The Eagles may have to open the season without their biggest offseason swing on the edge.
Jonathan Greenard’s status for Sunday’s opener against the Commanders is still up in the air after he sat out all of training camp with an injury. Nick Sirianni didn’t offer much certainty on Wednesday, saying, “we’ll see” when asked whether the $100 million acquisition would be ready to play in Week 1.
“We’ll see where that is by the end of the week,” Sirianni said, while also noting that Greenard has “worked his butt off” to get himself back in shape for the opener.
Greenard landed on the physically unable to perform list at the start of camp after suffering a pec strain while lifting before practices began. He did make the initial 53-man roster, though, which kept him from starting the year on the PUP list. That mattered, because being placed there would have forced him to miss at least four games.
The move onto the roster signals the Eagles believe any absence would be short. If they thought Greenard was headed for a longer stay on the sideline, keeping him active would not have made sense.
Philadelphia paid a steep price to get him, sending two third-round picks to the Vikings for the 2024 Pro Bowler on draft weekend before handing him a four-year, $100 million extension that includes $50 million guaranteed.
He was brought in to boost an edge-rusher room that also includes Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, Arnold Ebiketie and A.J. Epenesa. If Greenard can’t go against Washington, that group will be asked to pick up the slack with more snaps and a bigger workload right away.
In Other News...
Eagles Bring Back A Familiar Returner With Unfinished Business
The Eagles added a familiar face to their practice squad, signing wide receiver and return specialist Xavier Gipson after he was waived by the Giants. Philadelphia also moved wide receiver Danny Gray to injured reserve in the corresponding roster move, giving the team a bit of extra backfield and special teams depth as it continues sorting through the back end of the roster.
Gipson is no stranger to the organization, having spent time with the Eagles last season, and his value comes with his ability to help on kickoff returns. For a team that always pays close attention to hidden yardage and the return game, bringing him back fits the kind of practical, low-risk move that can matter later, especially if the Eagles need another option in that phase of the game. [Read more 🡒]
Saquon Barkley Revealed The Early Setback That Shaped His Mindset
Saquon Barkley has never needed much time to remind people how quickly a season can change, and one of the earliest lessons in that mindset came long before his NFL stardom. Looking back on his Penn State debut in 2015, Barkley described a first game that did not go smoothly, with limited playing time and a benching after a mistake in pass protection. For a player who has long carried himself like a workhorse, it was an early reminder that every snap matters.
Barkley said a conversation with his father helped reset him heading into the next week, and the response came immediately. He bounced back with a strong showing against Buffalo, rushing for 115 yards and a touchdown, turning an early setback into the kind of correction that has followed him throughout his career. For Eagles fans, it is another glimpse at the steadying influence that has helped make Barkley such a reliable presence when the margins get tight. [Read more 🡒]
A.J. Browns Patriots Start Just Took Another Brutal Turn
A.J. Browns latest chapter in New England has taken an abrupt detour, with the former Eagles receiver now headed to injured reserve after suffering a high ankle sprain in the Patriots Week 1 game against the Seahawks. It is another tough break for a player who was expected to be a major part of the offense after the trade from Philadelphia in June 2023, and it leaves the Patriots waiting at least four games for his return.
For Eagles fans still tracking one of the most notable moves of that summer, the timing adds another layer to a story that has already been full of turnover and frustration. Browns absence will force New England to adjust early, while also extending the sense that his start there has never really found the rhythm the Patriots hoped for. [Read more 🡒]