The Eagles are finally back on the field, and the preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens gives fans their first real look at a roster full of battles that matter. The starters may or may not be part of the story, but the bigger intrigue sits further down the depth chart, where a handful of players are trying to force their way into bigger roles in 2026.
No player has more riding on this game than Darius Cooper. For the second straight year, he has become a training camp favorite, but this time the buzz carries more weight.
After a string of strong practices, the comparisons to A.J. Brown have only raised the spotlight on Cooper, who is now being discussed as a possible answer if Brown ever needs a successor.
He already turned heads last preseason against the Cincinnati Bengals, when he made enough noise to secure a 53-man roster spot as an undrafted rookie from Tarleton State. Now he gets another shot against an AFC North opponent, and the stakes are even higher.
Markel Bell is another name worth tracking closely. With Lane Johnson’s potential retirement announcement hanging over the team, Bell’s performance takes on extra significance.
The Eagles drafted Bell in the third round with one clear goal in mind: give him a chance to step in if Johnson walks away soon. That makes this matchup a major test at right tackle, the first real challenge of his career and a chance to show whether he can handle the job.
The quarterback battle also deserves attention, and Andy Dalton is right in the middle of it. The competition between Dalton and Tanner McKee has been one of the more interesting fights in camp, with most fans already familiar with McKee and curious about what Dalton still has left at 38 years old.
A three-time Pro Bowler, Dalton knows new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion’s scheme, which helps his case, but his camp has been described as very average. If he wants to seize the backup job, he needs a much sharper showing against Baltimore.
At tight end, Eli Stowers enters the game looking for a better first impression. His OTAs were extremely quiet, and camp has started slowly too.
There has been some recent progress, though, as he has become more consistent as a pass catcher over the last week. This game is his chance to show the Eagles what they got in the second-round pick and whether he can produce against NFL veterans.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. rounds out the list, and his opportunity is real. He has been having a great training camp and continues to flash the kind of linebacker potential that keeps him in the conversation for rotation snaps.
His Week 18 performance last year against the Washington Commanders - 12 tackles, two quarterback hits, and one tackle for loss - already gave a glimpse of what he can do. With Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell most likely not playing against the Ravens, Trotter has a clear opening to prove he belongs in the starting mix in some capacity.
In Other News...
Eagles Just Got A Huge Week 1 Break Against Washington
The first week of the season is already tilting in Philadelphias favor, and the Eagles have gotten a notable break before even lining up against Washington. The Commanders are suddenly dealing with major holes on both sides of the ball, including a key absence at left tackle that could change how they protect the edge and handle the opening-game pressure.
Dorance Armstrong is also expected to be out for Washingtons Week 1 matchup after a suspension under the NFLs personal conduct policy, thinning a defensive front that was supposed to help set the tone early. For the Eagles, it doesnt change the need to execute, but it does add to the sense that their division opener is arriving with a little less resistance than it might have had a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]
Carson Steeles Versatility Is Giving Eagles Fans A New Roster Battle to Watch
Carson Steele arrived in Philadelphia with a profile that immediately fits the kind of camp competition coaches like to see. After time with the Chiefs, the fullback is settling into Sean Mannions offense with a clear pitch: he can handle work at fullback, running back and on special teams, and he is using the preseason to show the Eagles there is more than one way to deploy him.
Steeles next step is less about flash than about function, especially as he keeps sharpening the parts of his game that matter most in a crowded room. Pass protection remains a point of emphasis, and he has taken to learning from veterans like Saquon Barkley while he tries to make himself useful in every phase. For a roster that values flexibility, that kind of approach can keep a player in the conversation longer than most. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Hurts Keeps Showing Why He Can Handle Phillys QB Pressure
Training camp in South Philly had already started producing its usual stream of practice highlights when the Eagles posted a clip of Quinyon Mitchell picking off a pass from Jalen Hurts. It was the kind of video that can travel fast and get treated like a referendum, even though it came in July, long before the games count. For Hurts, though, it was just the latest reminder that every throw, every rep and every mistake gets magnified when you are the quarterback in Philadelphia.
What has stood out about Hurts is not just how he plays, but how steadily he has carried himself through the noise. He has spent his career dealing with criticism, scrutiny and constant outside pressure, and the Eagles continue to lean on that calm as much as they lean on his arm and legs. In a city that never softens its demands on the starting quarterback, Hurts keeps looking like a player built to handle the weight of it. [Read more 🡒]