An Eagles Q&A: Is Hurts acclimating? Will Lemon contribute?
There is no shortage of storylines surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles as they ready for an intrigue-filled 2026 season.
From Jalen Hurts and a new-look offense to expectations for rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon, there are plenty of questions for a team that finished 11-6, atop the NFC East before losing in the wild-card round to the 49ers.
Let's examine a few key subplots with the opener versus the Washington Commanders on September 13 (4:25 p.m. ET, FOX) rapidly approaching.
How is Jalen Hurts acclimating to the new offense?
The feedback internally has been positive. For all the discussion about the number of coordinators Hurts has worked with, the scheme has largely remained the same in the Hurts/Nick Sirianni era. The West Coast style system being implemented by Sean Mannion, though, is a significant departure from how they've operated in the past. It's a heavy under-center operation. Hurts will often have his back to the defense when executing play-action instead of the more panoramic view from shotgun.
Passing game coordinator Josh Grizzard described a timing-based aerial attack which requires Hurts to have consistent footwork and trust in his pass-catchers to be at the right place at the right time.
"I think it's the commitment from the whole group," Grizzard said on what's impressed him most about the passing offense so far.
"I think what you saw from the spring and where we're at right now, with everybody's understanding of the spacing of the field and the attention to fundamentals and details has really come a long way."
There's going to be growing pains, no doubt. We witnessed some of that during the summer. Hurts threw double-digit interceptions during training camp -- much more than we're accustomed to seeing from him. Some of those fell on the receivers, some can be chalked up to a lack of synchronization in a new scheme, and some were on the QB. It's worth noting Hurts is making more over-the-middle throws in this offense and he got burned a handful of times while doing so.
The real test for Hurts' commitment to this style of play will come during the regular season when the inevitable bumps in the road hit. The consensus to this point is he is bought in and fighting hard through the learning curve.
Is Makai Lemon ready to contribute?
Expectations should be tempered early.
First-round picks always garner attention, and the interest was even higher around Lemon given A.J. Brown's departure this offseason. But thoughts of him making a major impact out of the gate cooled as he missed minicamp and a good chunk of training camp with a hamstring injury.
Lemon acknowledged it was the same hamstring giving him issues in the spring and summer. He raised some curiosity when he said he needed to be "more professional off the field" when speaking on the injury. Receivers coach Aaron Moorehead interpreted that as Lemon believing he needed to be "proactive with his pre-hab and his rehab and his stretching and all the things he needs to before practice, and come early.
"I basically told him, 'Whatever Smitty [DeVonta Smith] does, you do.' And he's taken to that a little bit," Moorehead said.
The coaches say Lemon attacked the mental part of the game with high intensity as he waited to get healthy. There's no substitution for on-field experience, however, and it will likely take a while for Lemon to fully get the timing of this offense down. He was only able to play in one preseason game and it didn't go particularly well, as he finished with three catches for three yards and had a pass glance off his hands that led to an interception.
Lemon is expected to get playing time right off the bat but it's more likely that Smith and Dontayvion Wicks receive the bulk of targets while the rookie gets his footing.
What has been the biggest under-the-radar development?
The emergence of offensive line depth.
"If any of you would've given me a truth serum and said, 'What are you looking for in training camp?' it would be how our interior offensive line depth panned out," general manager Howie Roseman said recently.
It was a natural place to have your eye trained. Left guard Landon Dickerson and center Cam Jurgens spent the bulk of last season battling through injuries that clearly impacted their play. And there wasn't much proven talent behind them entering the offseason.
Second-year guard/centers Willie Lampkin and Drew Kendall shined during training camp in the preseason, however, and rookie guard Micah Morris, selected in the sixth round out of Georgia, impressed as well.
The team's third-round pick, tackle Markel Bell, appears to have earned the role of swing tackle and could be the eventual replacement for Lane Johnson at right tackle.
It's no secret the success of the Eagles has largely been predicated on their line play, and there's a sense of relief that the well appears full. It also reflects kindly on new offensive line coach Chris Kuper, who's had the daunting task of replacing one of the greats in Jeff Stoutland.
Is the defense prepared to carry this team early if need be?
No question. This group has top-3 potential.
There are All-Pro caliber players at every level, from defensive tackle Jalen Carter up front to linebacker Zack Baun in the middle to corners Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in the back end. The addition of CB Riq Woolen, who has flashed his playmaking abilities a bunch this offseason since coming over from Seattle, could help make this one of the best secondaries in football.
Not everything has gone right for the defense. Edge Jonathan Greenard, the Eagles' big offseason acquisition/Jaelan Phillips replacement, injured his pec and missed all of training camp. They'll need Jalyx Hunt to keep the momentum from his red-hot summer going to help fuel the pass rush as Greenard heals and gets back up to speed.
He'll have help from Nolan Smith Jr. and an interior line trio of Carter, Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo that's as good as any in the NFL.
Philly is loaded on the defensive side of the ball -- a luxury that, at a minimum, should keep the Eagles in every game.
