The Eagles enter 2026 with the kind of roster that can still make plenty of noise, but not every name on it is set up to shine right away. Some players have enough talent to swing games. Others, for one reason or another, may leave fans wanting more by the time the season is over.
Makai Lemon is one of the clearest examples. The wide receiver missed a big chunk of training camp because of a hamstring injury, then had a rough preseason debut against the Cincinnati Bengals.
There’s still a path for him to grow into a strong NFL receiver, but that learning curve is real. He could settle in later in the year, yet his production may lag behind expectations, especially if Dontayvion Wicks and Darius Cooper keep earning more looks from Jalen Hurts.
At tight end, Eli Stowers has not made the kind of spring-and-summer impression the Eagles were hoping for. The talent is there, but the source of the disappointment is simple: he does not look ready to be an impact player yet. He needs more development, and that means 2026 may not bring the kind of stat line fans expected.
Marcus Epps is another player who could wind up in an uneasy spot. He was serviceable late last season after stepping in for Andrew Mukuba when Mukuba got hurt, but he still wasn’t fully clean in his play.
Training camp also suggested that Michael Carter II was making more plays. If Epps brings that same unevenness into the season, a change at safety would not be a surprise.
Riq Woolen is a tougher read because the ceiling is obvious. He could still have a strong year.
But training camp showed the volatility in his game, with some excellent days and too many rough ones mixed in. The Eagles probably won’t have the same kind of chaos they had at CB2 last year, but Woolen still looks like a player who could create some headaches along the way.
Jonathan Greenard rounds out the list, and his situation starts with health. He did not practice at all in training camp because of a pectoral injury, so a slow start feels likely.
That alone puts his early-season impact in doubt, and Eagles fans are going to be watching closely to see how effective he really is. He could come on later, but the opening stretch may belong to someone else, with Jalyx Hurts potentially getting more chances to pile up numbers if the attention is focused on slowing Greenard down.
In Other News...
Eagles Quietly Fixed A Week 1 Problem Fans Remember Too Well
After a season in which tight end blocking was too often a lingering issue, the Eagles have made a quiet but pointed addition in Johnny Mundt, a veteran known more for the work he does without the ball than with it. Philadelphia brought him in to help stabilize the edge of the formation, where tight ends can have just as much responsibility in protection and the run game as they do as pass targets, especially on the right side of the line.
Mundt joins a tight end room that still has Dallas Goedert as the biggest receiving threat, along with E.J. Jenkins and rookie Eli Stowers, giving the Eagles a blend of roles as they get ready for Washington in Week 1. The move does not change the identity of the group, but it does suggest the staff is serious about cleaning up a part of the offense fans noticed last year, even if the bigger questions around usage and matchups are still waiting to be answered. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Have A Camp Battle Fans Should Feel Better About
The Eagles have spent camp shoring up the interior of their offensive line, and the early returns are enough to make the competition feel more like an encouraging sign than a problem. Howie Roseman has been vocal about his confidence in the growth of Drew Kendall, Willie Lampkin and Micah Morris, a trio that has given the staff reasons to believe the depth along the front is moving in the right direction.
Drew Kendall and Willie Lampkin have been the most visible parts of that battle, each showing enough at guard to make a real case for playing time. Both have also contributed heavily in preseason action, and offensive line coach Chris Kuper has pointed to their progress and consistency throughout camp, which is exactly the kind of development the Eagles want to see before the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Home Opener Could Mean More Than Fans Realize
The Eagles are getting set for their Week 1 home opener against the Washington Commanders, and the usual buzz around the start of a new season carries a quieter layer of significance. For Philadelphia, this one could double as a look at two familiar faces who have been part of some of the franchises biggest moments: veteran tight end Dallas Goedert and right tackle Lane Johnson.
Goedert is playing on a one-year deal, with Eli Stowers waiting in the wings as a possible successor, while Johnson is viewed as someone who may be nearing the finish line of his career. Both have been central figures for the Eagles and have helped deliver two Super Bowl rings, which makes the possibility of this being their last home opener at Lincoln Financial Field feel like more than just another early-September game. [Read more 🡒]