Week 1 gave the Eagles a little bit of everything: uneven playing time, a handful of surprises, and a few players who answered early doubts with strong performances. The challenge now is simple enough to say and harder to do - carry that momentum into Week 2 at Tennessee.
A few of the biggest bright spots from the opener need to show that Sunday wasn’t a one-week spike. That starts up front with Smith, who was active all game long in Week 1.
He finished with six pressures and a 25.0% pressure rate. There wasn’t a sack in the box score, and every one of those pressures came as a hurry, but the bigger point was his ability to keep finding the quarterback.
With or without Jonathan Greenard on the field, the Eagles need that kind of steady disruption again in Week 2. The edge rushers were merely okay in the opener, but Smith stood out as the best of the group.
Wicks also made his case in a big way during his Eagles debut. He caught two passes for 73 yards and a touchdown, and the headliner was a 64-yard grab on his first reception as an Eagle - the longest catch of his career.
Matching that kind of splash play every week is a tall order, but the Eagles don’t need him to do that. They just need him to keep coming through when the ball comes his way.
At WR2, Wicks looks like a real playmaker.
Campbell was another player who made his first week count. He was the only Eagles defender to record a sack, and he added two pressures and a quarterback hit while posting a 33.3% pressure rate.
There’s still room for growth in coverage, where he allowed two completions for 48 yards in Week 1. That should clean up as he gets more snaps, but Vic Fangio can still use him as an extra rusher if needed.
On the outside, Woolen had the kind of debut corners dream about. Jayden Daniels went just 1-of-5 for 1 yard when targeting Woolen, with the lone completion going for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Even with that final blemish, he was essentially a shutdown corner in Week 1. His next test could be Calvin Ridley or Carnell Tate, and either matchup will ask plenty of him.
Mukuba’s situation is a little less certain right now. He’s on the injury report after not practicing because of a knee injury, so his status for Sunday remains to be seen.
When he was on the field in Week 1, though, he was solid in coverage. He was targeted once for six yards and was in position to make more plays, even if the opportunities didn’t come his way often.
That should change in Week 2, when he figures to be more involved.
And then there’s Cooper, who made his mark on special teams right away. In the first half against the Commanders, he was excellent on kickoff and punt coverage, finishing with four special teams tackles, including three solo stops.
That effort helped him lock in the role of second gunner on the coverage units. He’s earned his place on the roster, and now the Eagles want him to keep making plays while helping clean up a coverage group that struggled in Week 1.
In Other News...
Eagles Pass Rush Suddenly Has No Excuses After Fangios Callout
Vic Fangio didnt mince words after the Eagles opened the season with a win over Washington, saying the pass rush was too inconsistent and never finished the job with a sack. For a defense built to tilt games at the line of scrimmage, it was the kind of performance that leaves room for concern even in a victory, especially with key edge help still out because of injury and the early schedule already asking more of the front.
Now the focus shifts to Tennessee and rookie quarterback Cam Ward, who took plenty of hits in Week 1, giving Philadelphia a clear chance to be more disruptive. Jalyx Hunt and A.J. Epenesa both acknowledged the group has to be better, and Fangios critique has put the pressure on this rotation to turn a promising opener into something sharper in Week 2. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Safety Concern Just Got Harder To Ignore For Sunday
The Eagles secondary is looking a little thinner heading into Sundays matchup with the Titans, and the latest roster move only adds to the uncertainty. Philadelphia elevated rookie safety Maximus Pulley, a sign the team is preparing as if it may need another body on the back end with Drew Mukuba questionable because of a knee injury.
Mukubas status is the piece to watch, especially with the Eagles already navigating a practice week that included limited work for Jalen Carter and Cooper DeJean, both of whom are expected to play. Philadelphia still has one open roster spot, so the team has some flexibility, but the decision to bring up Pulley suggests the safety situation is now something the Eagles cannot afford to brush aside. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Rookies Suddenly Carry Two Early Concerns Into Titans Game
The Eagles head into Week 2 against the Titans already juggling a couple of rookie-related questions that could shape how they handle the early part of the season. Wide receiver Makai Lemon has been on the field in the first two games, but his production has been limited and quiet, a slow start that appears tied in part to his recovery from injury. For a team trying to settle into a rhythm, that leaves one of its young pass catchers still searching for an opening to make an impact.
The more immediate concern may be up front, where Landon Dickersons move to injured reserve opens the door for rookie Micah Morris to take on a more important backup role. Philadelphia is weighing its options at left guard, and Morris suddenly looks like the kind of depth piece who could be asked to do more sooner than expected. For an offense built on stability in the trenches, his readiness is now part of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]