Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/3esc682e
Originally published Oct. 18, 2026
PHILADELPHIA — After mounting injuries to the roster, the sudden retirement of Lane Johnson, the unexpected trade of Cam Jurgens and a shocking loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on a whirlwind trip to London — the Birds’ third straight defeat — Eagles All-Pro left tackle Jordan Mailata called it “a week from hell.”
A few days later, when things went from bad to worse with the news that franchise quarterback Jalen Hurts would be out indefinitely with a superficial blood clot in his calf, Mailata invoked some gallows humor.
“I think I was a little early!” he said, cracking a laugh and shaking his head in the locker room after Thursday’s practice. “I might have jumped the gun on that one. Holy cow! That’s the NFL, man. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.”
Mailata, almost always open to talk, perhaps needed to vent a little more than usual following such a staggering development.
“Wave after wave, we’re still standing, still pushing forward,” Mailata said. “We have to. It’s the league. (Expletive)’s going to happen. It’s just how you respond.
“Can’t react. It’s how you respond. And I’m choosing to keep pushing the point forward of getting ready for Sundays. Get out of your feelings, whatever it is, and take the coaching and prepare for Sundays. That’s it.”
The team initially just stated that Hurts is out for today’s game against the Carolina Panthers (2-2) but placed him on IR Saturday. It could be anywhere from weeks to months before he returns, based on the nature and healing of the scary injury.
“Jalen’s health is of the utmost importance to all of us in this building,” coach Nick Sirianni said Friday. “(We) care deeply about Jalen. … I love Jalen, and again, just want him to be healthy. Your first reaction is always the care for the player. … And this is not just a coach-player relationship. Jalen and I have a special relationship, and there are times I’ve said to Jalen like, ‘Man, I know you like I know my brother.’”
Enter Tanner McKee, 26, at a dashing 6-foot-6, 231 pounds out of Stanford. Once the Eagles’ golden backup, he lost some luster after an uneven performance against Washington last year and a rocky preseason in which he was relegated to third string, behind 38-year-old mercenary Andy Dalton, who was released nine days ago.
“Jalen kind of just turned to me and said, ‘You’re going to be the guy this week,’” McKee said. “He’s an unbelievable teammate, expressed confidence in me and said he’s going to have my back if I need anything.
“As a backup quarterback, that’s the mindset you have to have — at any moment, you have to be ready to play on a Sunday. It could be the first play, it could be the last play. It’s kind of a luxury for me to have the ‘one’ reps in practice and just running the meetings or whatever it is (this week). It’s kind of a luxury for me as a backup to have a week to prepare like that.”
Wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Hollywood Brown are expected back for the Eagles, as is tight end Eli Stowers. McKee and Company will be facing a Carolina team that ranks 29th in total defense (387.2 yards allowed per game), 22nd against the pass (230.8), 31st against the run (156.5) and 26th in scoring defense (27.3 points). The Panthers allow a league-worst 5.4 yards per carry but have forced seven turnovers — tied for fifth in the NFL.
Cole Payton, a mobile fifth-round rookie out of North Dakota State, will be the Eagles’ backup quarterback. Joe Milton, 26, just signed off the Cowboys’ practice squad, is QB3.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, now with some continuity and talent around him, has thrown for 1,268 yards, nine touchdowns and two picks, completing 62.3 percent of his passes with a 100.0 passer rating. Carolina ranks third in total offense (405.8 yards per game), fourth in scoring (30.3 points), second in passing (301.3 yards) and 18th in rushing (104.5).
Eagles Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, who has barely played since his acquisition in April, and safety Marcus Epps are expected to be on the field. Greenard replaces Jaelan Pillips, who signed with Carolina in the offseason and is questionable to play today.
Injury report
EAGLES
Game status: OUT – QB Jalen Hurts (calf), RB Saquon Barkley (hamstring), RB Will Shipley (foot), OLB/EDGE Jalyx Hunt (knee/ankle), DB Michael Carter II (abdomen). DOUBTFUL – OLB/EDGE A.J. Epenesa (back). QUESTIONABLE – CB Jakorian Bennett (knee), TE Grant Calcaterra (back), G Landon Dickerson (knee), C Drew Kendall (knee), TE Eli Stowers (quadricep).
Friday practice report: DNP – QB Jalen Hurts (calf), RB Saquon Barkley (hamstring), RB Will Shipley (foot), OLB/EDGE Jalyx Hunt (knee/ankle), DB Michael Carter II (abdomen), OLB/EDGE A.J. Epenesa (back). LIMITED – G Landon Dickerson (knee), C Drew Kendall (knee). FULL – LB Zack Baun, CB Jakorian Bennett (knee), WR Hollywood Brown, TE Grant Calcaterra (back), LB Jihaad Campbell, DT Jalen Carter, OLB/EDGE Arnold Ebiketie, S Marcus Epps, OLB/EDGE Jonathan Greenard, TE E.J. Jenkins, T Fred Johnson, CB Mac McWilliams, S Andrew Mukuba, WR DeVonta Smith, G Tyler Steen, TE Eli Stowers (quadricep), WR Dontayvion Wicks.
PANTHERS
Game status: OUT – RB AJ Dillon (ankle). DOUBTFUL – T Monroe Freeling (knee). QUESTIONABLE – RB Trevor Etienne (ankle), G Damien Lewis (elbow), T Taylor Moton (lung/blood clot), OLB/EDGE Jaelan Phillips (hamstring), DT Tershawn Wharton (neck).
Friday practice report: DNP – RB AJ Dillon (ankle). LIMITED – T Monroe Freeling (knee). FULL – WR Jalen Coker, RB Trevor Etienne (ankle), LB Thomas Incoom, G Damien Lewis (elbow), T Taylor Moton (lung/blood clot), OLB/EDGE Jaelan Phillips (hamstring), TE Tommy Tremble, TE Darren Waller, DT Tershawn Wharton (neck), QB Bryce Young.
Pregame position grades
Here’s how the teams match up by position group in Week 6, based on track record and recent performance, with injuries taken into account. Performances will be evaluated postgame.
QB: Eagles C-, Panthers B+
RB: Eagles D, Panthers B
TE: Eagles B-, Panthers B
WR: Eagles B, Panthers A-
OL: Eagles C, Panthers C-
DL: Eagles B+, Panthers C+
LB: Eagles A, Panthers A-
CB/S: Eagles A-, Panthers D+
K/P: Eagles A-, Panthers B
Coaching: Eagles A-, Panthers B+
On the air
Eagles (2-3) vs. Panthers (2-2), Today, 1 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
TV: CBS 3: Ian Eagle, Ross Tucker and Evan Washburn.
Radio/streaming: 94.1-FM WIP: Merrill Reese and Mike Quick. Tico (Spanish): Rickie Ricardo, Oscar Budejen and Dave Gerhardt. ESPN Radio: Chris Carlin, Sal Paolantonio. SiriusXM.
Last week: Eagles lost to the Jaguars 19-17. Panthers bye.
Betting odds
Spread: Panthers -3.5
Over/under: 39
Money line: Panthers -175; Eagles +145
Notes
• The Eagles elevated RB Jaydon Blue, OLB Keyshawn James-Newby and S Cole Wisniewski from the practice squad to the active roster.
• The Eagles (2-3) have lost three straight after opening the season 2-0. Carolina (2-2) is coming off its bye week and leads the NFC South.
• The Eagles lead the all-time series 9-5, including playoffs, and have won three of the last four meetings.
• The Eagles rank 29th in scoring offense (18.4 points per game). Their running game managed just 22 yards on 18 carries in last week’s 19-17 loss to Jacksonville.
• Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan caught 14 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns against Detroit in Week 4, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
• Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith is expected back after missing two games with a hamstring injury. Outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard and safety Marcus Epps also are returning.
• The Eagles are 35-15 at home, including playoffs, under Nick Sirianni since 2021, a .700 winning percentage that ranks third in the NFL during that span.
• Carolina’s offensive line has been vulnerable in pass protection. Bryce Young was pressured on 83 dropbacks through four games, among the highest totals in the league.
Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X and Threads at @the_defranc.