Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/3sujmmns
Originally published Sept. 13, 2026
PHILADELPHIA — The good vibes are overflowing inside the Eagles’ complex, the kind of vibes that teams have when they know they have something special.
With a loaded roster that’s almost entirely healthy at the moment, a drama-free training camp and a new West Coast offense, the players, coaching staff, front office and ownership can’t hide their excitement about this season (even if they downplay it publicly).
“I feel good about who we have on our team and I feel good about where we’re at, but there’s always room for improvement and growth,” said Nick Sirianni, who is 5-0 in Week 1 games as head coach. “You’re always trying to get better every single day, and that’s all of us.”
Owner Jeffrey Lurie was at practice Friday as the Eagles prepped for their season opener today at 4:25 p.m. against division opponent Washington at Lincoln Financial Field. The Commanders, including quarterback Jayden Daniels, were ravaged by injuries in 2025 after reaching the NFC Championship Game against the Birds the previous season — when Daniels was Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Despite the health issues, Washington fired some of its top coaches and has a first-year offensive coordinator in David Blough and first-year defensive coordinator in Daronte Jones, which leaves the Eagles wondering what to expect this afternoon.
“It’s a little different than normal,” Eagles DC Vic Fangio said. “You really don’t know a whole lot about the offense either way, what it might, might not be. You make the assumption, right or wrong, that they’ll still do some of the stuff that Daniels was good at and comfortable with. They’ll do some stuff that the new guy wants to do. It’s a little bit of a crapshoot.”
Blough, a former quarterback, comes from a background that mixes West Coast concepts with an Air-Raid spread attack in the lineage of Hal Lumme, Mike Leach and ex-Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury.
Jones’ defensive background is pressure-oriented with multiple looks, disguises and adaptable game plans in the tradition of Brian Flores in Minnesota and Bill Belichick. That’s not particularly in sync with head coach Dan Quinn, who made his bones with Pete Carroll in Seattle running a line ‘em up 4-3 and Cover 3 with the “Legion of Boom.”
Jones’ promotion signals a new direction for Quinn and Washington, though Quinn will still put his own stamp on the defense.
“You don’t really know what you’re going to get,” said Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who’s also 5-0 in NFL season openers. “You try and dig into their background and where they come from, the (coaching) tree that they’re in, and that’s something that you honor.
“I think just going into a Week 1 in general, it comes down to playing clean football, playing with good fundamentals, playing together, everybody being aligned and trying to keep the focus on those things, the things that we can control.”
The Eagles should be able to exploit Washington at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Saquon Barkley has the potential for a big day. In four games against the Commanders since he’s been in Philadelphia, he has averaged 136.5 rushing yards and scored eight touchdowns.
Injury report
Eagles: Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard (pectoral) is OUT. The Eagles acquired Greenard in April from Minnesota and signed him to a four-year, $100 million extension with $50 million guaranteed. He missed all of camp with a weightlifting injury and will miss Game 1. He had practiced on a limited basis during the week.
Tight end Eli Stowers (hamstring, quadriceps), a rookie second-round pick out of Vanderbilt, was also downgraded to OUT and placed on IR. He had said earlier in the week that he planned to play and was initially listed as questionable with just the hamstring strain. He will be eligible to return after Week 5.
Wide receiver/punt returner Britain Covey was elevated to the active roster.
Injured reserve: CB Jakorian Bennett (knee), TEs Grant Calcaterra (back) and Stowers (hamstring), S Andre’ Sam (foot), WR Johnny Wilson (knee). Bennett, Calcaterra and Stowers are eligible to return after four weeks. Sam and Wilson are out for the season.
Commanders: No one on the active roster is listed, even though both of their starting edge rushers — Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson — and their top running back, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, were limited in practice all week.
A handful of key Washington players have long-term injury designations, with two starters leading the bunch in LT Laremy Tunsil (triceps) and CB Trey Amos (ankle).
Pregame position grades
Here’s how the teams match up based on Week 1 knowledge and health. Performances will be evaluated postgame.
QB: Wash B-, Eagles A
RB: Wash C-, Eagles A
TE: Wash C+, Eagles A-
WR: Wash B, Eagles A-
OL: Wash C-, Eagles A
DL: Wash C-, Eagles A
LB: Wash B, Eagles A
CB/S: Wash D+, Eagles A-
K/P: Wash A, Eagles A
Coaching: Wash C+, Eagles A
On the air
Eagles (0-0) vs. Commanders (0-0), Today, 4:25 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field.
TV: FOX: Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi.
Radio/streaming: 94.1-FM WIP: Merrill Reese and Mike Quick (no official sideline reporter). Tico: Rickie Ricardo, Oscar Budejen and David Gerhardt. Compass Media radio: Chris Carrino and Brian Baldinger.
Betting odds
Spread: Eagles by 6.
Over/under: 44.5.
Money line: Eagles -250, Commanders +205.
Aussie rules
Jordan Mailata had a personal interest in the NFL’s historic trip Down Under on Thursday night, when the San Francisco 49ers routed the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 in the league’s first regular-season game in Australia, which was broadcast on Netflix.
More than 100,000 fans filled the stadium in Melbourne — a source of pride for Mailata.
The Eagles’ Australian-born left tackle has watched the NFL’s popularity grow back home during his rise from rugby league project to NFL All-Pro and Super Bowl champion. He has become one of the sport’s most recognizable Australian faces.
Mailata doesn’t take credit for the NFL’s growth on the standalone continent — pointing out that other Aussies have done well in the league — but his success, visibility and big personality are undeniably part of the story.
Tickets for the matchup at Melbourne Cricket Ground reportedly disappeared in about 30 minutes.
Mailata, who grew up in suburban Sydney, did have some advice for teams making the trip (a roughly 16-hour flight from California spanning nearly 8,000 miles). The 49ers arrived several days ahead of the game to acclimate to the time change while the Rams waited until much later in the week — then looked sluggish in the loss.
“I would have recommended going out early,” Mailata said. “The flight itself is so long, I don’t think 24 hours is enough to flush out just the flight itself. You need at least a couple days.”
Notes
● The Eagles signed wide receiver/return specialist Xavier Gipson to the practice squad Friday and placed wide receiver Danny Gray (groin) on practice-squad injured reserve. Gipson spent part of last season with the Eagles, appearing in five games after they claimed him off waivers from the Giants.
● Former Eagles running back D’Andre Swift, who played for St. Joseph’s Prep, agreed to a three-year, $33.75 million contract extension with the Chicago Bears that includes $27.5 million guaranteed. Swift, a Pro Bowler during his lone Eagles season in 2023, ran for a career-high 1,087 yards and nine touchdowns for Chicago last season. The new deal keeps him under contract through 2029.
● The Eagles are one of only two teams, along with the Buffalo Bills, to reach the playoffs in each of the last five seasons.
● During Sirianni’s tenure, the Eagles have the second-best winning percentage in the NFL (.694, 59-26), narrowly behind the Bills (.714, 60-24) in that span.
● Sirianni is 8-3 against the Commanders.
● The Eagles marked the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks by hosting more than 2,200 volunteers at Lincoln Financial Field as part of the 9/11 National Day of Service. Volunteers packed 1 million meals for families experiencing hunger.
Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X and Threads at @the_defranc.