The Eagles wanted Landon Dickerson healthy, full stop. Instead, he’s on injured reserve after Week 1, and that opens the door for Drew Kendall to step into a role that could matter well beyond this season.
Kendall is the next man up at interior line, and the Eagles are clearly hoping he turns this stretch into something bigger. A 2025 fifth-round pick out of Boston College, where he started for three years at center, Kendall has already made a strong impression. He cross-trained at guard in practice last season, carried that momentum into the summer and has worked his way into the team’s top interior backup spot.
Now comes the real test. Kendall is expected to be the first option to replace Dickerson, who will miss at least four games. If that doesn’t work, Willie Lampkin is there as another possibility.
But if Kendall holds up, the Eagles may have found a long-term starter at a bargain price.
That’s the kind of outcome Howie Roseman loves. Kendall is in the second year of a four-year rookie contract worth $4.6 million, and if he proves he can handle the job beyond 2026, that gives the Eagles a valuable piece without forcing them to spend draft capital or chase a pricier answer in free agency.
That matters because the money is already piling up elsewhere. Roseman handed out major extensions this offseason to Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. Carter got a record-setting four-year, $152 million deal that runs through 2031, while Davis signed a three-year, $78 million extension through 2029.
More big decisions are coming soon. Next offseason, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean become eligible for extensions. Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez just landed a four-year, $135 million deal, and if Mitchell and DeJean stack up All-Pro seasons the way they did last year, they could be in that same neighborhood.
There’s more on the horizon, too. Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith could also be in line for new deals if they keep performing, which only tightens the squeeze on the rest of the roster.
That’s why cheap, useful players matter so much. The clearest path to staying flexible is getting younger and building through the draft with players on rookie contracts.
Roseman leaned into that idea in the 2026 draft, using his first five picks on offense. That group included wide receiver Makai Lemon, tight end Eli Stowers and offensive tackle Markel Bell in the first three rounds.
So while Dickerson’s absence is a setback, Kendall’s chance is real. If he plays well now, he could give the Eagles exactly what they need when the roster gets even more expensive: a dependable interior lineman who helps keep the cap sheet manageable.
In Other News...
Eagles Already Have An NFC East Threat Fans Didn't Expect
The Eagles opened the 2026 season in the familiar spot atop the NFC East, but the early picture around the division already looks a little different than expected. At 1-0, Philadelphia is off to a clean start, while the biggest surprise so far may be the New York Giants, who also won in Week 1 and are hanging around as an early threat behind quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Dallas and Washington, meanwhile, are already dealing with the kind of first-week problems that can make a division race feel lopsided fast. The Cowboys dropped to 0-1 with concerns lingering on defense, and the Commanders also fell to 0-1 while their offensive line drew scrutiny, leaving the Eagles looking like the team to beat even as the Giants quietly make things more interesting than many expected. [Read more 🡒]
Howie Roseman Looks Better After Ex Eagles Starter's Brutal Debut
Reed Blankenships first game after leaving Philadelphia did not go smoothly. After signing a three-year deal with the Texans, the former Eagles starter was thrown right into a tough opening test against Buffalo and spent much of the afternoon chasing the ball instead of making plays on it, giving up six catches on six targets in a rough coverage debut.
For Eagles fans, it is the kind of early result that makes Howie Roseman look a little better in hindsight, even if one game hardly settles anything. Houston lost the opener, Blankenship drew a low Pro Football Focus grade, and now he is headed into another difficult matchup with Cincinnati, which will give him a quick chance to steady things before the questions around his fit really start to grow. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Bring Back A Familiar Specialist As Offensive Line Concern Grows
The Eagles added a familiar face back to the 53-man roster by elevating Britain Covey from the practice squad after he spent the first week of the 2026 season there. Covey has been in Philadelphia for five years and has carved out his role mostly as a punt returner, giving the team a steady, known option in the kicking game.
The roster move comes as the Eagles also signed tight end Josiah Deguara to the practice squad and placed left guard Landon Dickerson on injured reserve. Dickersons status puts a spotlight on the interior of the offensive line, forcing Philadelphia to keep adjusting around a spot that had already become a concern early in the season. [Read more 🡒]