The Philadelphia Eagles are just days from opening against the Washington Commanders, and the conversation around that matchup is already centered on the usual headliners. Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Zack Baun all have to do their part.
But games like this often turn on the players who don’t always get the loudest attention. Philadelphia has a few of those guys who could tilt Week 1 in a big way if they show up and deliver.
Marcus Epps is one of them in the secondary. Fans usually gravitate toward Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean when they talk about the Eagles’ defensive backfield, but Epps has a chance to matter just as much.
Last season, he posted 21 tackles and one tackle for loss in 12 games and four starts. He also stepped into a key role late in the year after Andrew Mukuba fractured his ankle.
Epps won the starting safety job over Michael Carter II, and now the assignment is simple: fill in for Reed Blankenship and handle it. If he takes a step forward from last season, he could end up shaping this game in a way few people expected.
Tyler Steen is another name worth watching. In his first full year starting at right guard, he gave up 36 pressures, two sacks and one quarterback hit in 589 pass-blocking snaps.
Pro Football Focus put him at 71.6 overall, good for 17th among 81 guards, with a 74.0 pass-blocking grade and a 71.8 run-blocking grade. Steen never really got the credit he deserved for what he did in the regular season.
It wasn’t flawless, but he stayed on the field every game and held up well for Philadelphia. Against Washington, the Eagles need the line to set the tone and get the ground game rolling, and Steen will be right in the middle of that effort.
Then there’s Tank Bigsby, who flashed real juice last season. He averaged 5.9 yards per carry, though he only logged 58 carries in 16 games after arriving from the Jacksonville Jaguars in a trade.
The expectation entering the 2026 season was that he would help ease the load on Saquon Barkley and become a bigger part of the offense. What Sean Mannion has planned is anyone’s guess, but the Eagles would be smart to lean on Bigsby more.
His speed can stretch the defense, especially if Philadelphia gets him working outside and lets him build momentum. Getting him involved as a receiver would only help, too.
If the Eagles can give Bigsby 10 to 15 touches, they may have a real weapon against Washington.
In Other News...
Eagles May Have Created A Bigger Problem With A.J. Brown Move
The Eagles decision to trade A.J. Brown to New England after the 2025 season was supposed to settle a tension that had been building between the star receiver and Jalen Hurts. Instead, it has put the spotlight on how Philadelphia plans to keep its offense moving without one of the leagues most dangerous pass catchers, and rival teams are already questioning whether the move solved anything at all.
Philadelphia is now set to lean on younger options such as Makai Lemon and Dontayvion Wicks to absorb the production and attention Brown once commanded. The challenge is not just replacing his numbers, but replacing the type of threat that changes how defenses line up, and that is why the Eagles next step on offense has become so much more complicated than a simple roster move. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Week 1 Depth Chart Leaves Pressure On Two Key Roles
The Eagles have put out their full depth chart for the 2026 regular season, and it offers a clear look at where the roster is settled and where the real intrigue still sits. Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby are lined up at running back, Dallas Goedert remains the lead tight end, and Jalen Carter anchors the defensive tackle spot, but the chart also makes it plain that not every job has been neatly sorted out.
The biggest unresolved question remains at quarterback, where the backup role is still up for grabs between Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee. There are also lingering decisions on how Jonathan Greenard will be used off the edge and how the cornerback group will hold up after injuries and uneven preseason showings, leaving a few important snaps to be determined even with Week 1 here. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Season Predictions Will Give Fans Plenty To Argue About
The Eagles are heading into the kind of preseason stretch that always invites a little friendly bickering, and the latest round of predictions gives fans plenty to debate. The forecasts touch just about every corner of the roster, from what Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith might produce to how much of an impact the defense can make if the right pieces click at the right time.
Jalen Carter is one of the names drawing the loudest reaction, with the projection placing him among the leagues elite if his ascent continues. Riq Woolen also comes up as a player to watch for turnovers, and the broader outlook is just as ambitious, with the team expected to stay near the top of the NFC East conversation again. [Read more 🡒]