The Philadelphia Eagles enter the 2026 preseason with plenty of expectations surrounding a team that believes it can compete near the top of the NFC. While preseason results rarely tell the full story of what a team will accomplish during the regular season, these games are extremely important for Philadelphia as coaches evaluate young players, settle position battles, and determine which players deserve a spot on the final 53-man roster.
Philadelphia opened its three-game preseason schedule on August 15 against the Baltimore Ravens, then traveled to face the New England Patriots on August 22 and returned home to play the Cincinnati Bengals on August 28. With established stars such as Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith, Jordan Mailata, Lane Johnson, and Jalen Carter, the Eagles have plenty of proven talent. However, significant questions remain surrounding the team’s new offensive system, receiving corps, backup quarterback competition, and defensive depth.
The Preseason Opener
The Eagles opened their preseason schedule on August 15 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, suffering a 24-7 loss to the Ravens. Because Philadelphia held its starters out, the game was primarily an opportunity for reserves and young players to compete for roster spots. However, the performance exposed several areas for improvement that the coaching staff will want to address in the remaining preseason games.
Some of the game stats were that Philadelphia’s reserves managed only 159 total yards and six first downs. The Eagles went 0-for-9 on third down and committed 10 penalties for 96 yards while possessing the ball for just 18 minutes and 43 seconds. Baltimore, meanwhile, generated 441 yards and 31 first downs. One of the biggest questions right now is the quarterback position. Andy Dalton started the game and completed 3 of 6 passes for 20 yards. Tanner McKee went 6-of-10 for 35 yards. Neither quarterback generated a first down until the fourth quarter.
The one good drive they had in the fourth quarter came from fifth-round rookie Cole Payton. Payton entered in the fourth quarter and completed 4 of 9 passes for 37 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed three times for 45 yards, showing the athletic ability that made him an intriguing developmental prospect. His most memorable play came on a 17-yard scramble on fourth-and-3 that kept Philadelphia’s only scoring drive alive. Three plays later, Payton rolled to his right and found Erik Ezukanma in the back corner of the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown.
While Payton remains a long shot in the QB2 competition, his performance gave Philadelphia something positive to evaluate heading into the rest of the preseason. The defense also produced some encouraging moments, including turnovers from Ambry Thomas and an interception of Ravens quarterback Joe Fagnano. However, allowing 441 yards highlighted the need to evaluate the defensive depth behind Philadelphia’s established starters. This first preseason game offered a glimpse of what needs work with the new players and should be viewed as a small sample of reserve players playing reserve players. The starters did not play, and the team’s full offensive system was not on display.
A New Look for the Offense
One of the biggest storylines surrounding Philadelphia this summer is the transition to offensive coordinator Sean Mannion. After moving on from Kevin Patullo, the Eagles are entering a new offensive era while still relying on Jalen Hurts to lead the unit. Hurts remains the centerpiece of the offense. Head coach Nick Sirianni has praised his consistency, explosiveness, and leadership throughout training camp, but the preseason will provide the coaching staff with opportunities to evaluate how the offense operates with its new concepts and personnel. The transition is particularly important because Philadelphia is trying to maintain a championship-caliber offense while making significant personnel changes with the departure of AJ Brown and the addition of wide receivers like Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore, and first-round rookie Makai Lemon.
On offense, they also got more help at running back by keeping Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley and adding Dameon Pierce to round out the backfield. Philadelphia does not necessarily need Barkley to play extensive preseason snaps. Instead, the coaching staff can use these games to determine how effectively the backup running backs can perform in the offense.
Philadelphia’s offensive line is traditionally one of the team’s biggest advantages, and the preseason will once again provide an opportunity to evaluate its depth. Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson remain important pieces at the tackle positions, while Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens and Tyler Steen are projected to occupy the interior starting spots. The biggest question may not be the starters but the players competing behind them. Young offensive linemen such as Markel Bell, Willie Lampkin, Cameron Williams and Myles Hinton have opportunities to demonstrate that they can be trusted if injuries occur during the regular season. Bell was one of the more encouraging performers against Baltimore, showing promise as both a pass blocker and run blocker. With the Eagles moving on from longtime offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland this offseason, developing the next wave of linemen will be especially important.
Defensive Depth Is Worth Watching
Philadelphia’s defense enters the preseason with plenty of young talent and several players capable of playing significant roles. Jalen Carter remains the centerpiece of the defensive interior, while Jordan Davis gives Philadelphia another powerful presence along the defensive line. The Eagles also have edge players such as Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, and Arnold Ebiketie competing for opportunities. The preseason will be particularly valuable for determining how Philadelphia distributes snaps among its young defensive players.
The secondary is another major area to monitor. Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell are among the team’s most important young defensive backs, while Philadelphia continues to evaluate its safety combination. Both DeJean and Mitchell have dealt with injuries during training camp, making their health something to monitor closely as the regular season approaches. The preseason gives younger defensive backs a chance to prove they can contribute if injuries affect the starters.
Injuries and Training Camp Developments
Training camp has already produced several injury concerns.DeVonta Smith returned to practice after missing seven sessions with a hamstring injury. Cooper DeJean suffered a groin injury, while Quinyon Mitchell also missed time before the preseason opener. Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard began camp on the active/PUP list with a pectoral strain, although the team downplayed the severity. Kicker Jake Elliott is another storyline worth monitoring after a difficult stretch from long range. The Eagles will hold joint practices with the Patriots on August 19 and 20 in Foxborough before their annual open practice at Lincoln Financial Field on August 25. These practices will give Philadelphia’s coaching staff additional opportunities to evaluate players before the preseason finale.
What to Watch: The Rest of the Preseason
The Eagles’ second preseason game is against the New England Patriots on August 22 at Gillette Stadium. The teams are also scheduled to hold joint practices before the game, giving Philadelphia additional competitive reps against another NFL roster. Joint practices could be even more valuable than the preseason game itself. They provide starters and young players with opportunities to compete in controlled situations while allowing coaches to evaluate players across multiple days. Philadelphia should particularly use this portion of the preseason to evaluate its young receivers, offensive linemen and defensive backs.
The quarterback competition will also remain an important storyline as it comes towards the last preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals on August 28 at 8 p.m. This will be the final major opportunity for players on the roster bubble to make their case before final roster decisions. By this point, the coaching staff should have a much clearer picture of the roster. Players who have performed consistently throughout training camp and the first two preseason games will have a significant advantage. For those competing for the final roster spots, however, one strong performance against Cincinnati could make a major difference.
Final Outlook
The Eagles’ 2026 preseason is about much more than the win-loss record. Philadelphia already has established stars, but the bigger questions involve how the team’s new offensive system develops, who emerges behind the starters, and whether the young defensive talent can take another step forward. The preseason opener against Baltimore exposed some offensive issues, particularly among the reserves and backup quarterbacks, but it also gave young players such as Cole Payton and Markel Bell valuable opportunities. With games against New England and Cincinnati still remaining, Philadelphia has plenty of time to evaluate its roster before the regular season begins.
Ultimately, the Eagles’ preseason should be viewed as a developmental period rather than a final judgment on the team. If Philadelphia can emerge from August healthy, establish its new offensive identity and identify several young players capable of contributing immediately, the preseason will have accomplished exactly what the organization needs. The regular season opens September 13 against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field. The answers start then.
