid defensive tackles in the league this offseason. The 2023 seventh-round pick is using that as motivation. The trio of Carter, Davis and an extra-motivated Ojomo have a chance to form the best DT trio in the NFL this season. — Novozinsky
Byron Young
College: Alabama | Years pro: 3 | 6-3, 292
Young is sort of the otherguy along a defensive interior front that could be among the best in the NFL with Carter, Davis and Ojomo. But Young has more than held his own when the Eagles have called his number. He played in all 17 games last season and tallied 37 tackles. He had three tackles for loss and four quarterback hits while playing 30% of the defensive snaps. With a healthier Carter, Young could see fewer snaps, but the Eagles certainly like what they have with their No. 4 defensive tackle. — Neiburg
Ty Robinson was a preseason standout. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Ty Robinson
College: Nebraska | Years pro: 1 | 6-5, 288
Robinson has been on “life support” for the past year, according to Fangio, as he struggled to get on the field in his rookie season. His defensive coordinator said he “came to life” as training camp progressed. Robinson led the Eagles with three sacks in the preseason. He will have the opportunity to make an impact in a depth role behind the top trio of Carter, Davis, and Ojomo. — Reiner
Edge rushers/outside linebackers (5)
Jonathan Greenard
College: Florida | Years pro: 6 | 6-3, 263
Greenard was the biggest acquisition of the offseason. The Eagles during draft weekend sent two third-round picks to Minnesota to acquire Greenard and a seventh-round pick, and then quickly signed the 29-year-old to a four-year deal worth nearly $100 million. But Greenard missed all of training camp after suffering a pectoral injury late in the offseason and his availability for Week 1 is uncertain. When he’s healthy, the Eagles will need Greenard to consistently get after the quarterback. He had at least 12 sacks in 2023 and 2024 before his injury-shortened 2025 season. — Neiburg
Video: unCovering the Birds mailbag: Analyzing Jalyx Hunt’s productive training camp
Jalyx Hunt
College: Houston Christian | Years pro: 2 | 6-3, 252
Hunt arguably had the best training camp of any Eagles player this summer. The 25-year-old edge rusher lived in the backfield during training camp, sweeping past the Eagles’ best offensive tackles with ease. With Greenard potentially injured to start the season, look for Hunt to take his reps and thrive. He had a 6.5-sack season last year. It’s not a stretch to say he might double that this year. — Novozinsky
Nolan Smith Jr.
College: Georgia | Years pro: 3 | 6-2, 238
Smith re-injured his triceps last season, forcing him to miss over a month of game action. His production declined, going from 6.5 sacks in 2024 to three in 2025. Now healthy, Smith had a strong performance in training camp opposite Hunt while Greenard was sidelined. He’ll look to take his game to the next level with the opportunity for a contract extension looming. — Reiner
Former Penn State and Temple star Arnold Ebiketie (17) is looking to make his name as an Eagle. Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
Arnold Ebiketie
College: Penn State | Years pro: 4 | 6-3, 256
After four years with Atlanta, Ebiketie hit free agency and found a team in the Eagles who needed to fill out the depth chart on the edge. His playing time dropped off a bit in 2025. He was on the field for 35% of the defensive snaps after playing 49% a year earlier. The Eagles have some workhorses at the top of the depth chart in Greenard, Hunt and Smith, but Ebiketie may need to play a little more if Greenard isn’t ready for Week 1. — Neiburg
A.J. Epenesa
College: Iowa | Years pro: 6 | 6-6, 260
It was a weird offseason for Epenesa. The Browns signed him to a one-year deal worth up to $5 million before balking at the deal weeks later, reportedly due to a failed physical. Now, he finds himself on a loaded Eagles defensive front — and he couldn’t be happier. The 27-year-old looked sharp in camp too, recording a handful of sacks and nabbing an interception on Day 2. — Novozinsky
Zack Baun is a linchpin of the Eagles defense. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Inside linebackers (4)
Zack Baun
College: Wisconsin | Years pro: 6 | 6-3, 225
Three years ago, Baun arrived in Philadelphia as an expected special teams ace and a prospective edge rusher. Since then, he’s become an All-Pro, two-time Pro Bowl, Super Bowl champion inside linebacker and one of the most important players in Fangio’s defense. After Nakobe Dean signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency, Baun is set to take on green dot responsibilities as the on-field defensive play caller this season. — Reiner
Jihaad Campbell
College: Alabama | Years pro: 1 | 6-3, 235
Campbell made an immediate impact in his rookie season, playing in all 17 games and recording a decent stat line of 80 tackles, one interception and three pass deflections. Can he have an even stronger sophomore year? He’ll have help in the room — Campbell, Zack Baun and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. form one of the deepest linebacker corps in the league. — Novozinsky
Is this the year Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (54) breaks through on defense? Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
College: Clemson | Years pro: 2 | 6-0, 225
Trotter heads into his third season with the Eagles as the next man up behind Baun and Campbell. But the 2024 fifth-round pick has demonstrated in the preseason that he could start in any other defense. He finished behind Robinson with two sacks in the preseason, plus one tackle for a loss. Should either Baun or Campbell go down this year, the Eagles ought to feel comfortable with Trotter taking their place. — Reiner
Smael Mondon Jr.
College: Georgia | Years pro: 1 | 6-2, 224
The 2025 fifth-round pick played just 14 defensive snaps last season but was a core special teamer. That shouldn’t change much in 2025 unless the Eagles suffer a few injuries. Linebacker is arguably their deepest position. Mondon seems to be developing nicely and held off a few challengers for a roster spot. — Neiburg
Quinyon Mitchell (27) and Cooper DeJean are seeking to build on All-Pro seasons. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Cornerbacks (6)
Quinyon Mitchell
College: Toledo | Years pro: 2 | 6-0, 193
In his rookie season, Mitchell proved he was a stud in the making, being named to the All-Rookie team and finishing second in Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. He took it another step last year when he was named an All-Pro and a Pro Bowler. Can Mitchell keep leveling up in Year 3? Can he prove that he’s the best cornerback in the NFL (and deserves to get paid like it)? — Novozinsky
Cooper DeJean
College: Iowa | Years pro: 2 | 6-0, 198
DeJean followed up an impressive rookie season by being selected as a first-team All-Pro and being named to the Pro Bowl. DeJean is arguably the best nickel corner in the NFL, but he’s taking on a new job for 2026: safety. DeJean will play on the back line when the Eagles are in their base defense and return to the slot in nickel and dime packages. — Neiburg
Video: Riq Woolen amazed after meeting ‘swole’ Eagles legend Brian Dawkins
Riq Woolen
College: UTSA | Years pro: 4 | 6-4, 210
Woolen’s career with the Seahawks got off to a hot start. He was a Pro Bowler and All-Pro in his rookie season in 2022 and was a key member of their Super Bowl team last season. So, how did the Eagles manage to sign him to a one-year deal in free agency? Well, his inconsistency made him an occasional liability for Mike Macdonald in Seattle. Let’s see if the 6-foot-4 corner can find stability in Fangio’s defense. — Novozinsky
Jonathan Jones
College: Auburn | Years pro: 10 | 5-9, 190
Jones is expected to be the Eagles’ top backup cornerback. He spent last season with the Commanders — Philly’s Week 1 opponent — and signed a one-year deal, $2-million contract with the Eagles in March. He had 78 starts in his first 10 seasons, so he brings a wealth of experience if an Eagles corner goes down this season. — Novozinsky
Kelee Ringo remins a valuable secondary backup and special-teamer. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Kelee Ringo
College: Georgia | Years pro: 3 | 6-2, 207
Last training camp, Ringo was in competition with Adoree’ Jackson for the starting outside cornerback job opposite Mitchell. This year, Ringo wasn’t in the picture, with Woolen signing a prove-it deal in the offseason to command that post. Ringo isn’t even the first outside cornerback off the bench — that’s Jones’ job. But the 24-year-old cornerback is a valued special teamer, hence his roster spot. — Reiner
Mac McWilliams
College: UCF | Years pro: 1 | 5-10, 191
McWilliams looks like a more well-rounded version of his rookie self. He earned occasional reps with the first-team defense throughout training camp and made some plays when doing so. He won’t start if the cornerback room stays healthy, but don’t be surprised if he climbs up the depth chart and earns snaps. — Novozinsky
Can Andrew Mukuba (24) bounce back from the injury that prematurely ended his 2025?Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Safeties (3)
Andrew Mukuba
College: Texas | Years pro: 1 | 5-11, 186
Mukuba saw his rookie season cut short in late November when he fractured his fibula. Now healthy, he will look to stay on the field in his role as one of two starting safeties in his sophomore season. Despite missing the last two months of the 2025 season, Mukuba did not see any preseason action, reinforcing the confidence that the Eagles have in him to do his job come Week 1. Fangio lauded Mukuba’s improved “knowledge and knowhow of the defense” in training camp. — Reiner
Marcus Epps
College: Wyoming | Years pro: 7 | 6-0, 198
Epps is expected to serve as the starting safety alongside Mukuba in Week 1. It was a tough battle between him and Michael Carter II this summer, but Epps experience and institutional knowledge — he was a key starter on the Eagles’ 2022 Super Bowl team — won him the job. Now comes the hard part for Epps: Can he keep the job all season? Carter will be gunning for it every week. — Novozinsky
Michael Carter II will have a key role after a productive training camp and preseason. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Michael Carter II
College: Duke | Years pro: 5 | 5-10, 184
With Mukuba and Epps the likely Week 1 starters at safety, Carter figures to serve as the next safety off the bench. He is the expected backup to DeJean at nickel cornerback, too. Fangio also revealed that Carter will be the sixth defensive back on the field in the dime package. Even though it always seemed like Epps was the frontrunner for the starting safety vacancy this offseason, Fangio said Carter did “nothing but [help] himself” with his performance in camp. — Reiner
Specialists (3)
Jake Elliott
College: Memphis | Years pro: 9 | 5-9, 167
Elliott is coming off of another shaky season in which he went 20-for-27 on his field goal attempts (74.1% conversion rate; his second-lowest rate of the regular season). He is 48-for-63 over the last two regular seasons (76.2%). Still, the Eagles displayed their confidence in the 31-year-old kicker this offseason by restructuring his contract in 2026, agreeing on a $1 million pay cut but guaranteeing $5 million. He did not have any competitors in camp, further reinforcing that the job is his to keep so long as he can establish consistency. — Reiner
Braden Mann (10) and Jake Elliott (right) are back, but will have a new teammate doing the snapping on kicks. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Braden Mann
College: Texas A&M | Years pro: 6 | 5-11, 198
Mann had a good offseason. The 28-year-old punter got paid in March, signing a four-year, $14 million contract extension, and he looked rock solid in training camp. He’s a practice squad success story, with the Eagles initially picking him up from the Steelers in 2023. — Novozinsky
Rocco Underwood
College: Florida | Years pro: 1st | 6-3, 240
The Eagles had stability at long snapper from 2000-2024, with Mike Bartrum, Jon Dorenbos and Rick Lovato all being good enough to earn multiple contracts. They’re hoping Underwood can be that next guy — though things aren’t off to the best start. Underwood, who has shown potential in the past, winning the 2024 Patrick Mannelly Award for the nation’s best long snapper, had a rough start to training camp due to a few bad snaps. He’s since turned it around, but it’s hard to forget those early mistakes. For now, they’ll have to deal with his possible inconsistency and bank on his potential. — Novozinsky
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.
