The Eagles are heading into 2026 with a different look, and not just because plenty of familiar faces are still around. The new offensive scheme changes the feel of the whole operation, and with additions like Makai Lemon, Jonathan Greenard, and Riq Woolen, this shapes up as a year that could define a lot of players on the roster.
That’s especially true for the backups. Philadelphia has more reserve pieces who can matter than people might think, and a few of them look positioned to play real roles if things break the right way. Four stand out as the ones most likely to shape this season.
Tank Bigsby is at the top of that list. A lot of Eagles fans spent 2025 wondering why he wasn’t getting more work with Saquon Barkley handling most of the carries.
Bigsby finished with 5.9 yards per carry, while Barkley was at 4.1. The hope now is that new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion recognizes what he has in Bigsby and works him into the plan more often.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is another backup who could push into a bigger lane. He drew attention during Eagles OTAs because his coverage work looked improved, which matters for a linebacker group that already has Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell locked in as the starters inside. Trotter’s path is likely through the rotation, and after spending the last few years as a special teams ace, he appears ready for that shift.
Fred Johnson already showed what he can do when the Eagles need him. Last season, he stepped in for Lane Johnson several times at right tackle while injuries piled up, and his work included a key role in the Week 3 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
He ended up starting the final eight games at right tackle and helped keep the Eagles moving toward the postseason. With injuries always a possibility on the line, he could be called on again in 2026.
Hollywood Brown rounds out the group, and his value is tied to speed. If the Eagles use four-receiver sets, he’ll be on the field.
If not, he’ll slide into the mix whenever the offense wants to threaten deep. That kind of burst is something Jalen Hurts has not had outside of Quez Watkins, and Brown looks set to matter in a big way for the passing game this season.
In Other News...
Eagles Fans Finally Get Their Shot At Scarce Linc Tickets
Eagles fans who have spent years chasing a rare chance at Lincoln Financial Field now get a small but real opening, with tickets set to go on sale June 30 at 10 a.m. Eastern for the 2026 home slate. The sale covers 10 home games, including one preseason game and nine regular season dates, plus a public training camp practice at the stadium, all through Ticketmaster.com with a four-ticket limit per household for games.
The practice will be held Aug. 25 and is the lone open camp session for fans, since workouts at the NovaCare Complex remain closed to the public. General admission tickets are set at $15 and VIP tickets at $50, and the proceeds will benefit the Eagles Autism Foundation, giving the on-sale a feel that is part access event, part fundraiser. [Read more 🡒]
Rosemans 2023 Eagles Draft Class Just Created A Bigger Problem
The Eagles 2023 draft class keeps looking better the more time passes, and that success is part of what makes the next phase so interesting. Jalen Carter has already stacked up the kind of accolades that normally belong to much older players, Nolan Smith has become a real piece of the defense, and even the deeper names from that class have helped shape the roster in different ways. For a front office that has made its reputation on staying ahead of the market, landing impact talent is only the first part of the job.
Philadelphia also has to sort out what comes after the development stage, because not every player in that group fits neatly into the future the same way. Some are still proving they belong, others have carved out roles that matter on special teams or behind the scenes, and a few have already shown enough progress to force bigger decisions than a typical draft class usually creates. The Eagles got value from that group, but now the challenge is figuring out how much of it can be kept together as the roster keeps evolving. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Just Got A Clear Answer On Tank Bigsbys Value
The Eagles did not have to wait long to learn what Tank Bigsby could do once they brought him in after Week 1, and the answer has been pretty useful. Acquired for a pair of 2026 draft picks, Bigsby settled into a change-of-pace role and handled 16 games without forcing the offense to alter its identity, giving Philadelphia a runner who could spell Miles Sanders and keep the backfield moving.
Bigsby finished with 58 carries for 344 yards and two touchdowns, plus work on kick returns, and his most productive stretch came late enough to make the fit look real rather than temporary. The next question is less about whether he belongs and more about how much the Eagles can keep him in that same lane, with a new season approaching and a contract situation that could eventually push his value beyond being the No. 2 option. [Read more 🡒]