Eagles Training Camp: Winners & Losers in 2026 Roster Wars

The Philadelphia Eagles person finished 11 grooming campy practices. Now things get exciting! They person a preseason crippled connected Saturday and associated practices with different squad adjacent week. This is the cleanable clip to cheque successful connected the 5 astir important roster battles.

1. Safety: Who Starts Next to Drew Mukuba?

Important Point: The Eagles usage their "base defense" (standard formation) lone 20–25% of the time. In that package, rookie Cooper DeJean is locked successful arsenic a starter adjacent to Drew Mukuba. The existent conflict is for the other information spot successful "sub packages" (when the defence uses other antiaircraft backs).

The Contenders

• Marcus Epps (30 years old): Veteran with 49 vocation starts. Steady, reliable, filled successful good past twelvemonth erstwhile Mukuba was hurt. "High floor" — you cognize what you’re getting.
• Michael Carter II (27 years old): More flashy this camp. Multiple large walk breakups. Can besides play nickel country and dime (6th antiaircraft back).

What the Coach Says

Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio: "It’s a bully contention betwixt Marcus and Mike. Mike’s had a precise bully camp, arsenic has Marcus. I’d accidental that’s a existent bully contention close now."

The Others (Not successful This Battle)

2. Wide Receiver: The WR2 Spot Is Wide Open

Important Point: DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and rookie Makai Lemon (hamstring) person missed the past 7 practices. Smith is the wide WR1 regardless. Lemon missing clip hurts his chances to commencement arsenic WR2 instantly — conscionable similar DeJean past twelvemonth didn’t commencement close away.

Camp Performance Rankings (Excluding Smith & Lemon)

1. Darius Cooper — 2nd-year UDFA from Tarleton State. Most consistent, champion transportation with Jalen Hurts.
2. Dontayvion Wicks — Trade acquisition. Great connected out-breaking routes, beardown timing with Hurts. Current favourite for WR2.
3. Elijah Moore — Outplaying Hollywood Brown lately.
4. Hollywood Brown — $5M guaranteed connected 1-year deal. Has dropped passes, little flash.
5. Johnny Wilson — Trailing the pack.

Key Insight

Cooper is pushing for a real role, not conscionable a roster spot. Wicks has the aboriginal pb for WR2, but Cooper is making it a fight.

3. Backup Offensive Line: Depth Chart Taking Shape

Starters (Set successful Stone)

Jordan Mailata • Landon Dickerson • Cam Jurgens • Tyler Steen • Lane Johnson

Tackle Depth

• Markel Bell (3rd-round rookie): Huge, impressive. Got large reps erstwhile Lane Johnson sat retired 4 practices. Playing some near and close tackle. Pushing seasoned Fred Johnson (14 starts past 2 years) for plaything tackle job.
• Verdict: Bell’s aboriginal is bright; Fred Johnson inactive has the borderline for now.

Interior Depth

• Drew Kendall — Clear #1 backup astatine guard/center. Replaces Brett Toth. Big alleviation for a sneaky interest entering camp.
• Willie Lampkin (2nd year) — Impressive, morganatic roster candidate.
• Remaining spots (1–2): Battle betwixt Micah Morris, Michael Jordan, Myles Hinton, Cameron Williams, others.

4. Edge Rusher: The Hunt for the #2 Spot

Important Point: Jonathan Greenard (trade acquisition, $98M extension) is connected Active/PUP with a pec strain. Will miss "at slightest a mates much weeks."

Current First-Team Edge Rushers (In Greenard’s Absence)

Second-Team Battle (For #4 Spot)

• A.J. Epenesa — Slight borderline truthful far.
• Arnold Ebiketie — Had moments.
• Keyshawn James-Newby (rookie) — Ankle wounded Day 3, falling behind.
• Joshua Weru (UDFA) — Never played American shot before! Flashes potential, signifier squad candidate.

5. Backup Quarterback: Dalton vs. McKee — Too Close to Call

Important Point: After 11 practices, no wide winner yet.

The Tale of the Tape

Coach’s Dilemma

• Dalton = "Safe, acceptable now"
• McKee = "Better subordinate semipermanent erstwhile caught up"

The 4-QB Question

Eagles say they’d support each 4 QBs connected progressive roster. Reporter doesn’t bargain it. Trade imaginable earlier Week 1.

QB4: Cole Payton (Rookie, North Dakota State)

• Live arm, gunslinger mentality.
• 5 INTs successful constricted reps — learning NFL windows adjacent fast.
• Getting reps = coaches similar him. Fun to ticker successful preseason!

Summary: Where Things Stand After 11 Practices

Next Up: Preseason crippled Saturday + associated practices adjacent week = real football! These battles volition get overmuch clearer soon.

FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered

1. Why does Cooper DeJean play information and nickel?

The Eagles usage antithetic "packages" (personnel groupings). In basal defence (20–25% of snaps), they request 2 heavy safeties — DeJean plays there. In sub packages (most snaps), they swap a linebacker for a nickel country — DeJean slides down to screen slot receivers. He’s versatile!

2. Is Makai Lemon successful occupation due to the fact that he’s injured?

Not "trouble" — conscionable behind. Missing each outpouring + 7 campy practices means less reps with Jalen Hurts. Rookies request reps. He tin inactive drawback up (DeJean did past year), but helium apt won’t commencement Week 1 arsenic WR2.

3. What’s a "swing tackle"?

A backup violative tackle who tin play both near and close tackle. If the starter connected either broadside gets hurt, the plaything tackle steps in. Markel Bell practicing some sides = immense value.

4. Why would the Eagles support 4 quarterbacks?

Usually teams support 2 (starter + backup) oregon 3 (adding a developmental guy). Keeping 4 connected the active 53-man roster burns a spot for different position. It’s rare. A commercialized (moving Dalton oregon McKee) is much likely.

5. Who is Joshua Weru and wherefore is helium interesting?

International Pathway Program player — ne'er played American shot earlier this year! He’s earthy but athletic. "Flashing" means showing moments of brilliance. He’s a signifier squad stash — make him for a twelvemonth oregon two.

Training campy battles are similar tryouts wherever everyone already made the squad — present they’re warring for playing time. The existent tests commencement Saturday!