Thursday, October 1, 2026
73 ° Clear
73 ° Clear
The Philadelphia Eagles opened their doors to Training Camp for another year. With a big season ahead and a new offense to get to grips with, this is a crucial summer for many.
Unfortunately for the Birds, it didn't get off to the brightest of starts as it was reported that newly-signed pass-rusher Jonathan Greenard would start the season on the PUP list. Howie Roseman later clarified to the media that they're not concerned about the injury and it isn't long term, but it's still far from ideal.
Beyond that, here are some observations from beat writers who attended the opening day of practice from the Jefferson Health Training Complex, along with some analysis.
With A.J Brown now out of the equation, many figured that Makai Lemon would shift outside, opening the doors for a potential slot competition, and if there was ever going to be a lead candidate, Darius Cooper fit the bill. The second-year wideout has a walkable path to an increased role after sneaking into the offense as a rookie and standing out during Camp last year.
In 2026, he looks to be continuing on this upward trend.
Of course, it's early days, but getting some strong reps in before preseason, where he shined last year, is definitely a good sign.
Many wondered how the QB picture would look in Philadelphia this year. Would Andy Dalton be serviceable at QB2? Could Cole Payton force his way into the mix and start creeping towards Tanner McKee as a developmental arm?
The Eagles opened Camp splitting QB2 reps between Dalton and McKee, which felt like the most natural outcome, but a little surprisingly, it was the NDSU product who turned heads. Cayden Steele noted that Payton made a few impressive throws, showing off the arm talent that saw him complete over 72% of his passes last year at North Dakota State.
While Payton won't be challenging for QB2 this offseason, if he can get off to a strong start and glide through preseason without creating any costly turnovers, the Eagles may feel a little better about cashing on McKee if a QB-needy team arises during the Summer months.
Tank Bigsby could be primed to become Saquon's primary backup in 2026. He rushed for 344 yards in 2025, averaging 5.9 yards per carry, and hit the turf running on the opening day of Camp, as BLG notes.
The former Jags running back was also observed catching some passes out of the backfield, which is an encouraging sign in Mannion's new-look offense. If we do see more 12-personnel (especially with a shiny new rookie TE), then perhaps an increased focus on pony backfields and lightning/thunder combinations could return...making for an exciting run-game in Philadelphia so long as Bigsby continues to make his mark.
Jalyx Hunt is still in the very early stages of his NFL career. He entered the NFL as a small-school sleeper and enjoyed a brilliant sophomore campaign under Vic Fangio's tutelage. Ed Kracz noted how Hunt appeared to have a dreamy start to Camp, making jokes, plays, and highlights all in the same day.
The Eagles have a very talented and versatile piece in Hunt, and his continued ascent could be fascinating to watch in 2026,
And finally, would it be an Eagles practice without a mention of Jalen Hurts? It hasn't taken him long to start dialling in and further building his rapport with new WR1 DeVonta Smith. The two have fantastic chemistry on and off the field, but with Smitty moving up to the WR1 spot, this is going to be a very fun offense to watch.
It's also, as we say every year, the perfect opportunity for the corners (such as Quinyon Mitchell) to sharpen their tools, going against one of the premier route-runners in the NFL. Iron sharpens iron, and knowing that Smitty and Mitchell will be going hammer and tong over the summer should only build confidence in both of their development.
