It’s expected that in about 72 hours from the time of this report, U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino will announce his 26-man roster for a series of four upcoming friendlies in the first FIFA international window since this summer’s FIFA World Cup.
Here’s hoping Pochettino was watching Sunday because Cavan Sullivan not only made a serious case to earn what would be his first call-up to the senior squad, but it looks like at just 16, he’s arguably got the tools to become a mainstay on Pochettino’s roster.
Take the two goals he scored that day out of it, even though the first was pretty fantastic.
Sullivan’s runs off the ball to put himself into positions to score were arguably equally as impressive, especially the run in behind San Diego’s backline to score his second of the night. The kid has been a disruptor and it’s been a major catalyst behind the Union’s 10-game — that’s right, 10 — unbeaten streak since the MLS break for the World Cup, a break the club limped into with just one win in 15 matches.
“For all of the special things that Cavan does, these are the areas we’re asking him to get into,” said Union interim head coach Ryan Richter postgame. Richter, who for weeks has preached the Union “not getting ahead of ourselves” when it comes to priding the long unbeaten streak, couldn’t help but creep a smile when asked about the performance of Sullivan to date. “He can be effective and score a lot of goals. And he’s been committed to that, running into cutback spots, getting himself in the box … over the last few weeks, he’s been really efficient and it’s nice to see the confidence that he’s playing with.”
It’s a collective confidence, however, as this Union team looks undeniably different from the one managed by former boss Bradley Carnell a few months prior. Milan Iloski, playing in his customary spot as the team’s out-and-out No. 9, has delivered to the tune of a team-high 13 goals on the season. The midfield collective, spearheaded by Danley Jean Jacques, Jovan Lukić, and the tireless runs of Indiana Vassilev, is fueling chances on goal at a higher clip.
Now, this team has the opportunity to do what no one who watches it would’ve thought possible before the World Cup break when it travels to Sporting Kansas City this Saturday (8:30 p.m., Apple TV). The group can tie the franchise’s longest unbeaten streak at 11 with a win or draw against a Sporting side sitting in the basement of MLS’ Western Conference.
It’s a stat line that undoubtedly matters very little to this current Union team, which appears laser-focused on getting results and climbing higher up the table, but it’s certainly another notch on the belt and a true turning point for a squad that many people counted out — in June.
The Union celebrate with fans who traveled to San Diego following one of their five goals on Sunday.Philadelphia Union
There’s also the argument too, that the Union have prided themselves on sticking to their guns and not chasing big names to bolster their roster. Four players directly from the club’s youth academy contributed in Saturday’s 5-0 rout of San Diego, with Sullivan, of course, the highlight. Sullivan and left back Frankie Westfield assisting on Bruno Damiani’s fourth goal in two matches in the 67th minute, followed by a goal off the bench from Malik Jakupovic in the 86th, showcase that the team feels confident it can get results with the young guns it employs night after night.
It should be noted that the goal for Jakupovic was his first.
“The homegrown players have done great, but the team has done great,” said Richter, who was the club’s developmental coach at Union II before taking on his interim role. “I think everyone has [bought in] to being a part of this group and being a part of this team, and it doesn’t matter if they’re 16 or they’re 39.”
In the same breath, however, Richter added:
“This is a part of our club strategy, and you’ve seen the great players that have come out of our academy, and now this is a group that is making a difference in a lot of games, and they need to make sure that they continue to stay focused and to keep pushing to get better and better because it’s what makes our club great.”
With potentially a week in which Richter could see one of the club’s best young players shuffle off to join the U.S. men’s national team in Atlanta later this month for a series of matches, how do you plan around that?
“He’s excited, we’re excited, the club is excited,” Richter said of Sullivan’s potential call-up. “But we need to make sure that we focus on the day-to-day, keep his feet on the ground, keep training and working in the way that he is because he’s already getting rewarded for that work that he’s putting in. That’s where I’m going to keep the focus, and I know that’s where he’s going to keep the focus as well.”
Union goalkeeper Andre Blake directs teammates during a match earlier this season.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Odds and endlines
With all this talk about the offense, it’d be remiss not to note that the recent run of form from Union goalkeeper Andre Blake has been nothing short of remarkable. In Saturday’s shutout of San Diego, Blake made five saves to fuel his third consecutive shutout and his fourth since the end of the World Cup break … The backline of Kai Wagner, Nathan Harriel, Westfield and 18-year-old Neil Pierre has allowed just nine goals in 10 MLS matches. Conversely, in that same span (since July 22), the Union have accounted for 28 goals, with 12 coming in the last three matches.
Cooper DeJean stood at his locker stall and gave a straightforward answer when asked to summarize his performance Sunday.
“It wasn’t good enough, obviously,” DeJean said after the Eagles escaped their season opener with a 24-22 win over Washington. “I just got to be better. It’s that simple.”
DeJean, an All-Pro in his second NFL season last year, had one of the worst games of his young NFL career on Sunday. He was targeted eight times and allowed six receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown, according to Next Gen Stats. He also was twice called for illegal contact, though even Tom Brady noted on the broadcast that at least one of the calls was “ticky tack.”
“I’ll have to watch the tape, see what happened there, see what I can fix in my technique,” he said when asked what went wrong. “Sometimes my eyes get bad and that gets me in trouble. Just got to be better with that. The good thing is it’s Week 1. We got a lot of games ahead of us and I got to continue to get better for our defense.”
That last part is important. It was one game, and DeJean has otherwise been one of the best players at his position since the Eagles selected him with the 40th pick in the 2024 draft.
But DeJean’s position this year is a little bit different. Sunday marked the first game in his new role with the Eagles. He’s moving back to safety in the rarely used base defense and playing nickel in the rest of the defensive packages. The Eagles were in base on just 13 of their 70 defensive snaps (18.6%). Pro Football Focus tracked DeJean’s alignment on all 70 snaps as follows: 52 in the slot; 9 in the box; 8 at free safety; and 1 on the defensive line.
Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean stops Commanders wide receiver Jaylin Lane during the third quarter on Sunday.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
All eight of DeJean’s targets came when he was lined up at nickel.
He allowed a 13-yard completion to Stefon Diggs — and was called for the first of his two penalties — on a third-and-10 from near midfield on Washington’s opening drive that eventually resulted in a field goal. Diggs later got DeJean again over the middle for a 15-yard gain in the second quarter to push Washington into Eagles territory. Later in the same drive, Antonio Williams worked through DeJean to get free in the middle of the field for a 16-yard gain to the Eagles’ 1-yard line. The Commanders scored on the next play.
Diggs again proved to be a problem for DeJean in the second half. The veteran receiver ran a perfect route to burn DeJean at the goal line on a third-and-6 from the 10-yard line. Diggs was wide open for Jayden Daniels to complete an easy touchdown, and the game could have been tied with a two-point conversion if Diggs hadn’t celebrated slipping past DeJean by jumping on the goal post, drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
On Washington’s final drive, Diggs once again beat DeJean for a 17-yard gain on a second-and-6 play from near midfield.
DeJean’s passer rating allowed Sunday was a whopping 143.2. He had only one worse career game, last season’s road loss to Dallas, though DeJean was asked to play outside corner for much of that game after the Eagles lost Adoree’ Jackson to injury. DeJean’s passer rating allowed was below 80 in each of his first two seasons.
The third-year defensive back did appear to get up slow and was wincing in the second quarter. He did not mention an injury after the game and did not think moving around the defensive backfield for the first time impacted his performance.
“I feel like I’ve played nickel long enough that I can understand the difference between that,” he said. “I just got to clean it up, my footwork, things like that, top of routes, and trusting the preparation to what we’ve seen on tape and being able to apply it out there.”
Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean gets a hit on Jayden Daniels on a blitz.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
DeJean said he didn’t plan to change his approach heading into Week 2 and had no plans to overreact. On Sunday the defense held Washington to under 300 yards, the Eagles’ 19th game holding an opponent under 300 since they hired Vic Fangio in 2024, the same year they drafted DeJean.
Plus, it wasn’t all bad for him. The drive did eventually end in a touchdown, but a few plays earlier, DeJean helped thwart a pass in the end zone to John Bates. Zack Baun got a hand on it, but DeJean was in tight on Bates if the ball had gotten past his linebacker.
He also was sent on a blitz at one point and got to Daniels, who had to force an errant throw.
“If you win it hurts a little less,” DeJean said. “It feels great to win. You’re going to win some of those one-on-one battles and you’re going to lose some of those one-on-one battles. It’s a team game and we came out with the win in the end.”
A federal transit agency has awarded SEPTA $80 million to make three stations in the Center City trolley tunnel accessible to people with disabilities, officials said Monday.
New elevators, raised platforms, and other improvements will make the 22nd Street, 33rd Street, and 36th Street stations fully accessible, officials said, bringing them into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Built in 1955, the stations are currently only accessible by stairs.
“Ensuring that every customer can access transit service that is safe, clean and reliable is a core part of SEPTA’s mission,” SEPTA board chair Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr. said in a statement.
Lawrence said Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation worked to secure the grant, which was made available under the Federal Transit Administration’s All Stations Accessibility Program. The program was established by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
SEPTA was awarded an earlier $56 million grant in 2022 through the same federal program. That funding was designated for elevators, ramps, and other enhancements at five subway stations on the Broad Street and Market-Frankford Lines. SEPTA began construction last month on one of those projects at the 11th Street Station.
SEPTA officials said the accessibility project was part of its $2 billion plan to modernize its eight trolley lines — an initiative that includes longer vehicles that hold more passengers, new on-street stations, and proposed line extensions.
Here’s what you need to know about free speech on America’s college campuses: We’re all Marxists now.
No, we’re not those “crazy communists” whom President Donald Trump denounced at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas last week. I teach at the University of Pennsylvania, where nearly two-thirds of undergraduates enter finance, technology, or consulting. If I’m trying to convert them to Karl Marx, I’m doing a very poor job of it.
I’m talking about the comedian Groucho Marx, who authored the world’s funniest testament to hypocrisy. “These are my principles,” Groucho quipped, “and if you don’t like them … well, I have others.”
That’s the big takeaway from the annual report on campus free speech by the Philadelphia-based Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), which came out on the same day as Trump’s convention diatribe. We’re not communists or anarchists or any of the other slurs he lobbed at us. We’re hypocrites. All of us. On campus, and off of it.
Witness the response to the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last fall. After complaining for years about “cancel culture” in American higher education, GOP politicians led the drive to fire or suspend professors and students who said the wrong thing about Kirk.
Meanwhile, left-leaning academics who had supported speech codes prohibiting “violent” speech insisted that comments praising the violence against Kirk must be protected. They were correct about that: Nobody should have been penalized for what they said about him. But there was no acknowledgment — none — that we had erred in trying to censor others.
Instead, as the FIRE report demonstrates, the censorship continued. Dozens of schools blocked conservative students from establishing chapters of Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk founded. And where chapters already existed, we tried to shut them down.
At Rutgers, for example, more than 7,000 people signed a petition asking the university to disband its TPUSA chapter because it made people feel unsafe. “It is imperative that we take decisive action to restore security and the feeling on inclusivity to the campus,” the petition declared.
Meanwhile, the Rutgers TPUSA chapter issued its own petition calling on the university to fire a history professor because of his alleged ties to antifa. Why? You guessed it: People felt unsafe. “Having a prominent leader of the Antifa movement on campus is a threat to conservative students,” the petition claimed.
Remember when right-wingers denounced liberal “snowflakes” on campus? Now everyone is a snowflake, just like we’re all (Groucho) Marxists. If you don’t like someone’s opinion, just say it threatens your safety. It will work.
And it will make everyone afraid to speak, no matter their politics. At Penn, the FIRE report notes, over half of surveyed students said they have self-censored on campus at least once or twice a month. “In classrooms, it is difficult at times to express full opinions without causing someone to become upset,” one Penn student told FIRE.
What’s wrong with that? If I write a column and nobody becomes upset, it was a lousy column. To be clear, I never go out of my way to offend anyone. But I take it for granted that if I have something meaningful to say, some readers will be angered or annoyed by it.
On our campuses, by contrast, causing upset has become a dangerous thing. Best to keep your big mouth shut, lest you get on the wrong side of anyone.
So both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian students bite their tongues. And so do conservatives and — especially — Trump voters, who often stay in the closet instead of revealing their true selves.
I taught for 20 years at New York University, which was dead last in FIRE’s free speech ranking in this year’s report. I have taught for 10 years at Penn, which moved up slightly — from 261st to 227th — but still received an “F” grade from FIRE.
And I haven’t heard anyone at either institution acknowledge the report or pledge to do better. You would think the firing of professors for their comments about Kirk — or about gender fluidity, a frequent right-wing target — would make our heavily liberal professoriate rally around the principle of free speech.
But no. I’ve heard colleagues say Trump voters should keep quiet because they are racist and sexist and nobody wants to hear that. Other professors say scaredy-cat conservatives should just show some backbone instead of hiding in the shadows.
Please. Here’s the question we should pose to ourselves: If FIRE reported that any other sizable group of students — aside from political conservatives — felt too afraid to voice their views, how would we react? Would we see righteous protests across our campuses? Or would we tell those who were scared they should just suck it up?
“The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing,” Groucho Marx said. “If you can fake that, you’ve got it made.” We’ve got a lot of fake free speech warriors on our campuses right now. You either believe in it for everyone, or you don’t believe in it at all.
Jonathan Zimmerman teaches history and education at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of “Schooling Citizens: How Education Can Save Our Democracy,” which will be published in the spring by the American Philosophical Society Press.
If you assume Jalen Hurts’ next contract will pay him around $65 million per year, or $1 million more than Patrick Mahomes; and if you assume the Eagles will pay Hurts sooner than later, as they always do with their best players; and if you assume that Hurts, after a poor 2025 season, needs to show the Eagles that he’s worth the investment, then he made a strong opening statement Sunday afternoon.
Hurts threw three touchdown passes, connecting on 14 of 25 attempts. He ran for 46 yards, including a key 22-yard, third-and-18 conversion in the fourth quarter. He threw no interceptions and had no fumbles. He did virtually everything he could to win the Eagles’ opener against the Commanders and, more importantly, he did virtually nothing to lose it. The Eagles won, 24-22.
Jalen Hurts goes DEEP to Dontayvion Wicks for 64 yards!
Hurts threw for only 203 yards, but his passer rating of 122.2 was the 15th-best of his 94 regular-season starts.
He did all of this playing in a new system implemented by first-time offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, who has only been a coach — at any level — for two years.
If you ever considered Hurts a long-term, star-quality, franchise quarterback, this sort of game is why. Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie considers Hurts just this.
There is a narrative that asserts that, if Hurts does not shine in this scheme, then the Eagles could trade him after this season and absorb the salary-cap burden associated with his current $255 million deal.
However, if Hurts strings together a dozen or so games like this in Mannion’s system this year, expect the 28-year-old to sign an extension to be the Eagles’ quarterback for the next seven or eight seasons.
A.J.’s nightmare
In his first game without A.J. Brown since 2022, Hurts threw for 1.5 more yards than he averaged last season, threw for twice as many touchdowns as he averaged last season, and had a passer rating about 24 points higher than he had last season. Maybe he won’t miss A.J. as much as we thought.
Brown spent the last two seasons complaining about Hurts’ performance. His antics forced a trade to the Patriots on June 1. Be careful what you wish for.
In his New England debut Wednesday, Brown caught just three passes for 26 yards. His new quarterback, Drake Maye, threw three interceptions. The Pats lost, 13-10, in Seattle. Maye also underthrew Brown on a sure touchdown route.
Brown then suffered a high ankle sprain in the third quarter, left the game, and did not return. The Patriots placed him on injured reserve Friday, which will sideline him for at least four weeks, but reports Sunday said Brown, 29, will miss at least six weeks.
Nightmare.
From @NFLGameDay Morning: Injury updates from this week, as #Seaahawks QB Sam Darnold actually has a glute injury, #Patriots WR AJ Brown is out about six weeks, and #49ers WR De'Zhaun Stribling (deltoid ligament) is out at least a month. pic.twitter.com/0VlHlIzgw7
The Rams traded a raft of assets to Cleveland for Garrett, the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year, but he looked lousy Thursday night in Australia in a loss to the 49ers. He’d battled a left knee issue all preseason. He now is scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery and spend at least the next four weeks on IR.
The Rams are expected to have defensive tackle Aaron Donald available when they visit Philly. Donald, who, after two years off, unretired late in the preseason in order to pair with Garrett, was deemed unfit to play in Australia and did not make the trip. The prospect of facing Donald is daunting, but the prospect of facing the two best defensive linemen of the past decade in the same game was positively chilling. Now, the Eagles won’t have to do that unless the teams meet in the playoffs.
Carson Wentz embraced his Ginger Jesus nickname when he was drafted in 2016 to save the Eagles franchise. Now a journeyman backup, Wentz relieved concussed Kyler Murray in the first quarter Sunday and led the Vikings to 29 straight points in a comeback win over the rival Packers. We might be witnessing a resurrection.
Wentz threw three touchdown passes with no interceptions or fumbles, completed 12 of 19 passes for 133 yards, including a gorgeous, 39-yard TD dime to Justin Jefferson.
JUSTIN FREAKING JEFFERSON‼️
What a pass by Carson Wentz and what an AMAZING catch by JJ as the Vikings get the TD!pic.twitter.com/ITahechqYe
Wentz finished with a 123.5 passer rating, the eighth-best rating in his 104 regular-season games.
Wentz played the first 68 of those games for the Eagles, who drafted him No. 2 overall in 2016 and immediately named him the starter. Wentz’s turbulent tenure ended after 2020, when his displeasure with the drafting of Jalen Hurts in the second round and his anger at being replaced by Hurts late in the season led him to force a trade to Indianapolis. He then played for five teams in the next five years. This is his second season with the Vikings, though he had to win the No. 2 job in a preseason battle with Vikings first-round bust J.J. McCarthy.
Was this Wentz’s best performance since he led the Colts to a win over the Jets on Nov. 4, 2021?
Dallas ranked last in points allowed in 2025, at 30.1 per game. The Cowboys are on their way back to the bottom: They lost, 28-20, on Sunday Night Football in John Harbaugh’s head coaching debut with the Giants. … The Eagles might have a walkover win Sunday in Tennessee; the Titans lost, 23-10, to the woeful, visiting Jets. … On the other end of the spectrum, the Bears won their opener, 59-37, over the visiting Panthers on Sunday. Bears coach Ben Johnson told The Athletic in August, “I want to have the highest-scoring offense ever. … I want shutouts. I want blowouts.” The Eagles travel to Chicago in two weeks. Yikes. … Maybe it was all the extra cash he’s carrying: Baker Mayfield lost three fumbles in Tampa Bay’s 33-27 loss in Cincinnati just five days after he signed a three-year, $165 million contract extension. … Derrick Henry, 32, ran for 144 yards and three touchdowns as the Ravens won, 41-23, in Indianapolis. He has 56 100-yard games, which ranks eighth, and 125 rushing TDs, which ranks third.
Jalen Hurts did the famous Michael Jordan “I don’t know” shrug after his first touchdown pass and expressed the same whimsy when asked about the gesture after the Eagles’ 24-22 win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
But it didn’t take an expert in the art of understanding Hurts to interpret why the stoic quarterback shrugged toward the Eagles sideline after he strung a 17-yard rope to Dallas Goedert.
“It’s a great play. A great play,” Hurts said to reporters. “Y’all [are digging]. Y’all trying to figure something out.”
The figuring had already essentially been done. The touchdown came on a four-verticals route concept similar to the fateful play that resulted in the season-ending incompletion from Hurts to Goedert in the playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers in January.
There had been nine months of controversy over the play. Some ridiculed former offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo for making the call. Various reports said it was Hurts who suggested it and that it exemplified his imperious influence.
But on this day, four verts worked because new play-caller Sean Mannion made the right call at the right time — or was it Hurts? — and the pass was executed flawlessly. The quarterback made several big-time throws against Washington, and at times looked like the explosive runner that had made him one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the NFL.
Hurts also answered some doubts about how he would adjust to yet another change in coordinator and scheme — at least for one week. But the game plan didn’t quite represent the dramatic shift that was anticipated with Mannion implementing a Kyle Shanahan-Sean McVay-type system as his base offense.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts after winning the season opening game against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts celebrates a touchdown with Keyshawn James-Newby (center) and offensive tackle Lane Johnson during the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo celebrates a two-point conversion stop late during the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles stop the two point conversion attempt during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert celebrates his fourth quarter touchdown at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles tight end Dallas Goedert scores a fourth quarter touchdown past Commanders cornerback Darius Rush during the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert runs for a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles tight end Dallas Goedert catches the football for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts first down run during the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerWashington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs hugs the goalpost after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. Unsportsmanlike penalty was called pushing the Commanders back.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerWashington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs scores in the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith catches the ball for a big first down during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts gains fourteen yards on a run in the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerEagles place kicker Jake Elliott kicks a third quarter field goad during the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles cornerback Cooper DeJean stops Commanders wide receiver Jaylin Lane during the third quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith catches the ball against Commanders cornerback Darius Rush during the third quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts sacked in the third quarter by Washington Commanders linebacker Odafe Oweh at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts scrambles on a third down during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles head coach Nick Sirianni racts during the third quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is sacked by Washington Commanders linebacker Sonny Styles in the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts passes to tight end Dallas Goedert late during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter celebrates a blocked extra point late during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts hands off to Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert congratulates Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks after a second quarter touchdown at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni congratulates Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks after his second quarter touchdown at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith tries to block Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo goes after Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks celebrates a touchdown with Darius Cooper (left) and DeVonta Smith (right) during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles linebacker Zack Baun celebrates after breaking up a pass intended for Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun stops Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt for a loss, Washington punts on the drive, at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley with a big run in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun sandwich Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerEagles running back Saquon Barkley gains 42 yards during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert celebrates second quarter touchdown with Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert spikes the ball after a touchdown in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles tight end Dallas Goedert catches a touchdown against Commanders safety Quan Martin during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.nYong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles fans cheer in the first quarter of the season opener against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts reacts during the first quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles wide receiver Makai Lemon catches the ball against Commanders cornerback Amik Robertson during the first quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is sacked by Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu in the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley misses a pass in the first quarter, defended by Washington Commanders linebacker Sonny Styles, at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts during a moment of silence before the start of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley runs out of the tunnel at the season opener against the Washington Commanders in Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts runs out of the tunnel during player introductions before the season opening game against the Washington Commanders in Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerGreg Gorski, of Elkins Park, poses for a portrait while tailgating before the Eagles play the Commanders in Philadelphia on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
The under-center, play-action game was certainly there. Hurts, for instance, connected with new receiver Dontayvion Wicks for 64 yards after a decent Saquon Barkley outside-zone run set up the first-quarter bomb.
But Washington’s aggressive defense mostly took away the Eagles’ perimeter rush. And Mannion was never really able to consistently marry the run with the pass.
A blending of the old and new was always to be expected. There was just too much more of the old bad than the good in Week 1. And that meant too many three-and-outs — three straight to open the second half — and too much of Hurts under pressure.
“We’re going to have some work to do,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said of how the Eagles handled Washington’s blitzes and simulated pressures. “We’ll look at the tape, but we’ll see. You never want to have a free runner.”
Hurts was sacked three times, hit five times total, and was forced out of the pocket and into several throwaways. He also made some clutch throws under pressure — including hitting Wicks for a 9-yard touchdown with a rusher in his face — and scrambled five times for 48 yards.
His most impressive moment on the ground came on third- and-18 at the Eagles 31-yard line with about eight minutes left in the game. Hurts actually had a clean pocket. But Washington was in a deep zone and the quarterback decided to take matters into his own legs.
Jalen Hurts looked more elusive in Week 1 than he did at times in 2025. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Hurts scooted 22 yards up the middle and picked up the first down. And on the next third down, he laced another dart to Goedert — this time in between the hashes where Hurts had previously struggled to throw the ball — and the tight end took care of the rest for a 43-yard touchdown.
“It’s just playing ball,” Hurts said initially about his 22-yard tote. Later on, he said it was a situation that required him to take over. “But it’s not something that’s forced,” he said.
We’ve seen this early version of Hurts before. He’s had some of his best running performances in openers (see: at the Detroit Lions in 2022 and vs. the Dallas Cowboys in 2025). But the latter outing was a fleeting moment. Hurts hardly ever seemed completely comfortable last season on designed runs, or when he took off.
“You can see that he worked himself into shape to get back to how we know he can run the ball,” Barkley said, “and his legs came up big for us.”
Vic Fangio and some Eagles defenders said he looked faster in camp, although Hurts said he didn’t feel any different nor had he done anything new in regard to his conditioning. Of course, after a season of often having interior pass rushers in his lap, maybe it was just prep work.
Despite the narrative that left guard Landon Dickerson and center Cam Jurgens were healthy this offseason after playing through injury a year ago, the issues up the middle returned. Dickerson was especially porous in pass protection.
Eagles guard Landon Dickerson (69), here making a block on a Jalen Hurts run, did not play well on Sunday and must continue to show growth in the Sean Mannion offense. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
He was gone by the time the locker room opened, and in fact, left tackle Jordan Mailata said Dickerson had already disappeared by the time he got back to his locker stall post-shower. But Mailata took the blame for the sack when Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu split the two offensive linemen in the first half.
“There were times where I could have helped him a lot more, just on my set angle,” Mailata said. “Some of the games they were running. They got home on that one sack … and I just sat over the board too much.”
All parties played a role in allowing too much pressure, with Hurts near the top of the list. He helps set the protections and only the quarterback can check out of bad plays. And there were many runs and drops that were D.O.A. That’s also on Mannion.
“Sometimes they just get you and you have to figure out a way to execute the play when it might not be the best call for the play,” Eagles right guard Tyler Steen said. “It just happened with that defense.”
Washington had first-time play callers on both sides of the ball. Coordinator Daronte Jones came from the Brian Flores school of pressure defense, so it wasn’t as if the Eagles weren’t prepared for the Commanders to crowd the line and change the picture for Hurts post-snap.
But there were multiple times when the O-line and the blitz pickup crew weren’t on the same page in terms of blocking responsibilities. The new scheme under new O-line coach Chris Kuper has altered some of the rules. So there’s going to be a learning curve.
And that applies to Mannion’s play calling, as well. Screens are a good way to offset interior pressure, but the Eagles seemed to force short passes to rookie receiver Makai Lemon just because of his first-round draft stock.
Sean Mannion ran his scheme in Week 1 but mixed in concepts the offense has a track record of executing well. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
To his credit, the 34-year-old coordinator made adjustments. He went with an old bread-and-butter inside-zone concept to help spring Barkley for 42 yards on third-and-2. And there were other power runs with duo blocking that gained positive yards.
But Eagles running backs averaged just 2.8 yards on carries other than the 42-yarder.
“We were so close on hitting on some of those,” said Jurgens, who had two first-half holding penalties.
Jurgens wasn’t the only Eagle to struggle. As dominant as Fangio’s defense looked through three quarters, there were cracks in the fourth quarter as Washington mounted a comeback. But the unit was on the field for 14 more plays and almost seven more minutes than the offense.
It felt like a 2025 redux against an opponent beset by injuries and low outside expectations.
Jalen Hurts’ big throws and leadership helped the Eagles start 1-0 for a sixth straight year. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
But there might have been a little Week 1 uncertainty in the outcome. Hurts didn’t know exactly what to expect with Mannion in his ear, but he said he tried to block out the variables outside his control.
“I fixed my mind to not put stock into the minutiae,” Hurts said.
There is little an individual can control in football. It takes a village. But Hurts plays the one position with the most power. He acknowledged as much when he referenced his Saturday production meeting with Fox analyst and quarterback G.O.A.T. Tom Brady, one of the best ever pre-snap.
“A lot of it is about making sure you’re in the right play, when you’re doing the right thing that takes no talent,” Hurts said. “Are we in the best run? Are we protecting ourselves in protection? Is everybody aligned doing those little things first? That is the most important thing.
“It’s more of an operation and being able to set the table and manage the things you’re tasked with managing as a quarterback and then all the other things that are to come. I ended on the note of it taking all 11 [players]. It takes all 11.”
Sometimes it takes just one. The 28-year-old Hurts still has the ability to take over games with his athleticism. And he may have to do more of it as Mannion grows into his job and the offensive line adjusts to the changes.
But he wants to be like Brady, even if he still idolizes Jordan.
Jalen Hurts answered some questions about how he’ll adjust to maybe the most significant scheme and play-caller change of his NFL career. It wasn’t always pretty, particularly when Washington pressured him or changed the coverage picture post-snap. But Hurts delivered when needed with his arm and legs.
Overall, he completed 14 of 25 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns. He scrambled five times for 48 yards before game-ending kneels. In the fourth quarter, he found Dallas Goedert over the middle and the tight end did the rest for a 43-yard touchdown. Earlier on the drive, Hurts had a huge 22-yard scramble on third-and-18. There weren’t any designed quarterback runs, but Hurts looked more mobile than he has in a few years.
In the third quarter, Hurts tear-dropped a 31-yarder to DeVonta Smith on a third down. Until that moment in the second half, the offense looked ugly. Hurts and his protection struggled vs. Washington’s blitzes and simulated pressures.
Jalen Hurts (right) completed 14 of 25 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Hurts was mostly excellent in the first half when he had time to throw. He heaved a deep dime to wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks on a 64-yard corner route. He hit Goedert down the seam for a 17-yard touchdown. And he was on time with Wicks on an out route that resulted in a 9-yard touchdown.
After the Eagles guarded the identity of their No. 2 quarterback like it was a state secret, Andy Dalton got the nod ahead of Tanner McKee.
Saquon Barkley did the best he could. There were several rushes in which Barkley was met in the backfield just after the handoff. It looked like last year’s leaky run game at times as he was dropped for a loss on at least four carries. It could have been worse if not for Barkley’s spins, jukes, and strength.
He converted third-and 2 in the second quarter when he broke a tackle and chugged 42 yards. Barkley finished with 83 yards rushing on 15 carries. In blitz pickup, he might have missed an edge pressure in which Hurts was decked in the second quarter. He had a few pickups that gave the quarterback time, but got steamrolled by rookie linebacker Sonny Styles, who recorded a third-quarter sack.
Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley weren’t given much of a workload. Shipley had two carries for 4 yards and caught an 8-yard pass out of the backfield before the half, while Bigsby finished with one carry for 3 yards.
Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (center) finished with 73 yards.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Receiver / Tight end: B-
It was a new world for Smith being the No. 1 receiver that drew cloud coverage. He didn’t see the ball much in the first half. But Smith stayed patient and caught two big passes in the second half, including a 31-yard over-the-shoulder grab in which he got both feet inbounds. He made it look easy.
Goedert picked up where he left off last season, catching two touchdowns a year after he had a team-high 11. His first touchdown came on the 17-yard seam route and then he scored from 43 yards out when he reversed field after an over-the-middle grab that sealed the game. Goedert led the Eagles with four catches for 77 yards.
Makai Lemon has a ways to go before he’s a steady contributor. The Eagles forced several passes to the rookie receiver on short passing concepts. He finished with three catches for minus-5 yards. The first catch of his career was a 3-yard dump, the second a 5-yard loss on a screen after Wicks missed a block, and third was another bubble in which he was dropped behind the line. Lemon was hardly at fault for the latter two negative plays. The blocking just wasn’t there.
Makai Lemon had a quiet NFL debut with minus-5 yards on three catches.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Wicks had a solid Eagles debut. He broke free over the top on a corner route on his 64-yard reception. Wicks ran a wicked stem route in which he beat cornerback Mike Sainristil on the 9-yard touchdown catch. There was some confusion at times. Smith had to signal to Wicks a few times for him to motion in the second quarter.
Eli Stowers was placed on injured reserve with hamstring and quadriceps injuries. The rookie tight end was unlikely to play much, if at all. Johnny Mundt had some solid moments as the main point of attack blocker on the run side, but no one had a great day trying to open holes in the ground game.
Offensive line: C
The pressure Hurts faced wasn’t all on the quarterback, just as it wasn’t all on the O-line. But there were multiple breakdowns up front, especially vs. left guard Landon Dickerson. He looked like a turnstile at times. Was Dickerson solely at fault? Of course not. But the oft-injured guard who’s as tough as they come appeared slower than even a year ago when he returned too early after knee surgery.
It was downright ugly in the third quarter when Dickerson got toasted on back-to-back rushes, one of which led to a holding penalty. Earlier, the Commanders’ Javon Kinlaw beat the guard for a run tackle for loss in the first quarter. Dickerson was late to help on a third-down stunt in which Hurts was hurried in the second quarter.
Center Cam Jurgens struggled, as well, particularly in the first quarter. He had a holding penalty when Barkley was nearly dropped in the backfield and then another when it was all on him after he grabbed defensive tackle Shy Tuttle. Right guard Tyler Steen had a tough time getting to the perimeter on a pull block, but he seemed to hold up much more than the other two interior O-linemen.
Tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata were far less at fault in the run blocking. But the O-line unit failed to work as a cohesive unit and everyone was affected. Mailata did turn linebacker Frankie Luvu around on a Barkley 5-yard tote in the first quarter. Johnson and Mailata were much better in pass protection, particularly in one-on-one situations.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts after winning the season opening game against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts celebrates a touchdown with Keyshawn James-Newby (center) and offensive tackle Lane Johnson during the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo celebrates a two-point conversion stop late during the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles stop the two point conversion attempt during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert celebrates his fourth quarter touchdown at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles tight end Dallas Goedert scores a fourth quarter touchdown past Commanders cornerback Darius Rush during the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert runs for a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles tight end Dallas Goedert catches the football for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts first down run during the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerWashington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs hugs the goalpost after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. Unsportsmanlike penalty was called pushing the Commanders back.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerWashington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs scores in the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith catches the ball for a big first down during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts gains fourteen yards on a run in the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerEagles place kicker Jake Elliott kicks a third quarter field goad during the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles cornerback Cooper DeJean stops Commanders wide receiver Jaylin Lane during the third quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith catches the ball against Commanders cornerback Darius Rush during the third quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts sacked in the third quarter by Washington Commanders linebacker Odafe Oweh at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts scrambles on a third down during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles head coach Nick Sirianni racts during the third quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is sacked by Washington Commanders linebacker Sonny Styles in the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts passes to tight end Dallas Goedert late during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter celebrates a blocked extra point late during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts hands off to Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert congratulates Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks after a second quarter touchdown at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni congratulates Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks after his second quarter touchdown at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith tries to block Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo goes after Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks celebrates a touchdown with Darius Cooper (left) and DeVonta Smith (right) during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles linebacker Zack Baun celebrates after breaking up a pass intended for Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun stops Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt for a loss, Washington punts on the drive, at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley with a big run in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun sandwich Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerEagles running back Saquon Barkley gains 42 yards during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert celebrates second quarter touchdown with Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert spikes the ball after a touchdown in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles tight end Dallas Goedert catches a touchdown against Commanders safety Quan Martin during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.nYong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles fans cheer in the first quarter of the season opener against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts reacts during the first quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles wide receiver Makai Lemon catches the ball against Commanders cornerback Amik Robertson during the first quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is sacked by Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu in the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley misses a pass in the first quarter, defended by Washington Commanders linebacker Sonny Styles, at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts during a moment of silence before the start of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley runs out of the tunnel at the season opener against the Washington Commanders in Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts runs out of the tunnel during player introductions before the season opening game against the Washington Commanders in Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerGreg Gorski, of Elkins Park, poses for a portrait while tailgating before the Eagles play the Commanders in Philadelphia on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Defensive line: B+
The sacks weren’t in the stat sheet, but the Eagles’ front pressured Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels throughout the game. They should have against a suspect offensive line. Nevertheless, defensive tackle Jalen Carter pushed the pocket on many occasions. He had a third-down pressure that forced Daniels outside and unable to complete a pass downfield in the second quarter. Carter was too aggressive on a Jacory Croskey-Merritt 9-yard rush up the middle.
Jordan Davis was superb as a run defender and finished with eight tackles. Moro Ojomo made the game-sealing play when he wasn’t fooled by Washington’s shovel pass on their two-point try to tie the game.
With Jonathan Greenard (pectoral) still not cleared to return, Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith shouldered most of the load on the edges. They didn’t get to Daniels, and lost him at times when he scrambled, but they kept him from escaping when it mattered the most.
Zack Baun celebrates after breaking up a pass intended for Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs during the second quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Linebacker: A-
Zack Baun was the defensive player of the game. He was all over the field. Baun was a beast on back-to-back plays in the second quarter, breaking up a pass over the middle and notching a tackle for loss on a screen pass. Earlier, Baun lowered his head to stuff Rachaad White on third-and-1 in the first quarter. Carter chipped in for the stop. He nearly had a downfield interception before the half, but was out of bounds. He led the Eagles with 12 tackles.
To open the second half, Baun made an open-field stop on third down. Jihaad Campbell was the first to meet running back White when he was stopped on a third-down run on Washington’s first possession. Croskey-Merritt ran through his arm-tackle attempt on a 9-yard run. He got beat by tight end Chig Okonkwo’s 15-yard catch in the third quarter.
Cornerback: B
Cooper DeJean had a rough outing in the slot with outside corners Quinyon Mitchell and Riq Woolen having the boundary sides on relative lockdown.
DeJean appeared to get dinged late in the first half after he allowed a catch over the middle. He got up and winced, but stayed in. Daniels was wise to go back at the slot corner and connected with rookie receiver Antonio Williams on in-breaking routes to the 1-yard line. Washington scored a touchdown on the next play.
Earlier, DeJean got turned around on a third-and-10 conversion. He committed an illegal-contact penalty in the third quarter. His blitz in the third quarter forced Daniels into an incompletion. And he made a tackle short of the sticks later in the quarter.
Mitchell made a stop on a short pass in the second quarter, while Woolen nearly got his hands on multiple balls in the first half.
Eagles safety Marcus Epps (right) makes a run stop in the first quarter.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Safety: B
The Eagles had some leaky moments in the middle of the field as Daniels was forced to throw between the numbers. But Andrew Mukuba, Marcus Epps and DeJean more than acquitted themselves. Mukuba might have been a touch late to help Campbell on Okonkwo’s 15-yarder.Epps came up from deep to make a run stop near the line in the first quarter. Epps left briefly with a shoulder injury, but returned in the second quarter.
There was no deep-middle help on Williams’ 33-yard grab in the fourth quarter.
Special teams: B+
Punter Braden Mann was fantastic. He averaged 51.6 yards on seven punts and dropped four inside the Washington 20. Mann pinned Washington deep at the 6-yard line on his first punt. Just before the half, Mann spun a six-iron down at the 2-yard line.
Kicker Jake Elliott split the upright all three of his kicks — a 35-yard field goal and two extra points.
Carter blocked the extra point after the Commanders’ first touchdown. Darius Cooper had some impressive moments as a gunner.
Britain Covey averaged 9.3 yards on four punt returns. Bigsby and Shipley averaged 25 yards on three returns combined.
Nick Sirianni moved to 6-0 in regular season openers with Sunday’s win.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Coaching: B
Coach Nick Sirianni moved to 6-0 in openers. He found a way to get it done despite some offensive sloppiness and late defensive letdowns. Still, Sirianni just knows how to win.
New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion will need time as a first-time play-caller. He had some rough calls, particularly in forcing the issue to Lemon. There were too many run calls that resulted in losses. The Eagles also didn’t look quite prepared for Washington’s simulated pressures.
Mannion had some solid calls in the first half, though, in which multiple receivers were open. He dialed up the Hurts-to-Wicks 64-yard bomb out of “13″ personnel and off play-action. Goedert was also wide-open underneath. Mannion’s four-verticals call that led to Goedert’s 17-yard score was also timely vs. Cover 2. Was he throwing shade as his predecessor with the call? Probably not, but it was ironic justice after last season’s fateful end. Earlier on the drive, tempo helped spring Barkley on the 42-yard inside zone run.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio got his players to mostly dominate. They had some rough turns, but they were also on the field far too much in the third quarter because of the offensive inefficiency. Fangio had a rough call when Campbell got matched up against a receiver downfield and the Commanders converted third-and-14 in the fourth quarter. Ultimately, his guys got the job done.
Sirianni defends Makai Lemon for doing the ‘little things’
Eagles rookie receiver Makai Lemon caught three passes in his first regular season game — for a total of -5 yards.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Things went from bad to worse for rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon on Sunday.
Let’s recap his summer: He was injured for most of training camp and he recorded just 3 yards on three catches (plus a drop that led to an interception) in his lone preseason appearance.
His Week 1 stat line was even uglier: He caught 3-of-4 targets for minus-5 yards.
“There’s a lot of things that Makai did in that game that don’t reflect on the stat sheet,” Sirianni said. “We constantly talk about that: What are you doing to help this team win the game, particularly if you’re a skill guy?
“That might not be able to be seen from the stat book or to the naked eye. What he’s always done a good job since he’s been here [is] blocking, doing the right things, being in the right spots. Obviously the ones that went to him yesterday didn’t equal out to a big yardage game, right? But he did little things to help us win the football game that sometimes are unseen.”
Sirianni went on to say that he still “trusts” Lemon, whom the Eagles took with the No. 20 pick in the first round of April’s draft. They traded up with the rival Cowboys in order to pick him and they’re confident his production will translate to the NFL.
Wide receiver Hollywood Brown didn’t play in the Eagles’ Week 1 win.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
The Eagles appear to have found their No. 2 wide receiver in Dontayvion Wicks, who proved to be a threat both deep down the field and in the red zone during the team’s 24-22 Week 1 win over the Commanders.
But outside of the Eagles’ top three pass catchers — DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, and Wicks — the rest of the team combined for five catches for a whopping zero yards, including -5 yards on three catches from rookie first-round pick Makai Lemon, who was the only other wideout to catch a pass on Sunday.
That led to some questions for Nick Sirianni at his day-after press conference about the team’s receivers, like offseason acquisition Hollywood Brown, who didn’t see the field against Washington.
“We have our rotations that we’re doing. Hollywood could obviously help us. We obviously want to get him into the football game because his speed is real. It just didn’t work out that way yesterday,” Sirianni told reporters on Monday. “There are games like that. There are games where you get shut out on catches. Unfortunately, there are games they get shut out on reps. But we know that Hollywood can help us win football games, and his speed is real, and, quite frankly, just from my end, we want to get him into the football game.
“We’ll make a better effort to do that next time, because I know the playmaking ability that he can bring with his speed. But I was pleased with how the wideouts played as a whole.”
Wicks showed off playmaking ability, hauling in a career-long 64-yard reception. Goedert and Smith also added plays of more than 30 yards, including Goedert’s 43-yard touchdown catch. But Brown, who didn’t have a standout camp after signing a $6.5 million deal this offseason, will have to wait at least another week before his first snap as an Eagle.
Landon Dickerson (right), lined up alongside center Cam Jurgens during Sunday’s game.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Landon Dickerson struggled during Sunday’s win, with the Inquirer’s Jeff McLane noting the oft-injured left guard “looked like a turnstile at times” and “appeared slower than even a year ago.”
So does Nick Sirianni think Dickerson is physically capable of performing at a high level?
“I think what you see with with Landon is his extreme power,” Sirianni told reporters Monday afternoon. “He’s a big man who is able to move guys off the spot.”
Sirianni noted the blocking issues that plagued the offensive line Sunday, but said they were on everyone and highlighted a few of Dickerson’s strong plays, including helping move defenders on Saquon Barkley’s 42-yard run in the second quarter.
“We’ve won a ton of games with Landon, and there’s a lot of good things he can do,” Sirianni said. “Just like every other player on our team… there are good moments, and there are moments we’ve got to fix.”
The issue with Landon Dickerson, as I’ve stated since the #Eagles decided they were going with a new scheme, was that the wide zone blocking didn’t play to his strengths, on top of the fact that he’s had so many injuries and admirably played through them.
Ex-Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz led the Vikings to a comeback win against the Packers.Abbie Parr
Carson Wentz embraced his Ginger Jesus nickname when he was drafted in 2016 to save the Eagles franchise.
Now a journeyman backup, Wentz relieved concussed Kyler Murray in the first quarter Sunday and led the Vikings to 29 straight points in a comeback win over the rival Packers. We might be witnessing a resurrection.
Wentz threw three touchdown passes with no interceptions or fumbles, completed 12 of 19 passes for 133 yards, including a gorgeous, 39-yard TD dime to Justin Jefferson.
JUSTIN FREAKING JEFFERSON‼️
What a pass by Carson Wentz and what an AMAZING catch by JJ as the Vikings get the TD!pic.twitter.com/ITahechqYe
Wentz finished with a 123.5 passer rating, the eighth-best rating in his 104 regular-season games.
Wentz played the first 68 of those games for the Eagles, who drafted him No. 2 overall in 2016 and immediately named him the starter. Wentz’s turbulent tenure ended after 2020, when his displeasure with the drafting of Jalen Hurts in the second round and his anger at being replaced by Hurts late in the season led him to force a trade to Indianapolis. He then played for five teams in the next five years. This is his second season with the Vikings, though he had to win the No. 2 job in a preseason battle with Vikings first-round bust J.J. McCarthy.
Was this Wentz’s best performance since he led the Colts to a win over the Jets on Nov. 4, 2021?
Can I get an “Amen”?
Carson Wentz is the first reserve to throw 3 pass TD and 0 INT in a season-opening win since Fran Tarkenton on Sept. 17, 1961 🏈
That just so happened to be the first game in Vikings history and Tarkenton's first career game 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Wg5EBhbM1d
‘He played elite’: Nick Foles, LeSean McCoy praise Jalen Hurts’ performance
Jalen Hurts threw three touchdowns in Sunday’s win.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
The Eagles managed to escape Week 1 with a 24-22 win over the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field. Following the game, most of the dialogue has been centered around Jalen Hurts’ performance.
The veteran quarterback got it done through the air and on the ground, completing 14 of 25 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns. On his legs, he scrambled for 48 yards. His performance earned himself high praise from former Eagles quarterback and Super Bowl champion Nick Foles.
“How [Hurts] played today, he played elite,” Foles said on The SZN with Nick & Evan. “You’re going to miss throws. You’re going to not be perfect. But I saw him deliver the ball downfield with authority… All his touchdowns were on time and rhythm. He had great throws across the middle.”
“[If he] isn’t out there, you’re not winning that game. He willed them the win,” Foles added. “Defense played great, made some great plays… But Jalen Hurts is a great quarterback and he’s approaching that elite category.”
Nick Foles grades Jalen Hurts' Week 1 performance against the Commanders 🧐
Foles wasn’t the only former Eagles player praising the quarterback for his performance.
“Are we impressed?” said former Eagles running back LeSean McCoy on The Speakeasy podcast. “All you heard all year was ‘Jalen Hurts, he’s fighting for a new deal, what he going to do without A.J. [Brown]?’ Well, my friend. He looked good to me.”
“When we couldn’t move the ball, he found ways to get it done with his arm and his legs,” McCoy added. “That’s a true testament to a real champion, a real winner, and a real QB1.”
.@CutonDime25: "What's Jalen Hurts gonna do without AJ? WELL!!!! He looked good to me!"
Shady McCoy HYPE about his quarterback's performance in the Eagles' 24-22 win over the Commanders
Cooper DeJean’s first game in new role ‘wasn’t good enough’
Stefon Diggs grabs Cooper DeJean’s face mask during the fourth quarter.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Cooper DeJean was targeted eight times and allowed six receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown, according to Next Gen Stats.
It was one of the worst games of his young NFL career.
“It wasn’t good enough, obviously,” DeJean said after the Eagles escaped their season opener with a 24-22 win over Washington. “I just got to be better. It’s that simple.”
DeJean has a new role with the Eagles this season. He’s moving back to safety in the rarely used base defense and playing nickel in the rest of the defensive packages. The Eagles were in base on just 13 of their 70 defensive snaps (18.6%).
All eight of DeJean’s targets came when he was lined up at nickel.
“I feel like I’ve played nickel long enough that I can understand the difference between that,” he said. “I just got to clean it up, my footwork, things like that, top of routes, and trusting the preparation to what we’ve seen on tape and being able to apply it out there.”
“They were fine,” Orlovsky said on ESPN’s Get Up Monday. “A lot of splash, not much substance, not much that is sustainable.”
While most media pundits praised Hurts’ performance, Orlovsky thought the passing attack was a bit “too horizontal” and suffered from the same inconsistency that plagued the Birds’ offense last season.
A.J. Brown will miss the next four weeks after suffering a high ankle sprain.Stephen Brashear
In his first game without A.J. Brown since becoming the undisputed starter, Hurts threw for 1.5 more yards than he averaged last season, threw for twice as many touchdowns as he averaged last season, and had a passer rating about 24 points higher than he had last season. Maybe he won’t miss A.J. as much as we thought.
Brown spent the last two seasons complaining about Hurts’ performance. His antics forced a trade to the Patriots on June 1.
Be careful what you wish for.
In his New England debut Wednesday, Brown caught just three passes for 26 yards. His new quarterback, Drake Maye, threw three interceptions. The Pats lost, 13-10, in Seattle. Maye also underthrew Brown on a sure touchdown route.
Yikes: Drake Maye completely underthrows a wide-open AJ Brown, which would've been an easy touchdown.
AJ bails Maye out by drawing the pass interference.
Brown then suffered a high ankle sprain in the third quarter, left the game, and did not return. The Patriots placed him on injured reserve Friday, which will sideline him for at least four weeks, but reports Sunday said Brown, 29, will miss at least six weeks.
How much would Makai Lemon be on the field? That answer was partially revealed 90 minutes before kickoff when the Eagles made Elijah Moore, another slot receiver, a healthy scratch. The rookie who missed a lot of camp time with a hamstring injury played 35 of the 55 snaps (64%). His debut wasn’t one to remember. Lemon, playing almost exclusively in the slot, caught three passes on four targets for minus-5 yards.
The Eagles used multiple tight ends on many of their offensive plays. Johnny Mundt played 20 snaps (36%), and the Eagles even went to 13 personnel on one play with EJ Jenkins on the field for his lone snap. That play was the play action deep ball to Dontayvion Wicks. Dallas Goedert, meanwhile, played 52 of the 55 snaps (95%).
Tank Bigsby may be the No. 2 running back, but he had fewer offensive snaps (6) than Will Shipley (10).
The interior trio of Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo played a ton. Vic Fangio said there may be more of a rotation along the line given it was the first game and a ramp-up period may be needed. But Carter (94%) was a workhorse while Ojomo (69%) and Davis (49%) also played big roles. The fourth man on the totem pole, Byron Young, played just six snaps (9%) while Ty Robinson did not play on defense at all (he had eight special teams snaps).
Without Jonathan Greenard, the edge rushing snap counts looked like this: Jalyx Hunt 53 (76%); Nolan Smith 47 (67%); Arnold Ebiketie 28 (40%); A.J. Epenesa 12 (17%).
Five defenders played all 70 snaps: Cooper DeJean; Riq Woolen; Quinyon Mitchell; Zack Baun; and Andrew Mukuba.
Malala Yousafzai, seen here visiting an Ethiopian classroom.Malin Fezehai
“Go Birds!”
That was Malala Yousafzai’s response on social media after watching the Eagles defeat the Washington Commanders Sunday.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner was at the Linc watching the game a little less than a year after expressing her interest in the Birds and “American football” during an interview with The Inquirer.
Yousafzai shared images from the game on Instagram, which included sporting an Eagles hat and a personalized Birds jersey.
Yousafzai and her husband, Asser Malik, were invited to attend the game by Eagles leadership, according to a team spokesperson. Malik was once an executive with the Multan Sultans, a professional cricket team in Pakistan, and it doesn’t hurt that the team’s primary color is also green.
Her interest in the Eagles began to grow after appearing on Kylie Kelce’s podcast. In April, Yousafzai was in town to receive WHYY’s Lifelong Learning Award and speak with Terry Gross, where she also gave a Birds shoutout.
She also shared an image of herself wearing an Eagles T-shirt on Instagram in December.
Malala Yousafzai wears an Eagles t-shirt in an Instagram post about her travels.Instagram
Yousafzai is the youngest Nobel Prize laureate in history. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017 at age 17 after being shot in the head by Taliban militants trying to silence her advocacy for girls’ education.
Eagles stats: Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts join some elite company
Jalen Hurts became just the third quarterback since 1950 to win their first six starts in season openers.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
There were some telling numbers and a few interesting stats to emerge from the Eagles’ 24-22 season-opening win over the Washington Commanders.
Some good, some bad.
Let’s start with the good …
The Eagles improved to 6-0 in season openers under Nick Sirianni and are the only team to be perfect in Week 1 games since 2021.
It’s the first time in Eagles history they have won six consecutive openers.
Sirianni, according to Elias Sports, became the fifth coach in NFL history to win the first six season-opening games of his career. The other four are Potsy Clark (7, 1931-37); George Allen (11, 1966-76); Mike Shanahan (6, 1988-89 and ‘95-98); and Jim Harbaugh (6, 2011-14 and ‘24-25).
That timeline, of course, also lines up with Jalen Hurts, who, according to Elias, became the third quarterback since 1950 to win their first six starts in season openers, joining Roger Staubach (9) and Johnny Unitas (6).
With two touchdowns Sunday, Dallas Goedert now has four games with multiple receiving TDs since the start of the 2025 season, tying Davante Adams and Amon-Ra St. Brown for the most in the NFL during that span, according to post-game notes distributed by the Eagles.
Zack Baun was as good as he looked to the naked eye. According to Next Gen Stats, Baun was targeted six times and allowed just three catches for minus-2 yards. Since 2025, Baun is one of only two players — the other being Denzel Ward — to be targeted five or more times and allow a negative yard total in a game.
The Eagles held Washington to 295 total yards. According to Next Gen, it was the 19th game the Eagles held their opponent under 300 yards since they hired Vic Fangio in 2024. Only the Seahawks (21) have done it more.
According to Next Gen, the Eagles pressured Jayden Daniels on 19 of his 38 dropbacks. He went just 3-of-15 for 26 yards on those plays, but converted a touchdown.
Now to some of the bad …
The Eagles’ offensive line struggled, but no one had a worse day than Landon Dickerson, who Pro Football Focus credited for four pressures allowed on 35 pass blocking snaps.
All five starting linemen allowed at least one pressure. Lane Johnson (2) was the only one besides Dickerson to surrender more than one.
Cooper DeJean’s first game as a roving defensive back playing both nickel and safety did not go well. DeJean was targeted eight times, according to Next Gen, and allowed six catches for 75 yards and a touchdown. The six catches allowed were one shy of a career-high (Week 11 in 2024 vs. Washington).
Makai Lemon’s NFL debut was quiet. The first-round pick caught three passes on four targets for minus-5 yards.
Saquon Barkley rushed for 83 yards, but if you remove his one 42-yard burst, the rest of his 14 carries went for just 41 yards (2.9 per carry).
Have the Eagles found their replacement for A.J. Brown?
Dontayvion Wicks was the clear WR2 in Sunday’s win. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
The Eagles offense was looking for a spark.
After logging just two total yards in the first two series of the Sean Mannion era, they needed someone — anyone — to step up in a crucial Week 1 divisional game vs. the Commanders.
Thankfully for them, their most underrated offseason acquisition answered the call. Twice.
With 1 minute, 57 seconds to go in the first quarter, wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks hauled in a 64-yard pass from Jalen Hurts in what would become the Eagles’ first touchdown drive of the season (Wicks was tackled at the 6-yard line, but tight end Dallas Goedert scored three plays later). Wicks came down with the ball — which traveled 40-plus yards through the air — after he darted past Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil in coverage. It was the longest catch of his career.
One quarter later, Wicks worked his magic again.
Again with Sainristil in coverage, Wicks motioned left before shimmying past the Commanders cornerback to break free and secure a 9-yard touchdown that put the Birds up 14-3. His final stat line in the 24-22 victory? Two catches on four targets for 73 yards and one touchdown. He only eclipsed 70 yards one time last season with the Packers.
Wicks, 25, was the clear WR2 in the game. He finished with 50 snaps according to Pro Football Focus, trailing only DeVonta Smith (52). This is a welcome change for a player that was buried deep in the Packers’ receiver room last season (he never played more than 54% of the offensive snaps in a single season).
“In Green Bay, we had so many guys. Over here, I’m able to get those looks,” Wicks said. “Over there, I ain’t really had [opportunities].”
Punter Braden Mann was a game changer Sunday.Heather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
The Eagles’ under-the-radar weapon was Braden Mann, the 28-year-old punter who signed a four-year contract extension this offseason.
He averaged 51.6 yards per punt, with his longest coming on a 64-yarder. Mann helped pin the Commanders inside their own 10-yard line twice — once at their 6 in the first quarter, and later at their 2 in the second.
Elsewhere on special teams, Jalen Carter picked up where he left off last year on the field goal block unit. After Croskey-Merritt’s touchdown run in the second quarter, Carter blocked the extra point attempt. He now has four blocked kicks (two field goals, two extra points) in his career.
The Commanders’ kicking woes continued halfway through the third quarter, when Stevens missed a 54-yard field goal attempt.
Giants running back Devin Singletary celebrates a touchdown against the Cowboys Sunday night.Yuki Iwamura
Several months before coaching his first game for the New York Giants, John Harbaugh told fans he wanted to build a team that could beat the Dallas Cowboys.
It took one game to accomplish that feat.
Jaxson Dart connected with Isaiah Likely for two touchdowns and Devin Singletary on another, Cam Skattebo ran for one in his first game back from injury and the Giants opened the season by rolling over Dallas 28-20 on Sunday night in Harbaugh’s New York debut. It’s just one victory, but it was a promising start of a new era.
Dart made one smart throw after another, mixing in a series of well-timed runs to keep the defense off balance. He finished 23 of 29 for 230 yards passing, plus 54 rushing, including a couple of slides and a dive to avoid the unnecessary hits that punctuated his rookie year.
Back on the field more than 10 months since breaking his right fibula and dislocating his right ankle in gruesome fashion, Skattebo rumbled for 81 yards on 18 carries. After getting in hot water for doing a backflip earlier this summer, Skattebo brought back his signature celebration after running into the end zone untouched for the Giants’ first points of the season.
Dak Prescott threw a costly interception just before halftime but otherwise played well for Dallas, completing 22 of 34 passes for 175 yards and TD tosses to CeeDee Lamb and Javonte Williams, who also ran for a touchdown. Dallas benefitted from a series of defensive pass interference calls that extended drives.
The Cowboys hurt themselves with penalties — eight of them for 85 yards, not counting an early intentional delay of game. That included a taunting call on Williams after he scored that contributed to Brandon Aubrey missing the ensuing extra point from farther out and a face-masking flag on Donovan Ezeiruaku just before the two-minute warning.
Their defense also did not look as improved on defense as they had hoped, at least in Week 1. After allowing the most points in the NFL last season at 30.1 a game, this was not far off, despite a new coordinator and some additional talent.
“Overall as a football team, we were pretty poor,” Schottenheimer said. “That’s certainly not our standard. We certainly didn’t come out of the gate fast enough on either side of the ball. This is a humbling business, and we got humbled.”
— Associated Press
// Timestamp 09/14/26 7:28am
Wild stat from Cowboys loss to the Giants
Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense struggled to get onto the field.Yuki Iwamura
One wild stat from the Cowboys loss to the New York Giants Sunday night — Dallas had just two drives in the entire second half.
The Cowboys had just seven possessions all night, including one with just 20 seconds remaining in the first half.
Dak Prescott threw a late touchdown pass to Javonte Williams with more than five minutes left to narrow the Giants lead to 8 points, but New York managed to run out the clock and prevent a potential Cowboys comeback.
Eagles grades: Landon Dickerson looked like a turnstile
Jalen Hurts was under pressure during Sunday’s win.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
The pressure Jalen Hurts faced wasn’t all on the quarterback, just as it wasn’t all on the O-line. But there were multiple breakdowns up front, especially vs. left guard Landon Dickerson. He looked like a turnstile at times. Was Dickerson solely at fault? Of course not. But the oft-injured guard who’s as tough as they come appeared slower than even a year ago when he returned too early after knee surgery.
It was downright ugly in the third quarter when Dickerson got toasted on back-to-back rushes, one of which led to a holding penalty. Earlier, the Commanders’ Javon Kinlaw beat the guard for a run tackle for loss in the first quarter. Dickerson was late to help on a third-down stunt in which Hurts was hurried in the second quarter.
Center Cam Jurgens struggled, as well, particularly in the first quarter. He had a holding penalty when Barkley was nearly dropped in the backfield and then another when it was all on him after he grabbed defensive tackle Shy Tuttle. Right guard Tyler Steen had a tough time getting to the perimeter on a pull block, but he seemed to hold up much more than the other two interior O-linemen.
Tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata were far less at fault in the run blocking. But the O-line unit failed to work as a cohesive unit and everyone was affected. Mailata did turn linebacker Frankie Luvu around on a Barkley 5-yard tote in the first quarter. Johnson and Mailata were much better in pass protection, particularly in one-on-one situations.
Eagles face the Titans in Week 2, who got manhandled by the Jets
The Eagles face Cam Ward and the Tennessee Titans in Week 2George Walker IV
The Eagles (1-0) will head south to face the Tennessee Titans (0-1) in Week 2 Sunday (1 p.m., Fox).
Calling the game will be Adam Amin and Hall of Famer Drew Brees, in his second season with Fox after replacing former Eagles quarterback Mark Sanchez following his alleged drunken assault.
Fans in Nashville sounded like Birds fans Sunday, raining down loud boos on quarterback Cam Ward and a Titans offense that only gained 195 total yards (and 65 of those were during a garbage-time touchdown drive).
The uninspiring performance was surprising, especially considering new head coach Robert Saleh spent four years as the Jets’ head coach before being fired in 2024.
The last time the Eagles faced the Titans was 2022, a one-sided Birds win in which Jalen Hurts threw three touchdowns and completed nearly 75% of his passes. The Eagles are 8-5 against the Titans dating back to 1972, when they were still the Houston Oilers.
Cooper DeJean had a tough night Sunday.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Fortunately, the Eagles came of our their narrow Week 1 victory against the Washington Commanders unscathed. Just a few players appeared to get banged up a bit during the season opener:
Marcus Epps, safety: Epps left the game in the first quarter after banging up his shoulder. Despite being listed a questionable, Epps returned to the field in the second quarter and finished the game.
Cooper DeJean, cornerback: While DeJean never left the game, the Inquirer’s Jeff McLane noted he “came up slow and was wincing” after allowing a catch in the first half and had a “rough outing” Sunday night.
A.J. Epensea, linebacker: Epenesa was spotted in the medical tent during the first half, where he had his left arm wrapped, according to The Athletic.
Photos from Eagles’ season-opening win against the Commanders
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts after winning the season opening game against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts celebrates a touchdown with Keyshawn James-Newby (center) and offensive tackle Lane Johnson during the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo celebrates a two-point conversion stop late during the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles stop the two point conversion attempt during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert celebrates his fourth quarter touchdown at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles tight end Dallas Goedert scores a fourth quarter touchdown past Commanders cornerback Darius Rush during the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert runs for a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles tight end Dallas Goedert catches the football for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts first down run during the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerWashington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs hugs the goalpost after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. Unsportsmanlike penalty was called pushing the Commanders back.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerWashington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs scores in the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith catches the ball for a big first down during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts gains fourteen yards on a run in the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerEagles place kicker Jake Elliott kicks a third quarter field goad during the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles cornerback Cooper DeJean stops Commanders wide receiver Jaylin Lane during the third quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith catches the ball against Commanders cornerback Darius Rush during the third quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts sacked in the third quarter by Washington Commanders linebacker Odafe Oweh at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts scrambles on a third down during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles head coach Nick Sirianni racts during the third quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is sacked by Washington Commanders linebacker Sonny Styles in the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts passes to tight end Dallas Goedert late during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter celebrates a blocked extra point late during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts hands off to Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert congratulates Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks after a second quarter touchdown at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni congratulates Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks after his second quarter touchdown at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith tries to block Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo goes after Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks celebrates a touchdown with Darius Cooper (left) and DeVonta Smith (right) during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles linebacker Zack Baun celebrates after breaking up a pass intended for Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun stops Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt for a loss, Washington punts on the drive, at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley with a big run in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun sandwich Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerEagles running back Saquon Barkley gains 42 yards during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert celebrates second quarter touchdown with Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert spikes the ball after a touchdown in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles tight end Dallas Goedert catches a touchdown against Commanders safety Quan Martin during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.nYong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles fans cheer in the first quarter of the season opener against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts reacts during the first quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles wide receiver Makai Lemon catches the ball against Commanders cornerback Amik Robertson during the first quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is sacked by Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu in the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley misses a pass in the first quarter, defended by Washington Commanders linebacker Sonny Styles, at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts during a moment of silence before the start of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley runs out of the tunnel at the season opener against the Washington Commanders in Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts runs out of the tunnel during player introductions before the season opening game against the Washington Commanders in Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerGreg Gorski, of Elkins Park, poses for a portrait while tailgating before the Eagles play the Commanders in Philadelphia on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Yet, if you look at the data, most Americans are united in their desire for change, and Congress — for all its faults and lack of follow-through — reliably puts forward bipartisan proposals.
That was the message at a recent discussion sponsored by the Garden State Immigration Policy Institute, which offered a glimmer of optimism amid the gloom.
But first, the challenges.
Even if Donald Trump were not in the White House, there are real obstacles to overcome, said Jennie Murray, president and CEO of the National Immigration Forum, a nonprofit immigration advocacy group.
“The reason why we haven’t been able to have bipartisan solutions at a grand scale yet is because I think we’re in a policy, a political, and a cultural disagreement,” she said.
On policy, finding the solution and building legislation to effect change is not an easy task, especially if, politically, the parties have used the issue to their advantage or to the detriment of their opponents. Culturally, Murray noted, for the last decade or so “we’ve had some really strong conversations about what it means to be American; who gets to come, who doesn’t get to come and join us.”
I’ll be much less diplomatic and say that the rise of Trump as a political figure, which infamously began with him accusing Mexican immigrants of bringing drugs and crime, has seen the president’s virulently anti-immigrant positions spread to some of his followers, making it hard to even discuss the positive impact of immigration.
But even under the current climate, polling consistently finds that fair, firm, and compassionate immigration solutions appeal to a majority of Americans, regardless of their political affiliation, Murray said.
This mirrors recent results by Commonsense American, a nonpartisan group dedicated to practical policy solutions, which found that cross-partisan supermajorities of survey respondents rejected blanket mass deportation and supported many individual immigration reform proposals.
These include legal status for immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, mandatory employer verification of immigration status, more worker visas, increased border security measures, and a pathway to legal status for long-term undocumented immigrants.
The group also asked participants to weigh in on how likely it would be for someone from the opposite political party to support a package of proposals that included lasting border security and enforcement, a modernized legal immigration system, and a path for undocumented immigrants to earn legal status.
“Republicans guessed it would be about 50% of Democrats, but it’s actually 86%,” said Keith Allred, founder and president of Commonsense American. “We similarly asked Democrats to guess what percentage of Republicans would support this proposal, and they guessed 45% when it’s actually 74%.”
That underlines that Americans are more divided in their perception of each other than in actual fact.
Another misperception is that Congress has given up on bipartisan immigration reform, said Theresa Cardinal Brown, who spent more than a decade working at the nonprofit Bipartisan Policy Center and is a distinguished immigration scholar at Cornell Law School.
Looking at the period of 2015 to 2024, across five Congresses, 309 bipartisan bills — defined as those having at least one Democratic and one Republican cosponsor — were introduced. Out of that total, 78% would have eased restrictions on legal immigration.
“Most bipartisan legislation runs toward legal expansion of legal pathways for immigration into the United States, and it’s worth noting again that workforce is the biggest area of bipartisan agreement,” she said.
So, if most Americans support immigration reform, and at least some in Congress believe in doing the work of legislating, why has meaningful change eluded the nation?
Immigration reform is not too big to fail, Cardinal Brown said. In many ways, it’s too big to succeed.
“Every part of the immigration system has proponents who really care about it, or it’s their one thing, and it has to be exactly right for them to support a bigger package if it’s in it,” she said. “But you can’t really govern if you have an ‘I win, you lose’ mentality. That’s not going to succeed in any way, and we’ve seen it from both parties.”
The Trump administration’s immigration policies are hurting the country. The full extent of that damage is yet to be seen, but repair efforts will have to go through Congress, and the perfect cannot be the enemy of the good.
Fortunately, the American people also have thoughts on what legislators should do when they eventually consider reform.
Democrats were asked by Commonsense American if their representatives should hold out to give more undocumented immigrants status; Republicans were asked if lawmakers should keep pushing for more enforcement and border security.
In both cases, the answer was clear: Don’t wait, take the deal.
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) has not appeared in the Senate since June as he recovers from a fall that his office said he suffered at his Washington home.
It’s unclear if he’ll be back in the chamber Monday as the Senate reconvenes after a five-week recess.
McConnell, 84, was hospitalized June 14 following a fall at home, according to his office. He later moved to a rehabilitation center, from which he was discharged Aug. 6 to continue his recovery at home.
Asked whether McConnell plans to return to the Capitol on Monday, David Popp, a McConnell spokesman, referred The Washington Post to McConnell’s statement last month in which he said he would “maintain an intensive regimen of physical therapy from home” during recess while continuing to work on Senate business.
McConnell led Senate Republicans for 18 years before stepping down last year to serve out the last two years of his term as a rank-and-file senator. His term is up Jan. 3. Rep. Andy Barr, who won the Republican Senate primary in Kentucky in May, is heavily favored in the race to succeed him.
McConnell has given no interviews and made no public appearances since his hospitalization. His office has shared two photos of him taken during his recovery, and he said in a statement in July that he did not break any bones when he fell and did not suffer a concussion, a heart attack, a stroke or a hemorrhage.
Those details have not quelled intense speculation about his health and when he will return to the Capitol. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, demanded in July that McConnell “provide proof of his capacity to serve, or resign.”
McConnell is not the first senator to be away from the Senate for months while ailing or in recovery.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) was absent for two months in 2023 while seeking treatment for depression. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) missed nearly three months of votes in the same year while battling shingles. She returned to the Senate but died months later. And Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) did not vote during his final eight months in office before his death in 2018.
Earlier this month, Rep. James Comer (R-Kentucky) told reporters that he expected McConnell to return when the Senate reconvened, based on conversations with McConnell’s staff. Comer said he had not spoken directly to McConnell about his plans.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) told KELO, a South Dakota TV station, earlier this month that he was hopeful that McConnell would return to the chamber soon.
“We’d love to get him back to where we can have him voting in the Senate, and I hope that will happen here in the not-too-distant future,” Thune said at the time.
