The Philadelphia Eagles lost one of their most dependable special teams pieces early Monday night, and Britain Covey’s night was done before the first quarter ended.
Covey was knocked out with a knee injury in the opening period against the Dallas Cowboys, then was officially ruled out for the rest of the game. Philadelphia turned to recent practice squad signee Elijah Mitchell to handle return work, and he took over on the second kick return of the contest in his first game since 2025.
Covey’s value to the Eagles has come far more as a returner than a receiver. Since arriving in Philadelphia as a 24-year-old undrafted rookie out of Utah, he has spent his entire pro career with the team aside from a short stint in May of 2025, when he signed with the Los Angeles Rams before returning to the Eagles’ practice squad in August after his release.
He has never been targeted more than eight times in a season as a wideout, but his work on kick and punt returns has helped keep him on the field through multiple Super Bowl runs, including one he won while on injured reserve and one he lost.
Mitchell’s assignment was expected to grow from there. He had already taken his first return 16 yards before a touchback ended the possibility of a second runback, and with no career kick returns - most of that time coming with the San Francisco 49ers - he was set for a real trial by fire in his first game of the 2026 season. At the midway point of the second quarter, neither team had punted.
In Other News...
Jason Kelce Delivered A Very Philly Moment Eagles Fans Will Love
The Eagles season has been bruised by injuries, a four-game skid and the kind of offensive frustration that has put Nick Sirianni and Sean Mannion under a harsher spotlight in recent weeks. With Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley among the key players unavailable, Philadelphia heads into Week 7 at 2-4 with Tanner McKee now in position to run the offense, and the margin for error has all but vanished.
Amid all that strain, Jason Kelce still managed to give the fan base the kind of feel-good moment it can always appreciate. The former Eagles center drew a memorable reception during a recent game, a reminder that even in a tense stretch for the current team, some Philadelphia favorites can still light up the building and reconnect with the crowd in a way that feels distinctly on brand for this city. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Fans Will Love Tanner McKees Message Before This Rivalry Game
With Jalen Hurts unavailable, Tanner McKee found himself in the middle of a rivalry spotlight he probably did not expect when the Eagles hosted the Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field for their Week 8 matchup. Philadelphia leaned on its backup quarterback to help steady the offense, and the pregame tone around the team suggested it was ready for a physical, emotional night against a Dallas team that had already shown it could strike first.
McKee was part of the energy before kickoff and then helped the Eagles move the ball on drives that included Saquon Barkleys touchdown run, a response the home crowd had to appreciate after Dallas opened with a field goal. The Cowboys stayed in the game, too, with Dak Prescott finding CeeDee Lamb for a score, but the bigger question for Philadelphia was how McKee's presence would translate once the lights came on and the rivalry settled into the kind of back-and-forth that usually defines this matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Fans Now Have A Brutal Effort Debate To Face
Monday night in Dallas offered another uneasy snapshot of where the Eagles are right now, with key absences like Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith leaving the offense short-handed and the whole group searching for answers after a loss to the Cowboys. Injuries are part of the story, but they are not the whole story, especially when a team that prides itself on physical play starts looking out of sync and short on the kind of energy that usually travels well even on a tough road night.
Brian Baldinger added to the conversation by pointing to effort and readiness, not just execution, as the bigger issue. He highlighted moments where Eagles players did not appear prepared when the ball was snapped, a criticism that lands hard for a roster that has been through enough roster turnover and injury strain already. The bigger concern now is whether the defense is simply worn down or whether the edge that usually defines this team is slipping in a way that goes beyond one bad game. [Read more 🡒]