The Eagles are heading into a joint practice with the Patriots looking for more than just a cleaner showing in their second preseason game. After a 24-7 loss to the Ravens last week, Philadelphia needs sharper play across the board, especially on offense, which managed only 159 total yards and six first downs in Baltimore.
That makes this week’s work against New England feel especially important for a handful of players trying to build momentum in camp. With A.J. Brown on the other sideline, the atmosphere should have some bite to it, and several Eagles have a real chance to help themselves before the preseason game even kicks off.
Cole Wisniewski is one of the names worth watching closely. The safety recently returned to practice after dealing with an injury and wasted little time making an impression, recording a sack and getting work with the first team. If he can carry that into the joint session, he could push for more snaps with the starters.
Darius Cooper is in a different spot. The receiver has generated plenty of buzz over the last three weeks, but his preseason game against Baltimore exposed a rough patch when he dropped an easy pass. Jalen Hurts has continued to speak highly of him, and Cooper still appears to be in good position to make the roster, but this is a chance to show he can answer when the competition changes.
Uar Bernard has also flashed enough to keep people interested. The defensive tackle showed effort and speed in the first football game of his life, even while playing high with his shoulder pads. Another strong showing against a different opponent would only strengthen his case, and it could matter when the Eagles start sorting out the 53-man roster.
Markel Bell enters the week with some momentum after an eye-catching first NFL game against the Ravens. His size makes him an intriguing long-term fit as a potential Lane Johnson replacement after Johnson retires at the end of the 2026 season. The extra reps against a Super Bowl-caliber team like the Patriots should give the rookie more chances to prove he belongs.
Then there’s Eli Stowers, who needs the strongest response of the bunch. The rookie second-round pick did not have a good debut in an Eagles uniform, and he has to bounce back fast if he wants people to buy back into his stock. Right now, things are not looking great for Stowers, so a big joint practice against the Patriots would go a long way toward rebuilding some momentum before the preseason game.
In Other News...
Za'Darius Smith Just Reopened A Frustration Eagles Fans Know Well
ZaDarius Smith is back in the news, and for Eagles fans it brings a familiar mix of what-ifs and unfinished business. After spending last season in Philadelphia and appearing in five games before retiring, the veteran edge rusher had been tied to a potential return to Cleveland, where he previously worked with Kevin Stefanski, only for his next step to shift in a different direction after a workout.
Now the Falcons are the team making the move, a sign of how quickly the edge-rush market can change when injuries and suspensions start thinning a depth chart. For the Eagles, it is another reminder of how brief Smiths stint in Philly was and how often his career seems to send him back into the spotlight just when one landing spot looks settled. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Rookie Battle Is Suddenly Separating Roster Locks From Bubble Names
The Eagles rookie class has already started to sort itself into two clear groups as camp moves along, with the early draft picks looking far more secure than the rest of the first-year crowd. Philadelphia has spent the summer evaluating 15 rookies across different spots on the roster, and the picture is becoming clearer by the day as some players push toward opening-week roles while others are fighting just to stay in the conversation for the 53-man roster or practice squad.
Jalen Lemons path has been slowed by a hamstring injury that has kept him out since Aug. 4, though he is close to getting back on the field, while the tight end picture also carries some real intrigue with Stowers trending toward a healthy scratch as the TE3 for Week 1. Elsewhere, Bell, Payton, Morris, Wisniewski, Bernard and James-Newby are all being judged not just on talent, but on how quickly they can turn their development into something the Eagles can actually use once roster cuts arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Camp Picture Is Getting Clearer At Wide Receiver
The Eagles twelfth training camp practice offered another look at a receiver room that is slowly starting to take shape, even as the injury report continues to do a lot of the heavy lifting. Makai Lemon, Tank Bigsby and Johnny Wilson were all sidelined, while DeVonta Smith and safety Cole Wisniewski were among the players working on a limited basis as Philadelphia keeps sorting through who can stack full practices ahead of the 2026 season.
Smith was back in a helmet and getting in some position work after the hamstring issue that had slowed him, a small but encouraging step for a passing game that still needs its top targets available and sharp. Lemon, meanwhile, stayed out of the full session but kept moving on the side field, running routes and going through the catch circuit as the Eagles continue to monitor a camp picture at wide receiver that is becoming clearer even if it is not settled yet. [Read more 🡒]