The Eagles escaped Week 1 with a 24-22 win over the Washington Commanders, but the final score did not hide the rough edges. Philadelphia opened its 2026 season Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field with a victory, yet plenty of the same offensive issues that haunted last year were right there again.
The biggest early takeaway: Sean Mannion’s offense is going to need time. After the Kevin Patullo era left Eagles fans wanting change, Mannion arrived with a different look, and that part showed immediately.
Philadelphia lined up under center more often and used more pre-snap movement. But the results were messy.
Through nine drives, the Eagles went three-and-out five times, and they opened the second half with three straight empty possessions. That kind of start looked awfully familiar for a team that led the league in three-and-outs last season.
There were always going to be growing pains for a first-time play-caller, and Sunday felt like the first chapter of that adjustment period. The scheme looked different. The production did not.
The interior offensive line was another problem the Eagles could not hide. It was tempting to pin all of last year’s issues on Patullo, and he certainly had his share of the blame.
But the line was part of the mess, too. Left guard Landon Dickerson and center Cam Jurgens both played through injuries, and both struggled badly.
The run game never found much rhythm, and the offense kept getting dragged off schedule.
Jurgens and Dickerson said they felt rejuvenated after an offseason of recovery that included stem-cell treatment, but that fresh start did not show on Sunday. Jurgens was called for holding twice in the first quarter.
Dickerson got flagged for holding in the third. They were beaten repeatedly as the game went on, and the sacks and pressures piled up around them.
Meanwhile, Drew Kendall sat and watched. The second-year lineman had a strong camp, and if Jurgens or Dickerson do not clean things up, Kendall could force his way into the starting lineup. He can play both center and guard, which makes him a real option if the Eagles decide they need to change something up front.
Not everything was shaky, though. Zack Baun looked like the same elite linebacker the Eagles have come to expect.
This was not exactly a revelation - he was an All-Pro in 2024 and a Pro Bowler in 2025 - but Sunday served as a reminder that he remains one of the NFL’s best at his position. Baun finished with 12 tackles and two pass breakups and was all over the field.
And then there was Dontayvion Wicks, who wasted no time showing why Jalen Hurts trusted him. With DeVonta Smith and Makai Lemon missing most of training camp because of hamstring injuries, Wicks had a chance to build real chemistry with Hurts. He took full advantage in his Eagles debut.
His first catch in midnight green went for 64 yards, a deep strike from Hurts in the first quarter. Wicks appeared covered, but Hurts let it fly anyway, trusting the receiver to separate - and he did, helped along by Washington corner Mike Sainristil losing track of where he was. It was the longest catch of Wicks’ career.
His second reception was even more telling. Wicks ran a sharp route, Hurts threw before he was fully out of the break, and the former Packers receiver hauled in a 9-yard touchdown in the corner of the end zone.
For the Eagles, that made Wicks look like a strong investment by Howie Roseman.
In Other News...
Eagles Fans Are Losing A Familiar Game Day Voice This Season
Ron Jaworski will be a familiar voice no longer on Eagles game days next season, after announcing he will not return to ESPN or NBC Sports Philadelphia for the 2026 NFL season. The former Eagles quarterback spent four years on the teams pregame and postgame shows, bringing the perspective and polish that come with a long broadcasting career built after his playing days.
Jaworski said the decision comes from a desire to spend more time with family, closing a run that stretched well beyond Philadelphia and into national NFL coverage. NBC Sports Philadelphia acknowledged his departure and praised what he brought to its coverage, leaving the Eagles broadcast setup facing a noticeable change as another season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Have A Very Different Week 4 Problem
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Philadelphia now has to redirect its attention toward the rest of a Rams defense that still has plenty of bite, with Aaron Donald looming as the obvious central concern. The Eagles game plan will look different without Garrett in the picture, and while the broad strategic adjustments are easy to imagine, the real question is how much this sudden shift alters what had been a very specific week of preparation. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Finally Showed Their Hand Behind Jalen Hurts
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Dalton and Tanner McKee both worked as possible options throughout the week, so Philadelphia was able to keep Washington guessing until shortly before kickoff. It is a small detail in the larger game plan, but one that shows how carefully the Eagles are managing even the spots behind Hurts as they head into a divisional matchup. [Read more 🡒]