The Eagles’ tight end plans took a hit before they even got to Week 1.
Eli Stowers, one of the newcomers Philadelphia brought in to help reshape the offense after parting with A.J. Brown, will not be available for the opener against the Washington Commanders. The team also announced that Stowers is headed to injured reserve, which means he will miss at least the first four games of the 2026 season.
“We have downgraded TE Eli Stowers to out for tomorrow's game with quadriceps and hamstring injuries. He has been placed on the Injured Reserve List,” the Eagles announced.
That’s a rough turn for a second-round rookie who was supposed to give the Eagles another receiving option at tight end. Stowers arrived with some intrigue because of what he can do as a pass-catcher, but his time in camp and throughout the offseason never really got rolling. Injuries and struggles when he did get chances on the field kept his momentum in check.
He likely wasn’t in line for a huge role right away, but losing him this early still stings. Even as a backup or depth piece, he was part of the plan, and now Philadelphia has to move forward without him.
For now, the tight end group will be led by Dallas Goedert, Johnny Mundt, and E.J. Jenkins.
Stowers’ absence could also give the Eagles a reason to explore bringing Zach Ertz back to Philadelphia, though nothing has been finalized on that front. For the moment, the story is simpler: a rookie tight end who needed a strong start instead finds himself sidelined, and the Eagles are left to patch things together without him.
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Eagles Just Created A New Week 1 Tight End Concern
The Eagles headed into Week 1 with one more adjustment to their tight end room after placing Eli Stowers on injured reserve because of hamstring and quadriceps injuries. The move means Stowers cannot return to the active roster until after Week 4, a notable setback for a player who had been limited in practice but was still expected to be available before the injury situation caught up to him.
Britain Covey was temporarily elevated from the practice squad for the opener, giving Philadelphia a little more flexibility as it sorts through the early-season roster. For a team already trying to settle its offense, losing a tight end option this early adds another layer of uncertainty to a position group that now has to absorb the absence and move on quickly. [Read more 🡒]