Jalyx Hunt walks into Week 1 with real momentum and a real chance to turn all that buzz into something bigger.
The Eagles edge rusher is coming off a breakout 2025 season in which he piled up 52 tackles, 24 quarterback hits, nine tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, three interceptions, three pass deflections, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one pick-six in 17 games. In the process, he became the first Eagles player to ever lead the team in interceptions and sacks in the same season.
Now he’s in position to make an even louder statement against the Washington Commanders. The game gives Hunt a chance to show he belongs in the starting lineup, but the conversation around him has gone well beyond that.
This offseason, the chatter around Hunt only grew. He took major steps as a defender, and his ability to cover in space while also getting after the quarterback made him stand out in Vic Fangio’s defense. That kind of versatility is exactly why his name kept coming up through OTAs and training camp.
Hunt spent the summer battling Nolan Smith Jr. for a starting job, while the Eagles also traded for Jonathan Greenard, who was set to be one of the other starters at edge rusher. But by the time camp wrapped, the sense around the team was that Hunt had clearly separated himself.
He was not just good. He was making a case as the best player on the Eagles during training camp, and Patriots personnel even told Eagles reporters at the joint practice with New England that Hunt was a problem.
That momentum carried into the Week 1 conversation on NBC Sports Philadelphia, where Hunt came up repeatedly in the network’s Eagles-Commanders predictions.
"Jalyx Hunt is coming off a tremendous training camp and he’ll be facing a backup left tackle in this game. He should get off to an incredibly quick start to his season," Dave Zangaro said.
"Brandon Coleman will go in for Tunsil at tackle and Eagles edge rusher Jalyx Hunt should have himself a day with this matchup," Ashlyn Sullivan said.
"Defensively, expect Washington to test Riq Woolen and Philly's LBs in coverage with explosive TE Chig Okonkwo, but Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis should more than have their way against center Nick Allegretti and company, ultimately limiting space for Washington to execute," Ryan Fowler said. "I'm also pumped to see Jalyx Hunt go to work."
There’s a reason Hunt keeps popping up in the preview chatter: he can change the game when he’s on one. With Jonathan Greenard out because of a pectoral injury, the door is open for Hunt to make a major impact against Washington.
Week 1 gives him a shot to lock down a starting role for the season and back up the idea that he’s an elite defender. If the Eagles get the version of Hunt they saw in camp, they may be watching the start of something even bigger in 2026.
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