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Tag: Saquon Barkley

  • Meet the 2026 Eagles: What to know about every player

    Meet the 2026 Eagles: What to know about every player

    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

    unCovering the Birds: Is tight end the biggest area of concern?
    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 other guy 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

    unCovering the Birds mailbag: Analyzing Jalyx Hunt's productive training camp
    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

    Riq Woolen amazed after meeting 'swole' Eagles legend Brian Dawkins
    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

  • Eagles lead NFL with eight players on ESPN’s Top 100 list for 2026; Jalen Hurts comes in at No. 97

    Eagles lead NFL with eight players on ESPN’s Top 100 list for 2026; Jalen Hurts comes in at No. 97

    The Eagles have many reasons to believe they have one of the NFL’s most talented rosters, and ESPN offered another one Tuesday.

    The Birds led the NFL with eight players on ESPN’s projected Top 100 players list for the 2026 season. This is the second consecutive year the Eagles have had more players on the list than any other team. The Lions and 49ers followed with six players each.

    The ranking was decided by 12 ESPN NFL analysts and reporters who evaluated players based on their expected performance in the 2026 season, rather than past performance.

    The Eagles’ eight selections are spread across offense and defense, from quarterback and running back to a receiver, two offensive tackles and three defensive players. Find out who made the list below.

    Quinyon Mitchell will have the best 2026 season for an Eagle, per ESPN’s projections. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Quinyon Mitchell, No. 34

    Mitchell was the Eagles’ highest-ranked player, moving up 47 spots from No. 81 last year.

    The third-year cornerback led all NFL cornerbacks in opponent catch rate during the 2025 season at 42.4%. .

    ESPN projects Mitchell to record 54 tackles, 19 passes and three interceptions in 2026.

    Lane Johnson is a top-40 player in what will probably be his final year. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Lane Johnson, No. 40

    The veteran right tackle dropped from No. 12 to No. 40 this year, but ESPN still views Johnson as one of the league’s best offensive linemen.

    Johnson, 36, is entering what he has indicated will probably be his final NFL season. He is a five-time All-Pro and two-time Super Bowl champion with the Eagles. Johnson is returning from a Lisfranc injury that cost him the final eight games of last season, including the playoffs.

    Jordan Mailata’s (left) production dipped in 2025 but he is still considered an elite lineman. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Jordan Mailata, No. 48

    Mailata also fell from last year, when he was ranked No. 23.

    Still, ESPN considers the Eagles left tackle one of the league’s premier offensive linemen, after being a seventh-round pick for the Eagles in the 2018 draft. Mailata has the third-highest Pro Football Focus grade among offensive tackles since 2022, behind the 49ers’ Trent Williams and Lions’ Penei Sewell.

    Mailata still ranks fifth among offensive tackles in run block win rate of 83.3% since 2020, even though he had a career-low 72.4% rate in 2025.

    Jalen Carter could move back up the Top 100 list with a healthier 2026. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Jalen Carter, No. 58

    After a shoulder injury shortened Carter’s 2025 season, he dropped 40 spots from No. 18.

    The Eagles defensive tackle played just 11 games last season but has the chance to be “one of the most disruptive linemen in the NFL,” according to ESPN. Even though he played in only 11 games, he had four pass rushes that led to forced interceptions.

    He signed a four-year, $152 million extension this offseason and arrived at training camp 10 pounds lighter and healthy.

    Saquon Barkley will look to recapture the magic of his 2024 season after having just 1,140 yards last year.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Saquon Barkley, No. 63

    Barkley dropped significantly in the rankings, moving down 46 spots from No. 17 after his 2025 season did not match his historic first season with the Eagles. After rushing for 2,005 yards in 2024, Barkley finished with 1,140 yards last season. ESPN projects Barkley to rush for 1,285 yards and nine touchdowns on 300 carries in 2026.

    An All-Pro performance in 2025 strengthened Cooper DeJean’s projection for 2026. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Cooper DeJean, No. 71

    DeJean moved up 21 spots from No. 92 after being a 2025 first-team All-Pro. He is expected to have an even more versatile role this season, as the Eagles plan to have him play safety in base and slot in sub packages, keeping him on the field as much as possible.

    ESPN projects he will have 82 tackles, 17 pass deflections, two interceptions and one forced fumble.

    DeVonta Smith has a top-100 projection heading into his first year as a WR1. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    DeVonta Smith, No. 93

    Smith is the new Eagles face on ESPN’s list, making the Top 100 for the first time.

    With A.J. Brown now in New England, Smith enters the season as the team’s clear No. 1 receiver. According to ESPN, a 100-catch season seems possible, as he came close in 2022 with 95 catches for nearly 1,200 yards.

    Smith has won a Heisman Trophy, college football title, and Super Bowl, making him one of five players to accomplish that feat. The others are Tony Dorsett, Marcus Allen, Reggie Bush, and Charles Woodson.

    Jalen Hurts fared better among his fellow players on NFL Network’s Top 100 list than he did on ESPN’s 2026 projections. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Jalen Hurts, No. 97

    Hurts had the steepest drop of any Eagle after falling from No. 38 last year to No. 97 this year.

    His ranking comes after an “up-and-down” 2025 season, according to ESPN. Hurts is preparing for his first year in a new offense under coordinator Sean Mannion, but ESPN notes Hurts has found ways to adapt from adversity in the past.

    He is 57-25 as a starter and has 138 total touchdowns since 2022.

    Hurts also recorded at least 30 combined passing and rushing touchdowns in four consecutive seasons, which is the fourth-longest active streak behind Josh Allen’s six.

    ESPN projects him to throw for 3,779 yards with 24 touchdowns, 438 rushing yards, and nine rushing touchdowns.

    According to NFL Network’s Top 100 list, voted on by the players themselves, Hurts is ranked No. 56, a stark difference from ESPN’s list. In the 2025 season, he threw a career-high 25 touchdowns and rushed for eight more.

  • Answering your AMA questions about the Eagles roster: Zach Ertz return? QB plan? Trades possible?

    Answering your AMA questions about the Eagles roster: Zach Ertz return? QB plan? Trades possible?

    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.

    Read Jeff Neiburg’s complete AMA here.

  • Eagles reveal 53-man roster, keep four quarterbacks amid cuts

    Eagles reveal 53-man roster, keep four quarterbacks amid cuts

    The Eagles will carry four quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster to start the season.

    All three depth quarterbacks behind Jalen Hurts in training camp — Tanner McKee, Andy Dalton, and Cole Payton — made the cut when the Eagles announced the active roster out of camp at the 6 p.m. Sunday deadline.

    McKee, the 2023 sixth-rounder out of Stanford, and Dalton, the 16-year veteran trade acquisition, competed in camp and the preseason for the top backup job behind Hurts. Neither quarterback separated himself significantly in the competition, and their inclusion on the initial 53 reinforces the lack of clarity regarding the victor.

    “I feel good about both guys,” coach Nick Sirianni said after Friday night’s preseason finale against the Cincinnati Bengals. “I feel like it’s a good room and I feel good about Cole [Payton] and the things that he can do as well and be able to develop. I feel good. I view it as a good thing that I feel good about both those guys, and our staff feels good about both those guys.”

    Eagles roster cuts: Initial 53-man roster includes four quarterbacks; live updates and analysis

    The initial 53 is initial for a reason — the Eagles will continue to rework the roster as Week 1 approaches on Sept. 13.

    Meanwhile, Jonathan Greenard, the 29-year-old outside linebacker who has been sidelined throughout training camp with a strained pectoral muscle, made the initial 53-man roster. Had the Eagles placed him on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list with a designation to return, he would have had to miss at least the first four games of the season.

    Neither Uar Bernard nor Joshua Weru, products of the International Player Pathway program, made the initial 53.

    The Eagles cut three of their 2026 draft picks — Bernard; Cole Wisniewski, the seventh-round safety out of Texas Tech; and Keyshawn James-Newby, the seventh-round outside linebacker out of New Mexico. If the Eagles want to sign them to the practice squad, they must clear waivers first, as would Bernard and Weru.

    Elijah Moore and E.J. Jenkins are among the depth skill players on offense who made the team. Moore, the 26-year-old receiver, joined the Eagles in free agency after spending the 2025 season with the Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos. Jenkins, the 27-year-old tight end, has spent about 2½ seasons with the Eagles (a portion of 2023, all of 2024-25), primarily on the practice squad.

    Howie Roseman began trimming the roster on Saturday, the day after their final preseason game. Those cuts on offense included RB Carson Steele, WR Quez Watkins, WR Samori Toure, OL Michael Jordan, OL Myles Hinton, CB Shaun Wade, TE Stone Smartt, RB Dameon Pierce, WR Britain Covey, WR Danny Gray, C Zeke Correll, WR Erik Ezukanma, TE Cameron Latu, OL Jake Majors, RB Jordan Mims, OT John Ojukwu, WR Tahj Washington, and OT Cameron Williams.

    On defense, the Eagles cut Bernard, Weru, Wisniewski, James-Newby, OLB Tarron Jackson, DB Maximus Pulley, DT Gabe Hall, CB Ambry Thomas, DT Zion Wilson, CB Shaun Wade, S Jaylen Mahoney, ILB Chance Campbell, DT David Blay, CB Isaiah Bolden, DB Kapena Gushiken, ILB Deontae Lawson, OLB Jose Ramirez, and S Andre Sam (injured).

    The Eagles also placed cornerback Jakorian Bennett and tight end Grant Calcaterra on injured reserve (designated for return). They must miss at least the first four games of the season.

    Here is the Eagles’ initial 53-man roster:

    Quarterback (4)

    Jalen Hurts, Cole Payton, Andy Dalton, Tanner McKee

    Running back (3)

    Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley

    Wide receiver (6)

    DeVonta Smith, Makai Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore, Darius Cooper

    Tight end (4)

    Dallas Goedert, Johnny Mundt, Eli Stowers, E.J. Jenkins

    Offensive line (10)

    Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, Cam Jurgens, Landon Dickerson, Tyler Steen, Willie Lampkin, Drew Kendall, Markel Bell, Fred Johnson, Micah Morris

    Interior defensive line (5)

    Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Ty Robinson, Byron Young

    Outside linebacker (5)

    Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, Jonathan Greenard, Arnold Ebiketie, A.J. Epenesa

    Inside linebacker (4)

    Zack Baun, Jihaad Campbell, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Smael Mondon Jr.

    Defensive back (9)

    Quinyon Mitchell, Riq Woolen, Cooper DeJean, Andrew Mukuba, Marcus Epps, Michael Carter II, Kelee Ringo, Mac McWilliams, Jonathan Jones

    Specialist (3)

    Jake Elliott (kicker), Braden Mann (punter), Rocco Underwood (long snapper)

  • Eagles practice observations: Riq Woolen intercepts Jalen Hurts twice; Another big day for D; DeVonta Smith still awesome

    Eagles practice observations: Riq Woolen intercepts Jalen Hurts twice; Another big day for D; DeVonta Smith still awesome

    The Eagles held the 16th open practice of their 2026 training camp on Tuesday at Lincoln Financial Field. Here were my observations from Day 16 (and links to Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15):

    Stowers update

    Eli Stowers missed a second straight practice with a hamstring injury that he suffered in the second preseason game against the New England Patriots. The rookie tight end is expected to be out for about two weeks, from what I understand. If he’s healthy by the Wednesday before Week 1 of the regular season, he could be available for the season opener.

    Jalyx Hunt is fine with you noticing his ascent. Just don’t call the Eagles pass rusher a breakout player.

    The following Eagles were also held out because of injury: Tackle Markel Bell (thumb/leg), cornerback Jonathan Jones (shoulder), tight end Grant Calcaterra (back), cornerback Jakorian Bennett (knee) and safety Cole Wisniewski (concussion). Cornerback Mac McWilliams (shoulder) was limited.

    The Eagles had a number of players make full returns from injury, including center/guard Willie Lampkin (stinger), defensive tackle Byron Young (shoulder), running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring), tackle John Ojukwu (pectoral), wide receiver Quez Watkins (foot), cornerback Ambry Thomas (groin), and receiver Danny Gray (groin).

    Eagles fans were back at the Linc and witnessed a defense-dominated display. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Oh, O-line

    Guard Landon Dickerson was given a not-injury-related rest day. Whether it’s a coincidence or not, he tore the meniscus in his knee during last year’s open practice at the Linc. The Eagles may have sat him to stay away from potential bad juju. Dickerson rushed back from surgery in time for the opener a year ago, but recently said that he should have waited until he was fully recovered.

    Drew Kendall took all the repetitions at left guard in Dickerson’s place. He had his ups and downs in a scrimmage that favored the Eagles defense, particularly the first unit. Kendall got toasted by defensive tackle Moro Ojomo on an inside rush that resulted in a sack at one point. Right tackle Lane Johnson left early not long after edge Nolan Smith Jr. beat him inside for a hurry. Fred Johnson took his spot with Bell out. Ojukwu got bumped up the depth chart and filled in the few times left tackle Jordan Mailata took a rest.

    DeVonta Smith (right) was an offensive standout and gave Eagles fans something about which to cheer. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    D-lightful

    The makeshift O-line likely had something to do with the struggles of Jalen Hurts and Co. The quarterback was pressured a bunch. But Sean Mannion’s unit was often out of sync except for a couple successful red-zone plays and one good drive after being backed up. Hurts’ two interceptions to cornerback Riq Woolen will make headlines — as they should for both parties — but there were a lot of reasons why the first-unit offense looked sloppy.

    Riq Woolen feels like ‘a rookie again’ with the Eagles. His prove-it year is big for him and the Birds.

    Credit has to be given to Vic Fangio’s group. He’s had all of his starters for most of the summer and that same 11 was in the lineup again. Mannion’s installation has been completed for over a week, so there isn’t much new to throw at the defense. The group knows the plays, the snap count, and often what’s coming before it even happens.

    On the first series, Hurts hit receiver Dontayvion Wicks for a short gain and Saquon Barkley had a solid run to the left, but it was mostly defensive dominance thereafter. Safety Marcus Epps snuffed out a Hurts draw play. Defensive tackle Jalen Carter met Barkley at the line of scrimmage for a stop. Hurts hooked up with receiver DeVonta Smith after getting forced to his right. But his pass to receiver Makai Lemon on an inside route was broken up by cornerback Quinyon Mitchell.

    Jalen Hurts and the offense remains a work in progress. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Hurts so much

    The next set was less productive for the offense or more fruitful for the defense — take your pick. Hurts went to Lemon on a schemed-up pass off play-action, but cornerback Cooper DeJean was in the receiver’s pocket. Smith burned Mitchell on a deep post route, but Hurts’ pass was underthrown and Mitchell recovered to break up the pass. Smith is clearly head and shoulders above the rest of the Eagles’ receivers.

    Gov. Josh Shapiro reiterates that the Eagles’ home of the future will ‘be in the city of Philadelphia’

    Jalyx Hunt made Fred Johnson look like a turnstile on the way to a would-be sack. Hurts continued the play and hit Wicks over the middle, but the play was given to the defense. Another short toss to Lemon netted few yards with cornerback Michael Carter II in tight coverage. Jalen Carter touched up Barkley for a stop. And when Hurts did well to roll away from an unblocked blitzer and found Smith as his outlet, the receiver dropped the ball. On the last play of the set, Hurts chucked the ball wide and out of bounds with a covered Smith.

    Jalen Hurts missed some throws behind a patchwork line but was more effective in the red zone. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Lemon aid

    Lemon has been getting a tutorial from DeJean, one of the best slots in the NFL. Mannion called for another quick hitter to the receiver off a naked bootleg, but with Hunt in Hurts’ mug, DeJean was all over Lemon by the time the ball arrived. Jalen Carter gifted the offense five yards when he jumped offside, but a Barkley outside zone run on the next play was blown up in the backfield. Hurts likely needed to check out of that call with so many defenders in the box.

    Eagles first-round wideout Makai Lemon talks hamstring injury, full return to practice: ‘I never want to be away from this game’

    It just got worse. A Fangio blitz collapsed the pocket, but Hurts still threw to Lemon on a crossing route. It wasn’t the greatest route and Woolen snatched the ball for his first interception of the night. An offensive false start followed. Hurts did hook up with receiver Darius Cooper on a button hook. And running back Tank Bigsby had decent gains up the middle on the ground.

    But Ojomo’s sack and another drop — this time from Cooper — ended the set.

    Fans watched as the Eagles defense defeated the offense by a count of 58-36, based on practice scoring. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Red zone district

    The offense rebounded in the red zone. On the first play from the 20-yard line, Barkley ran a sort-of corner route and got behind linebacker Zack Baun. Hurts’ throw was perfect and the running back made the catch for a touchdown.

    On the next red-zone possession, Barkley gobbled yards up the middle on first down. But on the next play, Hurts’ downfield throw to Lemon off play-action was broken up by Mitchell. The rookie receiver didn’t appear to get enough depth on his route. The ball went back to Lemon on his next pattern — when he motioned inside and ran a wheel route — and the defense didn’t account for him. He waltzed into the end zone untouched.

    What changed for Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion after an ugly preseason debut? ‘Execution’

    Back to back

    Hurts built off that modicum of success during the backup portion. A first-down run didn’t net many yards. In fact, it resulted in defensive tackle Jordan Davis hobbling off after he dinged his left arm. (He later returned, outfitted with a brace.) But Bigsby churned ahead on the ground on a couple carries. And Hurts again rolled away from the rush and found tight end Cam Latu for a first down.

    We got a rare glimpse of tight end Johnny Mundt in the backfield. The Bigsby rush was thwarted, but not exclusively because of Mundt’s lead block. A screen pass to Smith on the ensuing play was blown up by DeJean. But Hurts wisely kept feeding his best receiver. He rifled a dart to Smith on a comebacker ahead of Mitchell. And two plays later, tossed a strike to No. 6 just out of Woolen’s reach and Smith jetted upfield for chunk yards.

    A busted play that forced Hurts into a throwaway and DeJean snuffing out a Will Shipley draw forced another third down. But receiver Hollywood Brown got wide-open downfield and raced the last 10 yards untouched into the end zone.

    Saquon Barkley had a frustrating night on the ground in the open practice. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Two for two

    The first two-minute drill was an odd one as the offense worked on getting the defense to jump offside. Barkley and tight end Dallas Goedert looked back at their coaches upset or confused or something else when a couple of the tailback’s rushes were curtailed. Center Cam Jurgens walked out of the huddle and was replaced by Jake Majors. Jurgens didn’t appear hurt. But Hurts’ hard count finally did get an impatient Ojomo to jump. It wasn’t exactly riveting stuff for the fans.

    Nevertheless, the first units came out for one last hurry-up period. The offense got off to a solid start with a Barkley catch-and-run out of the backfield, a checkdown to Smith and a Hurts seed to Wicks over the middle. But when Hurts was pressured again by Hunt, he tried for Smith near the sideline. Woolen was in lockstep with the receiver, jumped the route and went the other way with the ball for a pick-six.

    Nick Sirianni gave Andy Dalton the first crack at No. 2 reps on Tuesday night. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Second best

    This was a night almost exclusively for the starters with fans in the house, and the final preseason game reserved for guys fighting to make the roster or the practice squad. There were some periods for the second and third units. Andy Dalton got the nod at quarterback as he and Tanner McKee continued to split snaps in their battle for the No. 2 job.

    Dalton overthrew Cooper on his first drop. But he got into a rhythm with receiver Elijah Moore and scored on their third connection when Moore found space on a crossing route and zigzagged into the end zone.

    Tanner McKee outperforms Andy Dalton in the Eagles’ confounding backup QB competition. Will it matter?

    McKee had some good moments, too. He went to Brown for a couple quickies vs. zone coverage. He found Moore as his outlet vs. the blitz. And on fourth down, he hit tight end E.J. Jenkins on a short release. Shipley did the rest on the ground and scored when he ran off right tackle. McKee’s two-point conversion try in the back of the end zone went off Brown’s hands.

    McKee shined in the two-minute period. He hooked up with Cooper on a deep crosser and hit Moore on a 15-yard out. His downfield pass to Cooper was on target, but the receiver eased up his route and the ball sailed by. Cooper reacted as if he knew he messed up.

    Extra points

    The final score was Defense 58, Offense 36. … Rookie quarterback Cole Payton got a few reps in the backup period. … Britain Covey was again the first up to field punts, but Lemon took turns as well. If the Eagles believe the rookie can handle punts, it could make Covey expendable on game days … Shipley and Bigsby were paired as the first two kick returners. … The Eagles announced attendance of more than 45,000. Pennsylvania governor and noted Eagles fan Josh Shapiro was among them. … The Eagles will return to the Jefferson Health Training Complex for practice on Wednesday afternoon. They will have a closed walkthrough on Thursday ahead of Friday’s preseason finale at the Linc vs. the Cincinnati Bengals.

  • Eagles practice observations: Saquon Barkley ramps up, Elijah Moore scores and defense should play in Baltimore

    Eagles practice observations: Saquon Barkley ramps up, Elijah Moore scores and defense should play in Baltimore

    The Eagles held the 10th practice of their 2026 training camp on Tuesday at the Jefferson Health Training Complex. Here were my observations from Day 10 (and links to Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9):

    Medical ward

    The Eagles had no changes to their injury report. The following didn’t practice: Wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring), receiver Makai Lemon (hamstring), cornerback Jonathan Jones (shoulder), receiver Johnny Wilson (knee), running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring), safety Cole Wisniewski (hamstring), outside linebacker Keyshawn James-Newby (ankle) and receiver Danny Gray (concussion). Receiver Britain Covey (hamstring) and linebacker Chance Campbell (groin) were again limited.

    Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said that outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard wouldn’t be back “for a couple more weeks, at least.” If “a couple” is two, than the earliest Greenard could return would be Aug. 25. Even if it’s a little later, it seems likely that he could be available by the season opener on Sept. 13.

    Greenard’s level of involvement, however, would depend on his conditioning and comfort in a new defense. Fangio said as much about Jones and that he would need a ramp-up period to be “calloused” enough to play at full speed.

    Vic Fangio hinted on Tuesday that the first-unit defense would play in the first preseason game, as has been customary under Fangio. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Start your engines

    I don’t expect coach Nick Sirianni to reveal his plans for the first preseason game on Saturday at the Ravens, just as I don’t expect him to play the first-unit offense. There’s an argument for playing the starters considering the new scheme, but I just don’t see Sirianni taking the risk. The old-school Fangio has a different view and has been given free rein to play his starters. When I asked about his usage plans, he said, “We’ll see how that goes, but you guys have been around here.” In other words, the first defense will play some.

    As for the offense, another sign that Jalen Hurts and Co. won’t play in Baltimore came with the lopsided number of practice repetitions they took over the second and third groups on Tuesday. Saquon Barkley has been getting as much work as he normally does in camp, but there was a slight uptick in his touches. He had nine carries in team drills and was targeted once as a receiver.

    How a friendly offseason wager with Vic Fangio transformed Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter

    Barkley had some positive runs. It’s difficult to say for certain how many yards he would have gained with no tackling. But there was really only one rush when I felt he would have lost yards. He had far too many negative-yard runs last season. Obviously, there is hope the new blocking scheme will help keep defenders out of the backfield. I do wonder how Barkley will adjust to more outside zone, but he should thrive in any system.

    As for the notion that he will have more opportunities as a receiver, that hasn’t been the case through most of camp. That could certainly change once the season begins. Hurts did go to his running back over the middle at one point on Tuesday, but his pass was a touch behind and Barkley couldn’t make the grab.

    There have been encouraging signs in run-blocking during Sean Mannion’s first camp with the Eagles. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Blocking the run

    There will be more horizontal stretching of defenses with increased outside zone runs, but Sean Mannion’s offense will have plenty of inside zone, gap schemes, and more. Guard Landon Dickerson downplayed a question about the Eagles employing more duo runs — an inside gap scheme play — this season. But it has long been a complement to the outside zone in the Shanahan offense.

    We saw some of it on Tuesday with the O-linemen firing off the ball and creating double-team blocks — hence the name “duo” — that opened holes for Barkley and the other tailbacks. But we saw other concepts, too. Dickerson and tackle Jordan Mailata pulled and Barkley followed for a nice gain. And we saw tight end Johnny Mundt featured in the two-minute offense. He had successful back-to-back blocks on edge Jalyx Hunt — a wham and another at the point of the attack — that helped spring Barkley.

    Jalen Hurts’ wide receiver group looks different from what was expected in camp. His preparation keeps moving forward.

    There were some struggles on the ground, too. Tight end Dallas Goedert couldn’t sustain a backside block on defensive tackle Jalen Carter — understandably so — and Carter caught Barkley by his jersey. Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. diagnosed two outside runs during one period and center Cam Jurgens didn’t stand a chance of getting to him at the second level.

    Hunt later got the stop when he got around Mailata, but it was Carter and nose tackle Jordan Davis who clogged the interior and forced Barkley to the edge.

    Drew Kendall (66) has had a strong camp to date. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Drew carry more

    Drew Kendall is getting closer to locking down the top interior O-line spot among the backups. He could be first off the bench at both center and guard. He more than held his own at left guard against defensive tackle Moro Ojomo in one-on-ones. And he had little trouble vs. Zion Wilson during his two repetitions at center.

    Defensive tackle Byron Young got the better of Kendall at guard and sacked quarterback Andy Dalton during second-unit team drills. Later on, Kendall spelled Dickerson with the starters. Young appeared to win early with his pass rush, but Kendall recovered in time for Hurts to step up and heave a bomb.

    Tyler Steen (56) was in the center of the action again on Tuesday. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Point of attack

    Willie Lampkin continued to shine in one-on-ones. Eagles coaches keep upping the ante. Lampkin took his first turns at center against Ojomo and locked him up pretty good. Could Carter and Davis be next? That’ll be the true test for the 5-foot-11, 290-pound Lampkin.

    Guard Tyler Steen and defensive tackle Ty Robinson matched up a day after their scrum in team drills. Steen was the aggressor. Robinson tried to power through, but Steen tied him up. Rookie tackle Markel Bell made easy work of edge Joshua Weru. Edge Tarron Jackson, a former Eagles draft pick who was re-signed on Monday, used a spin move to blow by tackle Cameron Williams.

    Tarron Jackson appeared in 21 games with the Eagles in 2021-22 and is back on the squad. HEATHER KHALIFA / Staff Photographer

    Edge of tomorrow

    Jackson gives the Eagles some much-needed depth on the edge. With Greenard and James-Newby sidelined, the top four outside linebackers — Hunt, Nolan Smith Jr., Arnold Ebiketie, and A.J. Epenesa — have shouldered a lot of snaps. Weru and Jose Ramirez haven’t done enough to earn time with the top two units.

    Michael Vick says he’s ‘very confident’ Eagles, Jalen Hurts will thrive with new offensive scheme

    Epenesa had an up-and-down day. He beat Mailata on the outside for a would-be sack. He also was in position when Hurts checked down to tight end Grant Calcaterra. But he was flagged later for holding Calcaterra (!) when he tried to release into a route. A few plays later, Epenesa’s false start gave the second-unit offense a first down in the two-minute period.

    Ebiketie has been relatively quiet of late, but he did have a tackle for loss at one point.

    Jalen Hurts and Elijah Moore hooked up for a nice connection on Tuesday. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Bombs away

    Hurts’ longest completion of the day came on the play in which Kendall recovered to block Young. Slot receiver Elijah Moore was open deep when he got safety Andre’ Sam to bite on his corner fake and Hurts hit him in stride for a walk-in touchdown. It was a beauty.

    Moore and Darius Cooper have been Hurts’ go-to guys for the last week. Cooper wasn’t as active today, but as the quarterback said after practice the receiver has strong hands. Hurts was talking about the catch point, but you can also see Cooper’s strength vs. man press. Cornerback Kelee Ringo tried to lock him up at the line in one-on-ones, and Cooper simply swatted his hands away.

    Dontayvion Wicks hasn’t seen the ball as much of late, but he did well to drag his feet inbounds on a Hurts pass he pulled in down by his shoelaces. Hollywood Brown has been underwhelming so far.

    Will Shipley will need to show some growth in blitz pickup. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Blitz grits

    The blitz remained a prominent part of team and individual drills. Barkley fared the best out of the running backs during one-on-ones. Technique has never been his biggest problem. It’s been recognizing where the extra rusher is coming from. He may have missed his assignment when Dickerson needed help with Trotter.

    Tank Bigsby has been hot and cold in blitz pickup. He was ice cold when linebacker Smael Mondon cruised by him in team drills. Mondon notched another pressure when running back Will Shipley was late to block him. Shipley had a long conversation with running backs coach Jemal Singleton and O-line coach Chris Kuper after watching the video board replay.

    Eli Stowers (87) made an impact with the third unit on Tuesday. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    This and that

    Hurts took advantage of a clean pocket at one point and fired a missile to Goedert with safety Marcus Epps in man coverage. An unblocked Hunt chased Hurts from the pocket, but the quarterback couldn’t be caught. Rookie tight end Eli Stowers logged a few more grabs despite few reps for third-unit players.

    Tight end E.J. Jenkins had a nice lead block on a Bigsby run. The Eagles keep him around for a reason. I was watching practice on another field, but my colleague Jeff Neiburg reported that Dalton tossed an ill-advised pass into a crowd that cornerback Cooper DeJean intercepted when the second-unit offense faced the starting defense.

    Eagles kicker Jake Elliott ‘extremely confident in myself’ after struggling during 2025 season

    Extra points

    Jake Elliott was again a perfect 6-for-6 during the field goal period. He was good from 33, 38, 40, 44, 45, and 50 yards. He’s missed only one kick so far this camp. … Cooper took the first return on kickoffs. Moore, Covey, and Bigsby also had returns. Lemon and Pierce watched nearby. … The Eagles have a closed walkthrough on Wednesday and return to practice on Thursday.

  • We need the truth about Trump’s alleged ‘ballroom’ | Will Bunch Newsletter

    Do rich guys have to ruin everything? Apparently so. There came a time about 15 years ago when my soccer obsession got to the point where I felt I needed to pick an English Premier League team to root for, in addition to the U.S. national teams and the Union. Long story, but I went with Liverpool, in a city many consider the Philadelphia of the U.K., and it’s been a good ride, including a couple of trophies. On Monday, it was reported Amazon gazillionaire Jeff Bezos is buying 30% of the team. I’m officially out. Go, Leeds!

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    When did Trump’s ballroom become a national security fortress? We need answers.

    Construction continues on a helipad and the White House ballroom on the South Lawn of the White House on Aug. 5.Tierney L. Cross

    Donald Trump’s originally stated 2025 scheme to demolish the East Wing of the White House to make way for an oversized ballroom to hold state dinners and whatnot was bad enough: an unneeded, unwanted, gilded, and presumably tacky callback to Louis XVI, a massive monument to a modern let-them-eat-cake regime.

    A year later, the project is better described as an alleged ballroom — another bait-and-switch scam by America’s first grifter president. The fact that the public really doesn’t know how much this project actually costs — estimates have soared from the initial lowball of $300 million to now at least $600 million, but possibly more — or how much of that will be dumped on U.S. taxpayers is just the beginning of the problem.

    Nearly 10 months after the president shocked Washington, D.C., and the rest of America by taking a wrecking ball to the history-packed East Wing, Trump has all but stopped talking about a black-tie party venue and instead rebranded the project as essential to national security.

    When the D.C. federal appeals court on Friday ordered the White House, which never got congressional approval for either the demolition or the ballroom addition, to halt aboveground construction, Trump took to Truth Social and described the ruling as akin to treason.

    “The Military and Secret Service are viewing this horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful ruling as a National Security threat to our Nation in that the entire Complex is being built for the protection of our Country and, additionally, all future Presidents,” Trump posted, using language that’s probably never previously in human history been used to describe a “ballroom.”

    Trump didn’t say in his post anything about crystal chandeliers, or great acoustics, or things you might expect in a world-class ballroom. Instead, he said the facility will have bomb shelters, a state-of-the-art hospital, top-secret military facilities, protective missile-resistant steel, columns, roofs, and beams, drone-proof ceilings and roofs, military-grade venting, and bullet-, ballistic-, and blast-proof glass.

    It sounds like somebody is expecting a last tango in Washington.

    Trump’s post was alarming — shocking, really — but in case anyone missed the point, or doesn’t know how to read, he also posted some AI-created renderings, which again did not depict waltzing diplomats, but instead showed a rooftop “DronePort” that was packed to the gills with ominous-looking military drones, manned by troops and also with armored vehicles that somehow drove up there. The vibe was Darth Vader’s Death Star, except with “military-grade venting” this time around.

    There are two very different ways to look at all of this, and let’s start with the more benign one. Ever since the beginning of his second crack at the presidency, Trump — when he’s not pursuing his main projects of making billions of dollars, punishing his enemies, and staying out of prison — has been obsessed with placing his personalist stamp on Washington. Maybe that’s for his legacy, or maybe he just wants a Mar-a-Lago-by-the-Potomac to comfort his octogenarian mind.

    Trump might not be able to crash weddings as he does at his Palm Beach, Fla., estate, but his ballroom idea would be close enough. Although he’s also sought and received donations for the project from the usual suspects of friendly billionaires and favor-seeking corporations, Trump also wants both additional dollars and — more importantly, in light of the appeals court ruling — a stamp of approval from Congress. That’s been a thwarted agenda item for GOP leaders on Capitol Hill for months.

    But if Trump can’t sway Congress, he hopes to win over a U.S. Supreme Court where he has appointed three of the nine members. The White House knows that both Congress and the high court tend to fall in line whenever national security is invoked, while there is no constitutional right to foxtrot. So maybe all the military bluster is just political posturing for Trump’s latest real estate development.

    But as the project enters its second year, it seems to have morphed into something a lot more disturbing than that. The pictures, descriptions, and accounts of Trump’s game here are sounding a lot more like the impregnable mountain lair of a Bond villain.

    This is a man who fomented an attempted coup the first time he was asked to leave 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and who saw how South Korea’s corrupt right-wing president was ousted after a massive throng of protesters overwhelmed key government buildings. Wasn’t it Chekhov who said you don’t put drones up on the roof unless you intend to deploy them by the third act? The two most likely scenarios for actually using Trump’s bunker — Civil War II, or World War III — are less than optimal.

    This national security bunker isn’t the only thing that’s worrisome as Trump looks to the second half of what’s supposed to be his final term. As noted in this space recently, Trump has also extended the presence of National Guard troops in Washington through Jan. 20, 2029, which coincidentally is the scheduled last day of his term.

    Since their arrival last year, the Guard troops — many from units in pro-Trump red states, and costing U.S. taxpayers at least $1.4 billion and possibly more — have often been spotted hanging around, or picking up trash as a kind of busywork. But residents and some advocates like Scott Michelman, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of the District of Columbia, are already complaining Trump is “treating [D.C.] like a police state.”

    It raises the same questions as the alleged “ballroom.” The president is entitled to state-of-the-art security, and while the public doesn’t need to know all of the operational details, American taxpayers also can’t be expected to fork over hundreds of millions of dollars for these projects without truly knowing what they are for.

    After Jan. 6, 2021, it’s impossible not to think the worst about Trump’s intentions for the White House minifort, or the military occupation of the nation’s capital by a man who expressed open admiration for the bloodshed China’s dictators pulled off in Tiananmen Square.

    Democrats on Capitol Hill need to start demanding answers. On Monday, there was an encouraging report by the New Republic’s Greg Sargent that the opposition party is working to demand communications from the Justice and Interior Departments to explain why several people were wrongly criminally charged with vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool when the actual damage was a botched repainting contract.

    Congress can, and should, also flex its muscles over this ballroom fiasco — first by denying any public money for the project, and then by launching a similar investigation into the hasty demolition, the political fundraising, and the sketchy purposes for the project. Someone owes America the truth, and it’s not going to come from the current regime without a fight.

    Whatever happens, the woman or man who hopefully succeeds Trump and sends those guard troops back to their own private Idaho in January 2029 is also going to have a giant mess in their backyard. But it’s better to have the ruins from a botched, halted construction project than from the Battle of Armageddon.

    Yo, do this!

    • The California journalist Gil Durán has been paying attention to the political craziness coming out of Silicon Valley years before anyone else was, and now comes the big payoff in the form of a book that is not only incredibly timely but has the best title of the year: The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy. Durán explores the strange beliefs of Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen, and their friends, their obsession with building their own private “networked cities,” and their unlikely alliance with Donald Trump. I’ve been waiting on this one for a while.
    • August is always a great month for books. While Durán drills down on the high-tech enemies of liberty, the great writer Dave Zirin has a new tome about one of democracy’s heroes, the late historian Howard Zinn, his former mentor. Public intellectuals are still arguing about the merits of Zinn’s 1980 masterwork, A People’s History of the United States, but nobody disputes his influence on the national conversation. Zinn rejected American exceptionalism, but also spotlighted everyday heroes like labor leaders or civil rights activists who expanded our freedoms over two centuries. I’m looking forward to reading The People’s Historian: The Outsized Life of Howard Zinn.

    Ask me anything

    Question: Data centers are the flashpoint but the root problem is the unregulated AI that is sweeping up every keystroke and every written document then repackaging it as if original thought. How do we get a federal government mired in 2020 to begin legislating on AI? — Suzi (@wanderponder.bsky.social) via Bluesky

    Answer: Great question, Suzi, and I think we all know the main reason why the body politic — and I’m talking about both Democrats and Republicans — have been so painfully slow to respond to voters’ widespread anxiety not only about noisy, polluting, resource-wasting data centers, but also to artificial intelligence itself. The reason is money. Silicon Valley AI developers have raised an unbelievable $220 million to spend on November’s election, and — while there are some disagreements within Big Tech about policy — most of the cash will go to the politicians least likely to regulate an industry badly in need of it. Cognitive computing is not only stealing our intellectual property, as you noted, but also our jobs, as well as our children’s ability to learn. The good news is that public backlash against AI is so strong that even a quarter-billion dollars may not be able to stop the movement. But it’s way past time to get money out of politics.

    What you’re saying about …

    I should have guessed that newsletter readers don’t have much more of a clue than Donald Trump about what to do about the giant mess in the Persian Gulf. I did get one thoughtful response from an emailer with a “cbluff” handle (Reminder: Please sign your real name to these responses) who said the Trump regime needs to send skilled negotiators — and be realistic. “I believe the U.S. will have to cede the Strait of Hormuz, allow Iran and Oman to collect protection money, remove sanctions and pay them so we can declare victory and leave,” they wrote. It’s hard to disagree. Once again, the United States has lost a war.

    📮 This week’s question: Since the Democratic Senate primary win by Michigan’s Abdul El-Sayed last week, the mainstream media has been obsessed with the question of whether this year’s progressive surge, including candidates (although not El-Sayed) tied to the Democratic Socialists of America, is hurting the Democrats. What do you think? Are leftists bringing needed energy to a moribund party, or are they too out there to defeat the GOP in November? Please email me your answer and put the exact phrase “Democrats and the left” in the subject line.

    Backstory on the day Trump left his press corps for dead

    Catering trucks are parked at Air Force One on the tarmac as the motorcade carrying President Donald Trump arrives to depart following the NATO summit, at Ankara International Airport in Ankara, Turkey, on July 8.Alex Brandon

    It was appalling enough back in late July when we watched a room full of some of America’s highest-profile journalists break bread with Donald Trump at the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, where the president got up and hurled crude insults at several of the media members. Many of us were disgusted that some of the nation’s most respected journalists would platform a man who has repeatedly called a free press “the enemies of the people.” But the White House press corps was in the dark about an even more disturbing plot twist.

    Just 16 days earlier, Trump had left some of those journalists for dead — at least potentially — as human decoys who might be blown from the skies in a feared Iranian plot.

    The stunning story came out late Monday night as I was writing this newsletter, with a scoop by the Washington Post, matched shortly, with some additional details, by the New York Times. The articles revealed a modern-day Air Force One kind of thriller that essentially involved a shell game with three different aircraft. It was triggered by what officials deemed was a credible Iranian assassination threat against the president when he traveled to a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey — just over 700 miles from the border with the U.S. enemy.

    This launched a series of events, beginning with a plan to abandon Trump’s new, $400 million gift-from-Qatar iteration of Air Force One for an older version that actually has more advanced defensive capacities. Trump was filmed boarding the replacement Air Force One, followed by the White House press corps and some traveling aides for the departure from Ankara to a U.S. air base in Great Britain. What those passengers could not have imagined was that Trump had somehow been spirited out “via a catering container that had been lifted to the opposite side of the plane,” and switched to a C-32A military plane for the flight to the U.K.

    Then they kept the unwitting journalists and aides on the ground for a couple of hours before it was revealed POTUS was safely in Britain and the Iranians had been thwarted and … haha, of course that’s not what really happened. No, the press corps took off as human decoys — the latest sitting ducks in an idiotic war that never should have been launched in the first place. Thankfully, no one was hurt … this time. Journalists wondered why they’d been ordered to keep the airplane’s window blinds closed, which inspired this now ironic exchange between Trump and some journalists when they reunited for the flight from Britain back to the U.S.

    Trump lied that he didn’t know of any specific plot against Air Force One, and then added: “I’m No. 1 on their list, before you. But if I go, you go. Right?”

    Apparently not.

    Even as I write this in the middle of the night just hours after the Post and Times scoops, the internet is already flooded with memes depicting Trump crammed into one of those airport serving carts, or pigging out on the adjacent airline food. It’s funny to see that your president isn’t Harrison Ford punching out the terrorists, but, in reality, slinking away in a food truck, leaving other Americans in the line of fire, right?

    No, it’s not funny at all. This whole episode is a grand metaphor for a careless president who smashes up things before retreating into his money or whatever keeps him going — not thinking twice about the fate of human beings in a squalid ICE detention camp or an Iranian girls’ school. Or bantering with the gaggle of journalists whom he abandoned after drawing a big target on their backs. The first media question at the next Oval Office event ought to be, “Why did you treat me like cannon fodder?” But I wouldn’t bet on that happening.

    What I wrote on this date in 2016

    It’s almost funny now, in a dark-comedy kind of way, to look back on the fateful summer of 2016 and remember what it felt like to be stubbornly convinced that something, anything, was bound to happen to stop the obvious insanity of a Donald Trump presidency. It seems so incredibly naive now to read what I believed exactly one decade ago, when I actually thought the success of a diverse and incredibly talented U.S. Olympics team in Brazil would expose the Big Lie of Trump’s racism. I wrote, “The exclamation point is the remarkable women’s gymnastics team led by individual gold medalist Simone Biles — so dominant you will easily forget they also celebrate the kind of diversity that is America’s best feature, not the bug that’s described by the bitter and the disaffected back home.”

    Anyway, read it and weep: “Is final nail in Trump’s political coffin made of Olympic gold?”

    Recommended Inquirer reading

    • The fight for America’s future is waged on many fronts, and I’m trying to keep up. Last week, I wrote about a fascinating political development that’s been largely flying under the radar screen: a movement out west to knock off GOP incumbents by creating one-on-one contests with feisty, populist independents. That means long-shot Democrats need to drop out — which has happened in Nebraska, Idaho, and South Dakota, but not in Montana. It’s both a bold plan to end the Republican majority on Capitol Hill and a sad commentary on the failed Democratic Party brand in the American heartland. This weekend, I wrote about the Trump regime’s latest assault on higher education — denying loans for students who major in fields linked to lower-income jobs — and the increasingly bleak future of a liberal arts education. I wondered why Democrats won’t fight harder to end runaway careerism and preserve college campuses as bastions of critical thinking.
    • This August feels like the calm before the storm in Philadelphia sports. Some of that is the excitement over the Eagles finally being back in training camp and looking to regain that Super Bowl mojo as 76ers fans try to process, if that’s the right term, a once-in-a-lifetime offseason rebuilding project. But much of it is angst over the Phillies, who are clinging by their fingernails to a playoff spot despite adding the National League’s batting champ to a lineup that already includes home run king Kyle Schwarber, future Hall of Famer Bryce Harper, and one of baseball’s best pitching rotations. None of that matters when the Phillies don’t have a relief pitcher who can carry a lead past the 7th or 8th inning. The Inquirer’s ace sports columnists like David Murphy and Marcus Hayes have all asked the same question: Can this team be saved? The answers are just over the paywall, and you can leap over it just like Saquon Barkley at the first-down marker; all you need to do is subscribe to The Inquirer.

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • Eagles practice observations: Tyler Steen vs. Ty Robinson; Darius Cooper keeps impressing; Quinyon Mitchell’s improved hands

    Eagles practice observations: Tyler Steen vs. Ty Robinson; Darius Cooper keeps impressing; Quinyon Mitchell’s improved hands

    The Eagles held the ninth practice of their 2026 training camp on Monday at the Jefferson Health Training Complex. Here were my observations from Day 9 (and links to Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8):

    Taking attendance

    Wide receiver Johnny Wilson (knee), cornerback Jonathan Jones (shoulder), and running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) were added to the injury report after recent setbacks. Wilson had stacked solid practices the last few days. Last August, his season ended before it even started when he suffered knee and ankle injuries that required surgery. It’s unclear if he reinjured the same knee. Jones projects as the top reserve outside cornerback. Pierce is competing for a roster spot.

    The following Eagles remained sidelined with injuries: receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring), receiver Makai Lemon (hamstring), outside linebacker Keyshawn James-Newby (ankle), safety Cole Wisniewski (hamstring), and receiver Danny Gray (concussion). Smith and Lemon have now missed a week of camp. Receiver Britain Covey (hamstring) and linebacker Chance Campbell (groin) were limited.

    The Eagles made several roster moves before practice. They signed outside linebacker Tarron Jackson, defensive tackle David Blay, and running back Ja’Quinden Jackson. They placed running back Elijah Mitchell, who left Saturday’s workout early, on injured reserve. And they waived guard Jaeden Roberts and tight end Dae’Quan Wright.

    Darius Cooper is making an early bid for a bigger role. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Super Cooper

    Darius Cooper might have had his best day of camp, which is saying something. The second-year receiver is making an argument that he should be given more than just a roster spot. He’s been getting a lot of repetitions with Smith and Lemon out, and quarterback Jalen Hurts clearly trusts him.

    Their best connection came midway through the workout. Cooper got cornerback Riq Woolen to bite on a double move before Hurts hit him downfield. The receiver used a stutter-step to draw the corner in before beating him over top. Hurts’ throw was a touch underthrown, but the quarterback had to be careful with safety Michael Carter II crashing from over the top. Cooper simply turned back and made the grab in the air.

    Earlier, Cooper shook Woolen on an out route. He was also Hurts’ favorite target during 7-on-7s and plucked a ball thrown slightly behind him with Carter in the vicinity. In an end-of-game situation, he caught a pass and stayed upright after bouncing off linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. The Eagles brought in four new receivers to help replace A.J. Brown — Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, and Elijah Moore — but a returnee is just as viable a candidate.

    Lane Johnson was immovable in pass protection on Monday. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Quick twitch

    Lane Johnson may be nearing the end of his career, but he doesn’t appear to be slowing down. His get-off is still elite. Nolan Smith Jr. stood little chance of getting past the right tackle each time they faced off. By the time Smith was into his pass-rush move, Johnson was vertically set and virtually impossible to get by.

    Fred Johnson got the nod ahead of rookie Markel Bell when Lane Johnson rested during team drills. They have been rotating and switching sides throughout camp. There was one notable change on the offensive line. Drew Kendall took all the snaps at center with the second unit. Jake Majors has mostly held that role as Kendall cross-trained at guard. Kendall was still Landon Dickerson’s replacement at left guard with the first offense, but he’s back to his normal position with the twos. Majors dropped to third-team center.

    Ty Robinson (95) turned heads on Monday and not just because of his brawl with Tyler Steen. Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    Tale of the tape

    We had what could definitively be labeled the first fight of camp. It came early in the first team drill period, but it had been brewing for days. I had noticed guard Tyler Steen and defensive tackle Ty Robinson mixing it up post-play a few times last week. But they went way beyond the whistle this time.

    I didn’t see who started it, but apparently Robinson took exception to Steen blocking him beyond what he deemed necessary. Robinson somehow ended up at the bottom of a pile with Steen and center Cam Jurgens on top. Several players tried to break the scrum up, but there was little budging as it took some time to peel off players.

    Robinson has been getting occasional snaps with the first defense. But the second-year D-tackle stood out as a pass rusher with the second unit. He slipped through the interior for an early pressure. And later on, he used his patented club-swim move to beat Majors — who was at guard — for a sack. Robinson has been working on his arsenal and got Majors off balance with a bull rush on the next play.

    Quinyon Mitchell logged his second pick of camp on Monday. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Quinterception

    Quinyon Mitchell notched his second interception of camp. While the first came during 7-on-7s a week ago, this one was in team drills. It came during an end-of-game scenario in which the offense trailed by four points. Hurts had to force the issue, but the turnover came on first down. Brown was the intended receiver, but Mitchell jumped his route and punted the ball after the pick in celebration.

    The third-year corner is still looking for his first career regular-season interception. He has two in the postseason. He’s not a natural ball-catcher, but the additional JUGS work he’s been putting in may be paying off. Mitchell is already an All-Pro, but more interceptions could result in him becoming the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL next offseason.

    To his credit, he doesn’t go hunting for interceptions. Hurts threw one pass up for grabs with tight end Dallas Goerdert in the area, but Mitchell came flying across and batted the ball to the ground.

    Mac-man

    Like Robinson, cornerback Mac McWilliams didn’t play much last season as a rookie. But the lightbulb could be switching on in Year 2. He’s been getting intermittent looks with the first unit and had a pass breakup on a Hurts toss to Wicks during team drills.

    McWilliams’ development could make either Jakorian Bennett or Kelee Ringo expendable, especially if he can play both in the slot and outside. Bennett had a PBU of his own on a Hurts pass to Wicks.

    Ringo has mostly been relegated to the third unit. With Jones out, Tariq Castro-Fields took the initial snaps at outside corner opposite Bennett. Ringo has long been a top gunner on special teams, but he’s been increasingly prone to taking penalties. Still, the Eagles may not have a better option. Sydney Brown was the other gunner last season, but he was traded in the offseason.

    Elijah Moore (19) and Jalen Hurts have connected during camp.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Moore not less

    Moore continued to make the most of his reps in the slot with Lemon on ice. Hurts found him alone on a short crossing route during team drills. The receiver motored into the secondary thanks in part to running back Tank Bigsby’s downfield block on Woolen.

    Later on, the offense had one last gasp in another end-of-game situation in which they trailed by eight points. Hurts and Co. advanced into the red zone with two seconds left. With the defense rushing only three, the quarterback bought time and rolled to his right. He threw across his body and Moore elevated over cornerback Cooper DeJean for the touchdown.

    Nolan Smith Jr. argued that Hurts would have been sacked — and profanely expressed his frustration — but there didn’t appear to be a defender who got near the passer. The two-point conversion failed, however, when an open Hollywood Brown slipped before Hurts’ throw arrived.

    Backup plan

    Quarterback Andy Dalton was first up with the second offense in 7-on-7s. It didn’t go well. He missed Moore on his first attempt and Woolen nearly had a pick. He then threw behind an open Cooper and Covey on successive plays. He did hook up with rookie tight end Eli Stowers to end the set.

    Dalton had several completions during team drills, but he overthrew receiver Quez Watkins when he found tons of space on a deep corner. I wondered if Watkins’ route was precise, but Dalton waited for his receiver after the play and judging by his body language seemed to think he should have completed the throw.

    Tanner McKee was a little sharper. The quarterback short-hopped an early toss to receiver Samori Toure. But he found Watkins at the second level, and later laced a downfield dart to receiver Brandon Hayes. He missed Hayes on the next play, but there was a miscommunication as McKee signaled where he wanted his receiver.

    Landon Dickerson helped ignite a breakout run from Saquon Barkley on Monday. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    That and this

    Dickerson can still move with suddenness, as he showed on a pull block that sprung running back Saquon Barkley. Barkley’s athleticism never ceases to amaze. He got knocked to the ground after a run, did a somersault and vaulted to his feet. He could have been an Olympic gymnast.

    Tight end Grant Calcaterra had a couple catches with the first offense. I don’t know if he can make the team with blocking becoming more prominent at his position. But receiving has never been the problem. Linebacker Jihaad Campbell had a tackle for loss.

    Linebacker Smael Mondon got a number of opportunities to blitz. Bigsby shielded him off on one attempt, but Mondon found a few creases to McKee. Shaun Wade played some second-unit dime as the sixth defensive back.

    Extra points

    I’m still not sure if Cole Payton will be the third quarterback. He’s shown more so far than Kyle McCord — another third-day pick — did last camp. But he can be wild. He airmailed a pass over Hayes’ head at one point. But he showed his mobility with a zigzagging scramble during the developmental period. … During punt drills, the returners were in order: Covey, Moore and DeJean. … Long snapper Rocco Underwood’s first snap nearly went over punter Braden Mann’s head, but Mann did well to catch it. Underwood’s next few tries were a little to the right, but he finished strong. He doesn’t have the job locked up by any means. … The Eagles practice on Tuesday and will have a closed walkthrough on Wednesday.

  • Eagles practice observations: Lane Johnson’s heir apparent; Jihaad Campbell pops; Moro Ojomo’s pressures

    Eagles practice observations: Lane Johnson’s heir apparent; Jihaad Campbell pops; Moro Ojomo’s pressures

    The Eagles held the eighth practice of their 2026 training camp on Saturday at the Jefferson Health Training Complex. Here were my observations from Day 8 (and links to Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7):

    Beef Jurgens

    Cam Jurgens left practice early for a second straight day. He wasn’t listed on the Eagles’ injury report because he started Saturday as a full participant. But Jurgens walked off late into the workout with a medical staffer. He was dealing with some heat exhaustion, from what I understand. It’s been oppressively humid the last two days. The Eagles moved practice up 30 minutes partly due to weather conditions and a planned two-hour scrimmage. Running backs Dameon Pierce and Elijah Mitchell also departed early.

    Eagles tackle Lane Johnson says 2026 will ‘probably’ be his final season

    The following players remained out: wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring), receiver Makai Lemon (hamstring), receiver Britain Covey (hamstring), edge rusher Keyshawn James-Newby (ankle), and safety Cole Wisniewski (hamstring). Receiver Danny Gray was also absent after suffering a concussion on Friday. Linebacker Chance Campbell (groin) was limited.

    Line ’em up

    Lane Johnson was back in team drills a day after returning from a four-practice absence. The right tackle, who later announced that this season would likely be his last after 13 years, split time with rookie Markel Bell. Left guard Landon Dickerson took a few more repetitions than Johnson, but he was spelled by Drew Kendall.

    Here’s how the lines looked during the scrimmage:

    Kendall played center after Jurgens left and will likely be his backup when the season starts. The Eagles have had him mostly at guard in camp.

    The Eagles have likewise had Willie Lampkin more at guard recently, already knowing his abilities at center.

    Tackle Hollin Pierce, for whatever reason, didn’t participate in the scrimmage, as far as I could tell.

    Battle royal

    We got our first extended set of one-on-ones between the linemen. Here were some standouts on the offensive side:

    Mailata effectively steered edge Nolan Smith beyond the pocket on an outside speed rush, and then balled him up when Smith tried to go inside on the second rep.

    Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata got the best of Nolan Smith during Saturday’s one-on-ones between the offensive and defensive lines.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Bell didn’t cow to edge Jalyx Hunt. Bell handled a power move on the first rush. On the second, he got his hands quickly on Hunt, but lost his grasp. It’s early, but Bell could be the future at right tackle.

    Lampkin has held up at guard despite his size disadvantage. He owned defensive tackle Gabe Hall on back-to-back reps. He later won at center vs. Zion Wilson. Lampkin’s footwork is superior.

    John Ojukwu had relative success against Hunt. He got knocked off balance at the top of Hunt’s rush, but recovered. You can see why the Eagles have him ahead of projects like Myles Hinton and Cameron Williams.

    Mano a mano

    Here were some of the defensive line standouts in one-on-ones:

    Hunt appeared to get Lane Johnson with an inside move before he faced Bell. I think we can chalk the future Hall of Famer’s apparent loss up to rust.

    Lane Johnson returned to Eagles practice on Friday. His teammates were grateful to welcome back their ‘cornerstone’

    Defensive tackle Ty Robinson used a club-swim move to get past Kendall. He tried something similar on the next turn, but to little avail. Byron Young seemed to get the upper hand vs. Jake Majors on both attempts.

    While the starters generally don’t go as hard as the backups — there’s almost an unwritten code about showing the other up in one-on-ones — I thought there was good back-and-forth between Jalen Carter and Tyler Steen, Jordan Davis and Jurgens, and Moro Ojomo and Landon Dickerson.

    Smith had more success against Fred Johnson than he did against Mailata. Smith disengaged quickly from the tackle’s attempt to lock him up with his hands on their second clash.

    Smith may not be the best rusher in isolated matchups, but he’s violent setting the edge, effective when he drops in coverage, and always gives effort. He notched a sack in team drills that could partially be attributed to his relentlessness.

    Eagles linebacker Zach Baun intercepted Jalen Hurts during Saturday’s scrimmage. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Linebacker corps

    Jihaad Campbell popped off the screen in the early portion of the scrimmage. The linebacker completely knocked Jurgens on his rear on an early run play. Later, Campbell fended off Steen at the second level and touched up running back Saquon Barkley. On the next play, he two-hand touched tight end Dallas Goedert after a sliding catch.

    I counted three more run plays in which Campbell was involved during the set. He did get washed out by Jurgens at one point. And in the “backed-up” period, he hesitated on a run blitz, and Barkley simply cut to the left and ran through the vacated gap.

    Zack Baun was equally impressive. He made the stop on Barkley’s first tote. He often teamed up with Campbell on other run stops. Baun also intercepted quarterback Jalen Hurts on a deflected pass in a two-minute drill. He correctly anticipated a later throw and nearly had another pick, but receiver Elijah Moore somehow escaped with the catch.

    Can Elijah Moore keep his career going with the Eagles? He’s trying to make the most of his extra reps.

    Gnarls Barkley

    Barkley appeared to be energized by the scrimmage. It was tough sledding on the ground early on against maybe the best interior D-line in the league (more on that later), but he had his moments. He motored up field after a Goedert wham block on a split zone run. He powered inside the 10-yard line and kicked the ball forward when it was spotted shorter than he liked. On the next play, Barkley ran from Carter and into the end zone. Was it a touchdown? He celebrated like it was. Carter just laughed.

    Eagles running back Saquon made some standout plays during the scrimmage, including a touchdown run on Saturday.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Tank Bigsby found daylight when he got time with the first unit. He fumbled an exchange with Hurts on one play, though. Cooper DeJean pushed him to the ground on a later rush. Bigsby pancaked cornerback Ambry Thomas with a block in the backed-up period. But on the next play, Bigsby got knocked to the ground by the blitzing Jeremiah Trotter Jr. He held onto the linebacker’s leg for dear life, but coach Nick Sirianni saw the whole thing and flagged him for holding.

    Passing brass

    Hurts had another solid day as a passer. While receiver Dontayvion Wicks was a favorite target early in camp, Moore has recently seen a lot of throws come his way out of the slot. I still feel the receiver has an uphill climb with Lemon assured a roster spot. It’s not like Moore can play on special teams.

    Eagles wide receiver Darius Cooper takes pride in doing the dirty work. Will he be rewarded with a roster spot?

    Hollywood Brown had several grabs, too. Hurts found Wicks downfield on an in-breaking route. It was a good call vs. the coverage. A play later, the quarterback checked down to tight end Johnny Mundt off a naked bootleg.

    Hurts rebounded from the pick to Baun. He squirted outside after the pocket collapsed and threw a jump ball that Goedert pulled in over Campbell in the end zone. On the two-point try, Hurts benefited from good pass protection and found Moore alone for the conversion.

    The Eagles’ D-line, led by Jalen Carter (98) dominated at times on Saturday.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Interior defense

    As mentioned earlier, the D-line dominated at times. Carter has been scary good. He didn’t bite on misdirection and pressured Hurts into a throwaway. Carter later slipped Jurgens and forced an erratic throw.

    Davis clogged the middle on several runs and penetrated past Steen to get to Barkley in a backed-up situation. Ojomo may have had the best day. He pressured Hurts on rushes that could have resulted in sacks.

    Moro Ojomo watched fellow defensive tackles Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis get paid. He’s using it as motivation.

    It almost isn’t fair when Ojomo lines up with the second unit. He got to Pierce in the backfield for a loss. A few plays later, he put Michael Jordan on skates with a bull rush. He beat Majors a set later and hurried quarterback Andy Dalton out of the pocket.

    This and that

    Marcus Epps took most of the snaps at safety alongside Drew Mukuba, but Michael Carter II continued to get looks. Carter had an early pass breakup with the second unit. Robinson got some first-team snaps. Arnold Ebiketie has consistently rotated in with the starters, but A.J. Epenesa also got some time at edge.

    Eagles rookie tight end Eli Stowers (left) had four catches on Saturday.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Dalton was first up with the twos over Tanner McKee. Rookie tight end Eli Stowers had an early drop, but rebounded and finished with four catches. Receiver Darius Cooper made a diving grab near the sideline on a Dalton pass, but was ruled out. McKee found Cam Latu a few times, one time when the tight end released after initially blocking an edge. Safety J.T. Gray had a tackle for loss.

    Extra points

    Rookie quarterback Cole Payton tried to throw the ball away during the third-team period, but safety Maximus Pulley somehow reeled in an interception. Payton responded later by marching the offense to a touchdown when he hit running back Carson Steele out of the backfield. … The defense won the scrimmage, 54-45. … Jake Elliott was a perfect 6-for-6 on kicks ranging from about 33 to 47 yards. He’s missed just one attempt in organized periods. … Owner Jeffrey Lurie attended his first practice of the summer. … Phillies ace Zack Wheeler and his family were guests, as was former Phillie Shane Victorino. … The Eagles are off Sunday. They return to practice on Monday.

  • This tween could have met Jalen Hurts. Instead, he used his Make-A-Wish to host a carnival for a homeless shelter

    This tween could have met Jalen Hurts. Instead, he used his Make-A-Wish to host a carnival for a homeless shelter

    On a mild April day, 12-year-old Sam Okyere reviewed his wish list with his mom during their drive to the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Bala Cynwyd office.

    First choice: Legoland and Disney World.

    Second choice: meeting Eagles Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley.

    Third choice: hanging out with Philly rapper Lil Uzi Vert.

    But when Sam, his mom, and two members of the Make-A-Wish crew squeezed into the office’s tiny Lego-themed room for the official discussion, something different flashed to mind.

    “I want to help the homeless,” Sam told them.

    Sam has sickle cell disease. He’s endured a lifetime in and out of hematologists’ offices, white-knuckling through blood transfusions and bursting into hospitals when “pain crises,” agonizing sensations caused by disruption in the blood flow, tore through his body. This was his chance to do one completely selfish thing, and he chose to be selfless.

    “Are you sure this is what you want to do?” Maude Gambrah, Sam’s mom, asked as she started the car to drive them home to Drexel Hill. She knew Sam had a soft spot for homeless people. He was always encouraging her to give money to panhandlers around Philly. But this was his only wish.

    “Yeah, Mommy,” he responded. “This is what I want to do.”

    Make-A-Wish settled on Families Forward Philadelphia, a homeless shelter in West Philly, as the recipient of Sam’s wish and hosted a monthlong donation drive for the facility leading up to “Sam’s Perfect Day” last month. The carnival-style extravaganza on the shelter’s front lawn, attended by dozens of families experiencing homelessness as well as Sam and his family, featured Lego displays, a petting zoo, a Lego-inspired bounce castle, and water ice provided by Sam’s family’s Southwest Philly water ice business, Willkay’s.

    Making a wish a reality

    Word of the wish quickly spread around the office of Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, Delaware, & Susquehanna Valley following the April meeting. Anika Goyal, one of the staffers responsible for carrying out wishes, knew this one had to be hers.

    The chapter, which grants about 335 wishes a year, regularly fulfills shopping sprees, vacations to Disney World, and room makeovers, but it rarely gets one like Sam’s, Goyal said.

    So Goyal got to work. Sam emphasized that helping homeless children, specifically, was important to him, so Goyal selected Families Forward as the beneficiary shelter because it emphasizes keeping families intact during their stays.

    She reached out to small businesses and nonprofits — as many as she could find that also had Make-A-Wish connections. Oshun Family Center, which Goyal asked to host a table on Black maternal health and to distribute childcare kits, was founded by a mom of a Make-A-Wish recipient. Jam-Rock Kitchen, a local Jamaican restaurant owned by another Make-A-Wish family, slathered up their jerk chicken and spiced up their rice and peas for the big day.

    Goyal also looped in staff at the King of Prussia Lego store, a former contestant on the reality TV competition series LEGO Masters, and Swoop, the Philadelphia Eagles mascot, to make the event quintessentially Sam.

    Alana Deluca, manager at King of Prussia’s Lego store, talks to Sam Okyere, 12, during his Make-A-Wish donation drive and block party.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    “It’s not about him,” Goyal said. “But it is about him.”

    As Goyal and the Make-A-Wish team prepared the logistics, Sam contended with a life-altering decision. Sickle cell can be treated through a bone marrow transplant. The ideal donor is a sibling who is a match. Will Okyere, Sam’s 25-year-old brother, was. So Sam and his family scheduled a transplant for the end of August. The process starts with chemotherapy and ends with in-home isolation for several months, requiring Sam to miss most of his seventh-grade year with his friends.

    “It’s a bummer,” Sam said. “But, it’s like, anything to get me better.”

    “I just want to get sickle cell over and done with,” he added.

    Sam Okyere, 12, hanging out with his friend Mosiah Saddick, 12, during Sam’s Perfect Day at Families Forward Philadelphia homeless shelter.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    While sickle cell disease is not inherently fatal, it can increase the risk of life-threatening infections, acute chest syndrome, stroke, and chronic organ damage, particularly without medications or interventions such as a bone marrow transplant or gene therapy.

    Cynthia Norris, Sam’s attending hematologist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who referred Sam for the wish, said he stood out among all her eligible patients because he has the most severe variation of the disease and has had a number of complications. His grace and thoughtfulness, she said, also set him apart.

    “He’s just a very special young man,” Norris said. “He has so much empathy.”

    Sam Okyere, 12, with his dad Akwasi Okyere, Delaware Blue Coats mascot Coaty, and Philadelphia Eagles mascot Swoop during Sam’s Perfect Day Make-A-Wish donation drive and block party at Families Forward Philadelphia homeless shelter.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    Living out a perfect day

    After months of waiting and preparation, Sam’s Perfect Day finally arrived.

    Shiny new yellow, red, and blue soccer balls and Hula-Hoops lined the main hall of the Families Forward office building. Tubs along the mirroring wall brimmed with sunscreen bottles, toothbrushes, and soap. A giant poster sandwiched in the middle bore Sam’s likeness in Lego form — tiny Afro and all.

    Some of the donations for Sam Okyere’s Perfect Day Make-A-Wish donation drive and block party.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    Families Forward could never have afforded this bounty on its own, said Jessica Main, the nonprofit’s chief development officer. Grant money the shelter receives is often tied to specific types of services like mental health and education. Its budget for toys and recreational materials is around $3,000 annually, Main estimated. That would probably barely cover the glimmering new basketball hoop and sports equipment Sam’s donation drive brought in.

    Sam Okyere, 12, with his sister, Kayla, at the petting zoo during his Make-A-Wish donation drive and block party at Families Forward Philadelphia homeless shelter.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    Sam nestled into a blue canvas chair in the petting zoo as two goats nibbled food out of Dixie cups he held in each hand.

    “I’m naming this one Ashton,” Sam announced to no one in particular, looking at a brown and white goat.

    “Food! Anybody want food,” he shouted to the tiny goats (one wearing a feathered bowler hat), bunnies, and one black pig that dragged its rotund paunch on the ground wherever it went.

    Sam Okyere, 12, is holding Penelope the pig at the petting zoo during his Make-A-Wish donation drive and block party at Families Forward Philadelphia homeless shelter in Philadelphia, Pa., on Wednesday, July 29, 2026.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    “Zane, Kai, Lloyd,” he said, pointing at two goats and then the pig, naming all after characters on his favorite show Ninjago, which the uninitiated will be unsurprised to learn is a show about Legos.

    Soon a 3-year-old named Saga, wearing a white dress smattered with images of heart-shaped lollipops, entered the petting zoo enclosure, mouth agape as she stood eye-to-eye with the recently named Ashton the goat and gently patted the silver nubs on either side of its bony head. This was her first experience with farm animals.

    Her mother, Quechera Jowers, 32, followed closely. The pair have lived at the shelter for about four months.

    “I’m not going to lie, it’s a little nostalgic,” Jowers said, taking in the carnival sights as they waited in line for cotton candy, which, based on crystallized red formations encrusted around Saga’s mouth, it appeared she’d already indulged in.

    Throughout the afternoon, gleaming toddler cheeks transformed into butterfly wings, kitten whiskers, and dragon scales with face paint. Pink and purple beads were strung into friendship bracelets, and technicolor swimsuits (each child got one through Sam’s donation drive) grew soaked from a sprinkler raining down on the kids as they descended an inflatable slide adjoined to the bounce castle. Navigating the pipe system of the old converted asylum-turned-shelter facility was the challenge of the morning, Main said.

    Beyoncé blared from a portable DJ booth, chubby fingers grasped balloons on strings and absentmindedly released them into the stratosphere, and a topless toddler with wild curls boogied near the mouth of a bubble machine, a diaper band peeking out from his khaki shorts.

    Sam Okyere, 12, is trying out the DJ set with Nashirah Felder, of Fishtown, during his Perfect Day Make-A-Wish donation drive and block party at Families Forward Philadelphia homeless shelter in Philadelphia, Pa., on Wednesday, July 29, 2026.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    Sam, meanwhile, alternated between the Lego games, petting zoo, and basketball station.

    After discreetly lowering his game controller in the middle of a Lego joust, allowing a friend to overtake his spacecraft and win the game, Sam sauntered over to the goats situated in a kennel in the back of a truck to bid them farewell.

    Sam Okyere, 12, plays against Corey Samuels, 41, of Princeton, N.J., a LEGO Masters winner, during his Make-A-Wish donation drive and block party at Families Forward Philadelphia homeless shelter in Philadelphia, Pa., on Wednesday, July 29, 2026.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    “I don’t want them to leave,” he mused as he delicately scratched a tan one on the chin and, with an understated graciousness rare to find in adults, let alone children, allowed the petting zoo staff to take them away.

    As the afternoon drew to a close, Sam settled into a chair in the hallway full of donations and futzed with a small Lego vehicle. An event organizer informed him that the Lego store employees offered to gift him all the leftover toys. Sam politely declined and requested they instead be given to the kids at the shelter.

    Asked in the final moments what could have made Sam’s Perfect Day more perfect, he contemplated.

    “Nothing,” he resolved.

    Nothing at all.