Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/yrnma3w3
Originally published Sept. 19, 2026
The Eagles flew to Nashville Friday evening instead of the usual Saturday for away games to help acclimate to the weather in Tennessee, where a “heat dome” is bringing triple-digit temperatures, heavy humidity and virtually no wind.
“You are constantly tweaking your schedules just to constantly improve your process,” coach Nick Sirianni said. “We felt like, ‘Hey, when we went to Tampa last year and did this, with the addition of other things that we changed in our schedule as well, it benefited us.’ And that’s why we decided to do that again.”
The Eagles, who take pride in their conditioning under Sirianni, beat the Buccaneers 31-25 in steamy Tampa last September after struggling in the heat there in 2024. They play the Titans in downtown Nashville today at 1 p.m. ET.
Tennessee quarterback Cam Ward, whom the Titans (0-1) selected out of Miami with the first overall pick in 2025, has a new head coach in Robert Saleh and new offensive coordinator in Brian Daboll. It’s a pivotal year for Ward, whose squad lost to the lowly New York Jets 23-10 in Week 1.
The Titans’ best player is four-time All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. He mentioned the Titans’ strategy against Eagles QB Jalen Hurts.
“We just need to make Jalen Hurts be a QB. Stop his runs, make sure Hurts doesn’t get out of the pocket and make plays,” said Simmons, who had 11 sacks and 17 tackles for loss last season.
Late last week, the Eagles (1-0) were monitoring the health of one of their own star D-tackles, Jalen Carter, as well as nickelback Cooper DeJean and safety Andrew Mukuba.
Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, whom the Birds acquired in the offseason, has been out since the start of training camp and will miss at least one more week.
With Pro Bowl left guard Landon Dickerson (knee) placed on injured reserve, it appears the Eagles will go with Drew Kendall to replace him. However, Fred Johnson, who has NFL experience at guard (on the right side, not the left), got some reps there in practice last week.
Also, center Cam Jurgens could move to left guard with another answer at center, perhaps Willie Lampkin. But Micah Morris and Lampkin both played significant reps at left guard in college.
Injury report
Eagles: Game status: OUT – OLB Greenard (pectoral). QUESTIONABLE – S Mukuba (knee).
Friday practice report: LIMITED – DT Carter (wrist), OLB Greenard (pectoral), S Mukuba (knee). FULL – DB DeJean (calf/abdomen), WR Hollywood Brown (hamstring), WR Elijah Moore (neck).
The Eagles elevated safety Maximus Pulley, a rookie out of Wofford, from the practice squad Saturday.
Titans: Game status: QUESTIONABLE – LB Cedric Gray (concussion), LB James Williams Sr. (elbow), CB Cor’Dale Flott (quadriceps).
Friday practice report: DNP – CB Cor’Dale Flott (quadriceps). LIMITED – LB James Williams Sr. (elbow). FULL – LB Cedric Gray (concussion).
Pregame position grades
Here’s how the teams match up by position group in Week 2, with health included. Performances will be evaluated postgame.
QB: Eagles A, Titans C
RB: Eagles A, Titans C+
TE: Eagles A, Titans C
WR: Eagles B+, Titans B
OL: Eagles B, Titans C+
DL: Eagles A, Titans C
LB: Eagles A, Titans C
CB/S: Eagles A-, Titans C+
K/P: Eagles A-, Titans B
Coaching: Eagles A, Titans C
On the air
Eagles (1-0) at Titans (0-1), Today, 1 p.m. ET, Nissan Stadium, Nashville
TV: FOX: Adam Amin, Drew Brees, Kristina Pink.
Radio/streaming: 94.1-FM WIP: Merrill Reese and Mike Quick (no official sideline reporter). Tico: Rickie Ricardo, Oscar Budejen and David Gerhardt.
Last week: Eagles beat the Commanders 24-22, Titans lost to the Jets 23-10.
Betting odds
Spread: Eagles -7
Over/under: 39.5
Money line: Eagles -310, Titans +250
Notes
● Hurts is 0-2 as a starter against Tennessee head coach Robert Saleh-coached defenses (Jets and 49ers), completing 48 of 80 passes for 448 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions with a 69.5 passer rating. He has also rushed 13 times for 61 yards and a TD.
● The Eagles’ last trip to Nashville was Sept. 30, 2018, when the Titans won 26-23 in overtime. Marcus Mariota threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Corey Davis with five seconds remaining in overtime.
● The Eagles have never won at the Titans’ current stadium, which opened in 1999. They have played there four times (2002, 2006, 2010 and 2018).
● The Titans’ new stadium, which will be enclosed, opens next year near the present location.
● Tennessee is trying to avoid its third straight 0-2 start.
● The Eagles will be wearing their all-white uniforms with midnight green numbers and stripes.
Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X and Threads at @the_defranc.