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Updates from Week 4
Quarterbacks
The Eagles came into the summer as one of the Super Bowl favorites, and the veteran-laden team meant few jobs were up for grabs. At quarterback, Jalen Hurts had an excellent camp where he focused on the minutiae of the position while also building rapport with new play-caller Brian Johnson. Marcus Mariota did nothing this summer to convince anyone he’s capable of keeping the team’s playoff push afloat if Hurts gets injured; the team is going to have to run a pared-down, run-heavy system if Mariota’s number is called. Rookie Tanner McKee was the talk of the preseason, as he summarily out-practiced and outplayed Mariota, albeit often against lesser competition. The Athletic’s Bo Wulf summarized Hurts’ preseason well, noting, “If his summer usage is any indication, that means he doesn’t plan on running any less than he did a year ago, when he set a modern NFL record for quarterbacks with 200 carries (many of them QB sneaks), including the playoffs. Beyond that, he has been sharper than ever as a passer, flashing the downfield accuracy that made the offense so dangerous and more pinpoint ball placement on intermediate throws.”
Running Backs
The only thing we know for certain is the quartet of D’Andre Swift, Kenneth Gainwell, Boston Scott, and Rashaad Penny are going to form some kind of committee this season. We’re going to have to wait until the Week 1 kickoff to gain further clarity on the distribution of snaps and which players play in given game scripts. The Athletic’s Zach Berman offered his thoughts on the puzzle: “Ask three different people, and you might have three different opinions about who will start at running back for the Eagles. The way to think about the question should focus less on who will start the first down of a game and who will play the most.” Head coach Nick Sirianni shared his thoughts recently and essentially confirmed it’s going to be a game-flow-based committee. “You’re just looking for different things that they can do,” Sirianni said. “You always adapt to what your players do well, but also, there are some things that you want to be able to run. You want to be like, ‘All right, who can do this job well and who can do this job well and who can do this job well?’ Sometimes it’s the same person throughout, and sometimes it’s by committee.”
Wide Receivers
A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are on a shortlist for the best receiving duos in the NFL. While most observers consider Brown the alpha, veteran cornerback Darius Slay believes Smith will be considered the NFL’s best receiver soon. “He got all the tools,” Slay said. “I told him, ‘You know, it ain’t going to be too much longer we’re going to be saying Smitty the best receiver in the league,’ for sure. It ain’t gonna be too much longer.” If there was one spot worthy of upgrading, it was the No. 3 role as Quez Watkins regressed in 2022 after a solid 2021 emergence. But free agent Olamide Zaccheaus hasn’t credibly pushed Watkins this preseason, meaning he should enter the year as the No. 4. The team doesn’t have a fifth receiver on the 90-man roster who projects as a must roster, although Britain Covey is probably the choice unless GM Howie Roseman brings a veteran in after other teams make their cuts.
Tight Ends
Beat writers have been calling for a career year for Dallas Goedert all summer, but that may be more wishful thinking than predictive analysis. He already has a featured role, and any statistical improvement must come from shifting target share from Brown and Smith. Given the volatility of touchdown scoring, Goedert could take another leap simply by the luck of the draw, but his overall target share and routes run are unlikely to increase. Jack Stoll and Grant Calcaterra round out the group.
Defense
Most beat writers expect the Eagles to keep six edge rushers: Haason Reddick, Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, Nolan Smith, and Patrick Johnson. Bo Wulf is the lone dissenter, arguing for Kyron Johnson to beat out Patrick Johnson because of his special teams’ value. On the interior, venerable Fletcher Cox leads a group that includes the Georgia Bulldog boys – Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, Milton Williams, Marlon Tuipulotu, and Moro Ojomo. The linebacking corps was a roller coaster this summer, and presumptive starter Nicholas Morrow may not even make the initial 53-man roster, although he could be re-signed quickly thereafter. Nakobe Dean, Zach Cunningham, and Christian Elliss are the only locks. Five cornerback spots are secure: Darius Slay, James Bradberry, Avonte Maddox, Josh Jobe, and Kelee Ringo. At safety, the top three appear to be Reed Blankenship, Sydney Brown, and Terrell Edmunds. The beat is divided on whether veteran K’Von Wallace or Justin Evans will be the fourth.
Returners
Britain Covey and Boston Scott will field punts and kickoffs, respectively, for the Eagles.
Updates from Week 3
Quarterbacks
Jalen Hurts didn’t play against the Browns in the preseason game, as expected. But he and his teammates spent two days leading up to the game in joint practices, the first time the starters faced off against other players all summer. Day One didn’t go as planned, particularly on the offensive line, where arguably the NFL’s best unit was unusually susceptible to the pass rush. The Athletic’s Zach Berman counted at least ten sacks against Hurts in team drills. Fortunately, the veteran-laden team bounced back on Day Two and regained their typically elite form. Hurts took the first day struggles in stride, saying, “I think you get yourself in a pickle when you go out there and play so well all the time, and the standard is so high because you play so well, and it doesn’t look like that for a couple days, or for a day. But when you play well and execute at a high level, that’s the expectation. That’s something that we all embrace.” In the game, Marcus Mariota started and struggled, furthering a narrative that has haunted him all summer. He's not playing well enough to instill confidence as the safety valve if Hurts get injured. Rookie Tanner McKee put on a show in the second half, completing 10-of-18 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown. The Athletic’s Bo Wulf makes the case for McKee to be the No. 2 but acknowledges it’s an unlikely outcome. “Let’s stipulate up front that the Philadelphia Eagles are probably not moving on from Marcus Mariota as their backup quarterback,” says Wulf. “To watch McKee and Mariota over the first two preseason games is to watch two players at the same position playing a different sport.”
Running Backs
Following the 18-18 tie against the Browns, the plans for the running back room are no clearer. Whereas Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott rested in the first game, D'Andre Swift was the healthy scratch this week. Gainwell started and played eight snaps, followed by Scott, who played just three snaps before giving way to Rashaad Penny. Trey Sermon’s night was volatile, as he had a 33-yard run and scored a touchdown, but he also lost a fumble. The Athletic’s Berman acknowledges Sermon is the No. 5 running back but wonders if the team decides to play “roster gymnastics” by cutting either Boston Scott or Rashaad Penny since they won’t be exposed to waivers and then adding them back. Either way, the team has more players it likes at the position than they can reasonably keep on the active roster.
Wide Receivers
A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Quez Watkins got the night off Thursday against Cleveland. Brown and Smith were healthy scratches, while Watkins missed the game with a hamstring injury. During joint practices, Brown caught multiple touchdowns in team drills, and Hurts echoed a familiar refrain, noting, “Just playing ball. I think that’s the connection that I’m sure the whole city wants to grow. … He’s a great player. He’s had a great camp. He showed up in a number of ways.” Smith had several highlights, too, including a back-and-forth in one-on-one drills against Browns’ Pro Bowler Denzel Ward. Watkins was well ahead of Olamide Zaccheaus a week ago for the No. 3 job and may still be. But Watkins’ hamstring woes have let Zaccheus close the gap. The veteran free agent hurt his shoulder against the Browns but returned to practice over the weekend, while Watkins continues missing time. As is often the case with end-of-roster training camp stars, the fairy tale doesn’t have a happy ending. Highlight reel practices and filling up the box score deep in the fourth quarter of preseason games culminate with a pink slip on roster cutdown day. Rookie free agent Joseph Ngata may be the latest hopeful to see his carriage turn back into a pumpkin. Philly Voice’s Jimmy Kempski notes, “Because the Eagles aren't very deep at outside receiver, there was opportunity for someone to shine and make the team as a sixth receiver, but I don't think we've seen that guy. It looked like Joseph Ngata might be that guy for a while, but he hasn't done much in the games.”
Tight Ends
Dallas Goedert had another excellent week of practices and didn’t play against the Browns like all the proven veteran starters. While admittedly biased, Philly Voice’s Kempski made a bold claim this week: “There isn't a better WR1-WR2-TE trio in the NFL than Brown, Smith, and Goedert, and it probably isn't close.” Voice’s Shamus Clancy echoed his co-worker’s sentiment: “Goedert would be putting up superstar numbers on about 30 other teams around the league. He just happens to play in an offense that features one of the league's elite wide receiver duos.”
Defense
Some of the depth chart decisions got a bit easier this week, although not in the way everyone hoped. This week, the Eagles waived two cornerbacks – Zech McPherson and Greedy Williams. Williams wasn’t going to make the roster after a disappointing training camp, but McPherson got cut with an injury settlement after tearing his Achilles tendon. And an already thin linebacking corps got thinner as veteran Myles Jack – who signed just two weeks ago – retired. Fortunately, none of these players were expected to be key contributors, but Super Bowl contenders need depth because regular-season attrition is inevitable. The team should still be fine at cornerback, with Darius Slay, James Bradberry, Josh Jobe, Kelee Ringo, and Avonte Maddox, who can play anywhere in the secondary. Safety Reed Blankenship has taken control of the defense this summer, but the other safety spot remains unsettled as Justin Evans got first-team snaps in recent practices, rotating in with Terrell Edmunds and Sydney Brown. At linebacker, where Nakobe Dean is a lock, Zach Cunningham is rotating with Christian Elliss. Fans’ excitement at seeing Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis on the field together didn’t go as planned. The mammoth duo couldn’t generate a push against the Browns’ offensive line, and Browns backup quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson was able to convert several third downs with a clean pocket. Dean’s night was a tale of two plays. He got an unnecessary roughness penalty that put the Browns on the 1-yard line but bounced back and forced a fumble two plays later to end the drive. The week’s biggest news may be that All-Pro Bradberry is spending time as the slot cornerback after spending the majority of 2022 on the outside.
Offensive Line
The Eagles' offensive line lost right guard Isaac Seumalo to Pittsburgh this offseason. There was supposed to be a competition between last year's second-round pick Cam Jurgens, and this year's third-round pick Tyler Steen. But Jurgens won this job handily, dominating team reps in camp. Although Steen couldn’t push Jurgens, he still profiles well as the backup swing tackle. With standout players at center (Jason Kelce) and right tackle (Lane Johnson), alongside left tackle Jordan Mailata and left guard Landon, the Eagles boast the top-ranked offensive line.
Updates from Week 2
Quarterbacks
It’s unsurprising that Jalen Hurts was named to the NFL 100, but his peers tabbed him as the 3rd-best player in the league, behind only Patrick Mahomes II (1st) and Justin Jefferson (2nd). Hurts is one of seven Eagles named to the annual list of the NFL’s best, as voted on by their league mates. There isn’t much to report on the field as Hurts started camp with precision and hasn’t wavered. No news is good news, as the offense that was a few plays short of a Super Bowl last season returns largely intact. A recent piece on ESPN speaks to Hurts’ drive, leadership, and maturity. New defensive coordinator Sean Desai shared a story about Hurts showing up in his office to sit down and discuss defensive schemes. "I'm like, ‘What's up? He just started asking questions. He's so sharp; he’s so bright. You see, now being a part of the organization, you understand why he's so special," Desai said. "The way his brain works, the types of questions that he asks, you could tell that he's just trying to elevate his game to the next level." With Hurts sitting out against the Ravens in the preseason opener, Marcus Mariota started and had an okay outing, completing 7 of 11 passes for 58 yards and running for 29 yards on four carries. Those aren't eye-popping numbers, but they're demonstrably better than what Mariota has done throughout camp. Rookie Tanner McKee had a wild day with the backups, completing just 50% of his passes (10 of 20) but throwing for 148 yards with three completions of 25+ yards.
Running Backs
With D’Andre Swift’s and Rashaad Penny’s offseason additions, it’s understandable why third-year incumbent Kenneth Gainwell was the forgotten man in many analysts’ minds. But as camp winds down and the preseason game slate begins, the tea leaves are pointing favorably toward Gainwell being the lead back. Two beat writers created a stir last week. WIP’s Eliot Shorr-Parks pointed out Gainwell’s lead market share in first-team drills. “Gainwell has the most touches among the RBs in camp by far -- 40 touches. He also has by far the most carries with the 1st-team offense with 21. Nobody else has more than 11. Gainwell also has 11 catches, which is 2nd most. He might be RB1.” PhillyVoice’s Shamus Clancy, independent of Shorr-Parks, offered a similar viewpoint. Unfortunately, the coaches aren’t shedding much light on the situation, and the team cheekily listed five players—Gainwell, Swift, Penny, Boston Scott, and Trey Sermon—as co-starters before the Ravens game. The game offered further clues, as Gainwell and Scott were given the night off, implying they are atop the depth chart. But it’s possible we’ll see a different usage pattern in subsequent games, so nothing is set in stone. The real conclusion is that Philadelphia plans to use a committee this year, with as many as four tailbacks touching the ball in any matchup. Swift played the first few snaps against the Ravens and flashed with a 22-yard run before giving way to Penny (34 yards on nine carries). Kennedy Brooks, the only tailback not listed as a “starter” before the game, lost a fumble and all but sealed his fate.
Wide Receivers
DeVonta Smith (100th) and A.J. Brown (22nd) were named to the NFL 100, joining Miami’s Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle as the only tandems to make the list. They’ve been electric throughout camp and are poised for another big year, health permitting. Quez Watkins and Olamide Zaccheus joined Brown and Smith on the sidelines against the Ravens, but Watkins was given an injury designation after pulling a hamstring earlier in the week. Tyrie Cleveland (64 snaps), Joseph Ngata (60 snaps), and Greg Ward (36 snaps) led the way against Baltimore, but it’s still unclear whether there are spots for any of them on the final roster. Camp favorite Ngata couldn’t follow up weeks of strong camp reports with a memorable in-game performance; he only caught one ball for 4 yards on three targets.
Tight Ends
Dallas Goedert sat against the Ravens. Bo Wulf and Zach Berman see a clear-cut pecking order at the position: “At tight end, the pecking order seemed to clearly be Jack Stoll, Grant Calcaterra, Tyree Jackson, Dan Arnold, Brady Russell.”
Defense
Jalen Carter hasn’t made many headlines in camp, which is probably good. But fans eager to see the physical marvel wreak havoc were rewarded with a glimpse against the Ravens. Per The Athletic: “It took one snap for Jalen Carter to show the tantalizing ability that made the first-round pick one of the best players in the draft. Carter entered the game on a third-and-10 on the Ravens’ opening drive. He swiped away Ravens guard Ben Cleveland (a former Georgia teammate who has five NFL starts) and accelerated toward the quarterback to force an incompletion.” Cornerback Josh Jobe may be the most surprising riser in camp. Most pundits projected him as a practice squad player in their initial 53-man roster projections, but he’s steadily moved up the pecking order and sits as the No. 3 outside corner behind veteran stars James Bradberry and Darius Slay. Although rookie Kelee Ringo’s long-term potential isn’t in question, Jobe likely keeps Ringo on the sidelines for the foreseeable future. Long-time beat writer Jimmy Kempski does an annual poll of fellow beat writers, asking them to vote for their camp risers and fallers. Linebacker Nicholas Morrow got 7 of 22 votes as he appears to have lost his starting job. Nakobe Dean – expected to step into a leadership role at middle linebacker – got four votes. The aforementioned Jobe was one of the risers (2 votes), but it was veteran safety Reed Blankenship (4 votes) who got the most recognition on the defensive side of the ball (offensive lineman Cam Jurgens led all vote-getters with 5 votes). The fact that Dean and Morrow both show up speaks to a bigger issue – the linebacking corps is a potential Achilles heel on an otherwise Super Bowl-caliber team. Dean is entrenched as a starter, but the team added two veteran free agents – Myles Jack and Zach Cunningham – last week and now they appear set for significant roles as Davion Taylor was released and Shaun Bradley suffered a torn Achilles.
Returners
Britain Covey, who overcame an injury last year, will likely continue handling punt returns while sharing kickoff return duties with veteran Boston Scott.
Updates from Week 1
Quarterbacks
Armed with a new 5-year, $255 million contract, Jalen Hurts enters training camp in a much different place this season. The face of the franchise is now expected to perform at an MVP level, which explains why the Eagles have two goals for Hurts this summer – stay healthy and show consistency. Head coach Sirianni elaborated, “You’re going to make splash plays in camp, you’re going to make plays you want back in camp … but I just see his consistency over and over again,” Sirianni said. “[Jalen has] made some big-time plays you’ve seen, but it’s really been his consistency. I think he’s operating at a really high level within the offense, just understanding why we do things and how we do things. He’s really like a coach on the field.” Unfortunately, the early returns on Marcus Mariota have been less encouraging. While it’s still early in his acclimation to the system, it’s clear the offense would need to be simplified and heavily focused on the ground game if Hurts goes down to injury. Long-time beat writer Jimmy Kempski projects rookie Tanner McKee will beat out Ian Book as the team’s No. 3.
Running Backs
The team bolstered the running back room in the offseason with the additions of Rashaad Penny and D’Andre Swift. Swift has been “used primarily in the passing game,” per ESPN’s Tim McManus, in early camp practices. In contrast, Rashaad Penny has received the majority of first-team reps as a runner. Utilizing Swift in the passing game would represent a sea change for the Eagles, as they threw to running backs less than any team in the league last season. Head coach Nick Sirianni was effusive in his praise for Swift’s versatility. “[Swift] has unique ability, which is part of the reason why we wanted him to be on this football team,” Sirianni said. “So, we really like some of the things that he can do out of the backfield as a runner and also as a receiver. He is showing that he has that ability of what we thought he had when he was in Detroit and then coming out of Georgia.” The coaches have even sung Trey Sermon’s praises, raising a question of whether he’s got a shot at displacing veteran Scott at the back end of the roster.
Wide Receivers
There’s not much intrigue, as A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are both stars in their primes and have picked up where they left off with strong camps. Brown is the more dominant physical presence, but Smith – a Heisman winner – showed last year that he can win against any defensive coverage despite his smaller stature. Early camp platitudes are best taken with a grain of salt, but notably, Coach Sirianni thinks Brown has somehow gotten better. “He’s a big man who’s really quick,” Sirianni said. “He just, man, it’s hard to say he’s getting quicker, but he is. He’s in and out of his breaks quicker, which helps you create more separation, which is going to help you get more yards after the catch, which is going to help the quarterback throw you the ball more. Quez Watkins told reporters he, too, is an “elite receiver” and plans on bouncing back in 2023. While it’s hard to take the elite label seriously, it’s fair to say Watkins’ hold on the No. 3 spot appears safe based on the first two weeks of camp. The final roster spots are still unclear, but if undrafted rookie Joseph Ngata sustains his early effort, he could make the final roster with special teamer Britain Covey.
Tight Ends
Dallas Goedert’s talent and work ethic are undisputed, but the relatively narrow target tree puts a ceiling on his upside unless DeVonta Smith or A.J. Brown is out for a prolonged period. But given the volatility of a given season, it’s possible Goedert could be the beneficiary of more red zone opportunities or big plays downfield at the expense of one of his teammates. Long-time Eagles beat writer Bo Wulf sees Goedert as an elite fantasy option. “If the question is which of the Eagles’ big three is most likely to surpass last year’s numbers, the answer has to be Goedert, who caught 55 passes for 702 yards in 12 games. His “breakout” has been predicted before, but if he stays relatively healthy, he’s a good bet to finish as a top-three tight end, and he’s sure to score more than last year’s three touchdowns.” As was the case last year, there’s a steep dropoff after Goedert, with Grant Calcaterra, Jack Stoll, Tyree Jackson, and Brady Russell all in the mix for spots.
Defense
The offense returns intact, with a few added weapons for good measure. The same cannot be said for the defense, which ranked 8th last year but is undergoing a massive overhaul, including new coordinator Sean Desai, who spent last season in Seattle. Wulf sums it up perfectly: “Gone from the Super Bowl roster are Javon Hargrave, Linval Joseph, both starting linebackers and both starting safeties. First-round rookie Jalen Carter is set to replace Hargrave, but that’s easier said than done. Nakobe Dean, who played sparingly as a rookie last season, is the top linebacker, with Nicholas Morrow and Christian Elliss battling it out for the other spot. Meanwhile, C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Marcus Epps gave way to a yet-to-be-determined combination of Reed Blankenship, ex-Steeler Terrell Edmunds, third-round rookie Sydney Brown and holdover K’Von Wallace (the odds are probably on Blankenship and Brown, eventually).”
