The Philadelphia Eagles open the 2026 season with a Week 1 NFC East matchup against the Washington Commanders, and there’s no shortage of moving parts on both sides heading into kickoff.
The game will air on FOX as the Game of the Week, with most fans able to catch it on their local FOX station. If a local team is on at the same time, NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV is the alternative.
Philadelphia will be short-handed on defense and at tight end. Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard is out with a pectoral injury and is not 100% for the game. Rookie tight end Eli Stowers is also unavailable after the Eagles placed him on IR because of two lower-body injuries, sidelining him for at least four games.
Washington, meanwhile, listed 10 players on its injury report. Every one of them took part in practice in some capacity this week, but it remains to be seen whether all of them will be active or whether some end up off the game-day roster.
The biggest spotlight in this one falls on the Eagles’ offense, where offensive coordinator Sean Mannion is set to call his first game ever. That alone makes this a fascinating early-season test, especially with Jalen Hurts leading a group that looks different around him.
Hurts will also have to get comfortable quickly with a new wide receiver room. DeVonta Smith and Darius Cooper are the only receivers back from last season, so the early chemistry questions are obvious.
On the other side of the ball, Greenard’s absence pushes Nolan Smith Jr. and Jalyx Hunt into a bigger role at edge rusher. Last season brought some doubt about whether they were ready for that responsibility after the Eagles traded for Jaelan Phillips to help. This game is the first major chance to see how far along they really are.
There’s also the matter of facing Jayden Daniels for the first time since the 2024 season. Philadelphia will need to keep him contained in the pocket all game and deal with a quarterback who is healthy going into the matchup.
On paper, the Eagles have the edge thanks to a top-five defense, but the Commanders are never a simple out in the NFC East. The result may hinge on whether Philadelphia’s offense finds its footing right away or stumbles in its first game together.
Prediction: Eagles 28, Commanders 21
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