The Philadelphia Eagles finally play games that count this week, and Week 1 against the Washington Commanders should give a quick read on several players who could shape the opener.
Nick Sirianni has not lost a season opener since taking over, with the Eagles going 5-0 in Week 1 under him. A win Sunday would push that streak to six straight Week 1 victories, something the franchise last pulled off from 1942 to 1947.
A handful of players enter the matchup with rising stock, and the biggest name in that group is Saquon Barkley. The Eagles’ offense is expected to lean on him early and often, and the timing works in their favor: this is the healthiest Barkley and offensive line have been all year. After what was described as a down year in 2025 by his standards, Barkley is set up for a bounce-back 2026, and he draws a Commanders run defense that ranks 27th in yards per carry allowed at 4.7 and 30th in rushing yards allowed per game at 141.8.
DeVonta Smith also looks lined up for a heavy workload. With A.J.
Brown out of the picture, Smith is finally getting his turn as the clear No. 1 wide receiver, even though he has already played at that level alongside Brown for four years. The expectation is that he’ll be used in a way similar to Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba with their teams.
Sunday could be a big start, especially with Smith matching up against Rasul Douglas and Mike Sainristil. Douglas allowed a 62.4 passer rating in coverage last season and is 31 years old, while Sainristil allowed a 103.2 passer rating in coverage and nine pass touchdowns as the primary defender in coverage last year.
If the Commanders can’t get to Jalen Hurts, Smith could be in for a huge afternoon.
The Eagles’ WR2 situation is worth watching too, and that points to Wicks. He earned the role after a strong summer and now makes his debut in that spot.
The matchup is favorable, too, since he may see more of Mike Sainristil than anyone else on Sunday. Sainristil allowed 67.0% of the passes thrown his way to be caught, and those numbers would have been worse without four interceptions.
Wicks may not get many chances for explosive games this season, which makes Week 1 especially important.
Up front, Steen enters with momentum after a good 2025, his first year starting on the Eagles offensive line. Philadelphia is bringing back all five starters for the first time since 2008, a setup that could give the group a major edge.
Steen should benefit from having a healthy Cam Jurgens and Lane Johnson next to him, and he’ll be tested by a Commanders pass rush that ranked 20th in pressure rate at 35.7% and 13th in sack rate at 7.2%. For a right guard heading into a contract year, Sunday offers a useful early measuring stick.
On the defensive side, Hunt was the standout of training camp and has taken advantage of Jonathan Greenard’s absence. He’s set to play right defensive end until Greenard returns, the same spot where he thrived over the summer.
If Greenard is out in Week 1, Hunt will line up against Josh Conerly Jr. The former first-round pick gets a real test, though the Commanders offensive line struggled all preseason.
Hunt should have opportunities against Jayden Daniels.
That same shaky Washington interior could also set up Carter for a strong opener. He’s playing his first game since signing his massive extension, and the matchup puts Chris Paul, Nick Allegretti, and Sam Cosmi in his path.
The Commanders offensive line was rough all summer, especially inside, and Philadelphia’s defensive tackles should have their chances. Carter, in particular, will be playing with something to prove.
Ojomo is in a similar spot. He gets the same interior advantage against Washington and should have room to attack Daniels with Carter and Jordan Davis rotating through. After a strong summer, a Week 1 sack from Ojomo would not come as a shock.
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