The Eagles’ first Week 1 depth chart has arrived, and it clears up a few battles while leaving the biggest one exactly where it’s been all summer: quarterback behind Jalen Hurts.
The team still hasn’t picked a QB2 between Dalton and McKee. Both split work throughout training camp, and neither managed to lock down the job.
The depth chart doesn’t settle it, either. If anything, it leaves a small clue that Dalton may be ahead, since the Eagles did not use alphabetical order for the other slash-marked spots.
Still, the backup quarterback decision remains unresolved, and the real answer won’t come until Hurts leaves the field.
At slot receiver, Makai Lemon is listed first, which matches the way the Eagles have handled him since he came back from the hamstring injury that kept him out for most of the summer. The depth chart points to Lemon opening the season strictly in the slot, where his best traits fit naturally.
Tight end also offers a pretty clear read. Eli Stowers is on the third team, which signals he is not ready to handle major offensive snaps yet.
E.J. Jenkins could be the better bet for early playing time, thanks to his progress as a blocker and his value as a red zone target.
For now, patience is the message with Stowers.
Up front, the tackle and interior backups tell their own story. Markel Bell is listed behind the left tackle spot, while Fred Johnson shows up on the right side.
Bell appeared to win the No. 3 tackle job in camp, so that part stands out. At guard, Drew Kendall is listed as the No. 3 option and would be the next man in for Landon Dickerson or Tyler Steen if either needs a breather, even though he’s also shown as the backup center.
Kendall is also the top backup behind Cam Jurgens, which makes it notable that Willie Lampkin is at left guard and sits above Morris at right guard, even though Morris is listed as the backup right guard.
The edge rotation is also worth watching. Jonathan Greenard has a slash mark at both edge spots, and while his Week 1 availability is still unclear, he is set to work on both sides.
The note here is that Greenard is better on the right. That sets up a real three-man rotation with Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, and Nolan Smith.
Inside, the defensive tackle group is straightforward: Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo are the main rotation, and all three could share the field at the same time. Byron Young sits as the No. 4.
At cornerback, Jonathan Jones is the top backup on the outside and in the slot, and he would be the next option if Riq Woolen, Quinyon Mitchell, or Cooper DeJean were unavailable.
Safety looks settled, too. Marcus Epps is listed as the starter and will open Week 1 alongside Andrew Mukuba. That lines up with the hint the Eagles gave near the end of camp.
Special teams brings a few more answers. Makai Lemon is in line for the first shot at punt returner if Britain Covey is not elevated from the practice squad for Week 1.
If Covey isn’t up, Lemon gets the nod based on the depth chart. Will Shipley and Tank Bigsby are listed as the kick returners, just like last year, though the Eagles could still elevate someone from the practice squad, with Jaydon Blue or Dameon Pierce mentioned as possibilities.
And at long snapper, Rocco Underwood holds that job. That one doesn’t look like it’s changing anytime soon.
In Other News...
Eagles Head Into Week 1 With Clear Offseason Winners And Losers
The Eagles head into Week 1 against Washington after an offseason that reshaped parts of the roster and the coaching staff, with the kind of changes that tend to leave a few clear beneficiaries. Sean Mannions promotion to offensive coordinator stands out as one of the more notable internal moves, while contract extensions for defensive tackles Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter gave the front of the defense a firmer long-term foundation. The 2025 draft class also appears to have moved the needle, adding another layer to a spring and summer that was anything but quiet in Philadelphia.
Not every part of the picture looks settled, though. Injuries have already complicated the outlook for players such as Jonathan Greenard and Makai Lemon, and the cornerback spot remains a concern as the team moves into the season opener. For a roster with playoff expectations, the offseason winners are easy enough to identify, but the unresolved questions are the ones that will matter once the Commanders arrive and the early September pressure starts to feel real. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Still Have One Unsettled Decision Behind Jalen Hurts
The Eagles have a small but notable question lingering behind Jalen Hurts as the 2026 regular season approaches: who is the No. 2 quarterback? On the unofficial depth chart, Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee are listed side by side, while rookie Cole Payton gives Philadelphia four passers on the 53-man roster and another layer of insurance if the room is ever tested.
Nick Sirianni has said the backup job is still a competition between Dalton and McKee, which keeps the situation very much alive even with the opener drawing closer. For a team built around Hurts, it is the kind of behind-the-scenes decision that can fade into the background until it suddenly matters, and Philadelphia still appears to be sorting out which veteran or developmental option it trusts most if the starter ever has to miss time. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Just Got A Brutal Warning About Paying Their Young Corners
Christian Gonzalezs new deal with New England has changed the top of the cornerback market in a way the Eagles cant ignore. The Patriots locked up their young star on a four-year, $135 million extension, and with that, the price of elite coverage talent just jumped again at exactly the kind of position Philadelphia has invested in heavily over the last two seasons.
For the Eagles, the timing matters almost as much as the dollar figure. Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are both trending toward major contracts of their own in the not-too-distant future, and the front office now has a fresh reminder of how expensive it can be to keep young corners together once they start stacking strong seasons. Managing those decisions while keeping the rest of the roster intact is going to be one of the tougher cap balancing acts ahead. [Read more 🡒]