Training camp is almost here for the Philadelphia Eagles, and the biggest story line isn’t one single player or one single unit. It’s the stack of questions waiting to be answered once the pads come on.
The offense has drawn plenty of offseason attention, from new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion to the group of receivers around Jalen Hurts. Now the Eagles finally get a chance to see how all of it fits together. And at nearly every position, there’s something worth watching.
At quarterback, the obvious issue is whether Hurts can settle into Mannion’s offense. He had a rough start in OTAs while working with the new wideouts, and the Eagles are hoping the short break helps him reset before camp gets rolling.
In the backfield, Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby are set as the top two, but the real fight is for the next spot. Will Shipley is battling Dameon Pierce and Elijah Mitchell for the RB3 job, and it may take strong special teams work as well as a solid camp to win it. Shipley needs to make a statement.
Wide receiver brings its own puzzle. DeVonta Smith is in place as the WR1, but the question is who follows him.
Dontayvion Wicks is physically stepping into the role A.J. Brown left behind after the trade, while rookie Makai Lemon was taken in the first round with the idea that he could claim that spot this year or soon after.
The group is new, and it needs time with Hurts, but somebody has to emerge.
Tight end is another spot with a clear starter and a big opening behind him. Dallas Goedert is set to begin the season as the top tight end, but the Eagles need Eli Stowers to show something in camp. There was talk that he wasn’t much of a factor at OTAs, and if Philadelphia wants to lean on two-tight end looks, the rookie second-round pick has to prove he belongs and show why the team sees him as Goedert’s future replacement.
Up front, the offensive line has a different kind of uncertainty. With no more Jeff Stoutland, the questions on the bench matter more than ever. The Eagles are hoping rookies Markel Bell and Micah Morris can step forward and become players the team can trust if Lane Johnson, Landon Dickerson or Cam Jurgens get hurt again.
On the defensive line, the talent is there, but the contract situation around Jalen Carter is the bigger concern. Philadelphia needs to get a long-term deal done so he can stay put. If that doesn’t happen, the question becomes how much he’ll actually take part in drills during camp.
Edge rusher has a clear name at the top and a real battle for the other spot. Jonathan Greenard is locked in as a starter on one side, while Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith Jr. are competing for the other job.
The Eagles picked up Smith’s fifth-year option in the offseason, though he was also arrested, and Hunt led the team in sacks and interceptions last season. That one should be decided over the next month.
At linebacker, Zack Baun is the centerpiece, and Jihaad Campbell is stepping into a full-time role for Nakobe Dean on the other side inside. Campbell filled in for Dean last year and played well, so the question now is whether the second-year linebacker can keep that going and establish himself as a starter in 2026.
Cornerback has already generated plenty of buzz thanks to Riq Woolen. He was the most talked-about Eagles player at OTAs and has already locked down the starting CB2 spot. Still, last season with the Seattle Seahawks, inconsistency was part of the story, and Philadelphia needs him to carry that OTA momentum into camp and become a dependable corner.
Safety is less settled. Andrew Mukuba is the only lock, but the other starting job is wide open.
Marcus Epps is considered the favorite, though several players are in the mix. The bigger question may be whether Howie Roseman adds outside competition before the job is decided.
Even special teams has a real concern, and it starts with Jake Elliott. The return game has some questions too, but Elliott is the bigger one after struggling to hit better than 80% of his field goals in each of the last two seasons. The Eagles need him to bounce back in 2026.
In Other News...
Patriots May Be Repeating The A.J. Brown Mistake Eagles Know Too Well
A.J. Browns first day at Patriots training camp did not exactly signal a fresh start in the passing game. According to a Boston Herald report, the former Eagles star saw only one target and did not come down with a catch, a quiet opening for a receiver New England brought in expecting him to be a centerpiece rather than a spectator.
Philadelphia knows this story well. Brown was productive in his time with the Eagles, topping 5,000 receiving yards and earning two Pro Bowl nods, but he also made it clear he wanted a bigger share of the offense. Now the Patriots are already being reminded that if they want to keep him content, they will need to make sure he is involved early and often. [Read more 🡒]
Howie Roseman May Have Another O-Line Opportunity Eagles Fans Will Want
Jackson Powers-Johnson has become a name worth watching again as Las Vegas sorts out its interior line mix, and that alone is enough to get Eagles fans thinking ahead. The former Oregon center prospect was drafted by the Raiders in 2024, but after being shuffled around and seeing work at all three interior spots, he is now in a fight for a starting guard job while the team also works in Caleb Rogers.
For Philadelphia, the appeal is obvious. The Eagles already have one of the leagues stronger offensive lines, but they can always use more depth up front, and Powers-Johnson has the kind of versatility that makes him interesting as both an immediate interior option and a possible long-term answer if the need ever arises at Landon Dickersons spot. Whether he actually becomes available is the part still hanging in the air, but it is the sort of line-related possibility Howie Roseman has made a habit of monitoring. [Read more 🡒]
Three Eagles Veterans Suddenly Have Real Camp Pressure
Training camp has a way of turning familiar names into urgent roster questions, and that is the case in Philadelphia right now. The Eagles have a handful of jobs that still feel unsettled, including the starting safety spot next to Andrew Mukuba, the No. 2 receiver role and a pass-rush rotation that could shape how the defense looks once the season starts. Coaches have spoken well of the players in those spots, but praise only goes so far when the first real reps of camp begin.
Epps is in the mix at safety, Wicks enters as the apparent favorite at receiver and Hunt is expected to line up opposite Jonathan Greenard, with Nolan Smith pushing for more than just a supporting role. There is enough competition here to keep the Eagles watching every practice snap closely, especially with camp performance likely to carry real weight in the final decisions. For a team trying to sort out depth and define roles early, these are the kinds of battles that can linger well beyond the first week. [Read more 🡒]