The Philadelphia Eagles have already begun training camp and are about to officially start their preseason games. Let’s take a look at the Eagles preseason schedule, players to watch, and key storylines to follow.
The Eagles preseason schedule will feature three games throughout three consecutive weeks. They will play just one home game, traveling away for the other contests. Included in each game are ways to watch, date, time, and the location of each contest.
Cole Payton
Payton will get a ton of reps this preseason as the team’s likely third quarterback. He will have plenty of time to prove himself as a potential future contributor.
Payton is a great athlete who has shown some real arm potential in training camp. An expected Tanner McKee trade should lead to Payton securing a spot on the roster. A good showing could lead to him filling the role of McKee as a valuable backup QB sooner rather than later.
Elijah Mitchell
Mitchell has found success in the NFL that made him a valuable piece to the San Francisco 49ers in 2021. He had over 900 yards that season as a rookie backing up an injured Christian McCaffrey.
Mitchell will be in a similar system as he was when he found that success with San Francisco. A good preseason could put him in a spot to beat out Will Shipley and make the roster.
Eli Stowers
Stowers has not had a very good camp, especially for a second-round pick. He has not been able to find a role in the offense. He profiles as an important piece of the Eagles offense, especially if Dallas Goedert gets injured.
Stowers will need to find production in the preseason. That’s what made him such a high-level prospect in college, so hopefully that carries over into the NFL. If he can’t find a way to help on offense, Philadelphia may have to search for alternative options for a backup pass-catching TE.
Myles Hinton
Hinton is a natural tackle who the Eagles have been cross-training at guard during the early portion of camp. He was the Eagles’ sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Hinton has elite size, similar to former Eagles guard Mekhi Becton. Hinton will try to go through the same positional change that Becton did that made him an important piece on Philadelphia’s Super Bowl winning team.
Hinton needs to find success at the guard position to make the 53-man roster. That versatility could be huge when rounding out the roster.
Uar Bernard and Josh Weru
Bernard and Weru both enter the preseason with absolutely zero football experience. Neither of these guys has even put on pads in an organized game until the preseason comes around.
Bernard is the more well-known name amongst the two. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL draft. He impressed in the pre-draft process with a stunning display of athleticism. Bernard drew physical comparisons to superstar EDGE Myles Garrett.
Weru does not have the same hype surrounding his name and is unlikely to make the roster. He should find a home on the practice squad for next season. He is a 23-year-old international rugby player who presents as a linebacker.
Dontayvion Wicks
Wicks has been the most popular name in Philadelphia through the early portion of training camp. He’s been making standout plays and seems to have a strong connection with Jalen Hurts.
Wicks enters his first season with the Eagles and fourth in the NFL. He’s spent the previous three seasons with the Green Bay Packers. An important note about that: He has already played in an offensive system that should be similar to the one Sean Mannion looks to incorporate in Philadelphia. He should have a head start over some of the other receivers.
Riq Woolen
Woolen was the team’s biggest free agent signing this offseason. He comes over from the Seattle Seahawks with hopes of finally solving the outside cornerback issue opposite Quinyon Mitchell.
It is unclear whether or not Woolen will get playing time in the preseason. If he does get some game action, seeing him in an Eagles uniform for the first time will certainly be one to watch.
Kapena Gushiken
Gushiken has the biggest opportunity to make the roster amongst all undrafted free agent signings this year. He is a versatile DB who can play safety and cornerback. He received the most guaranteed money out of all of the UDFA signings ($272,500).
Gushiken quickly received praise from Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio during rookie minicamp as he specifically named him when discussing the safety competition.
Maximus Pulley
Pulley is an undrafted free agent who will be in one of the most exciting position battles in camp. He is a ball-hawking safety with great instincts. Pulley also brings a physical presence, making him an interesting name to watch when rosters get cut down. If he can force a couple of turnovers in the preseason, he may catch enough attention from the fans and the coaching staff.
Darius Cooper
Cooper made the Eagles’ 53-man roster last season as an undrafted free agent. The second-year wide receiver will look to do the same this season, and it looks like he’s got a good chance at it.
Cooper has already turned heads at training camp, specifically his QB Jalen Hurts. “I think Darius Cooper has done a really good job. He’s always been a big body, physical, strong hands guy. But just to see how he’s transitioned going into Year 2, definitely excited for him. Along with the rest of them.” Hurts said in an interview with NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Bell is an absolute unit who could very well be the future at right tackle once Lane Johnson retires. Getting to see him in game action for the first time will give fans the opportunity to see just how good this guy can be.
Bell was a star at left tackle for the University of Miami, putting on a show as a pass blocker every game. His transition to the NFL will depend on how well he can slide over to RT and perform as a run blocker.
Safety position battle
Andrew Mukuba is the only safety on the roster that will certainly be in position to start, and probably the only one with a guaranteed spot on the roster.
Marcus Epps has the experience, but do the Eagles actually believe he can hold it down all season? He had a solid second-half last year, but that’s questionable.
Michael Carter II is making the transition to safety from cornerback. This is similar to what Philadelphia did with CJ Gardner-Johnson a few years ago. It seems to be working in training camp with Carter; hopefully he can claim the second starting spot.
Gushiken and Pulley both have an uphill battle to make the roster as UDFAs, but standout preseasons could put them in a position to start. Nothing is for certain at the safety position, so nothing can be ruled out.
Cooper DeJean is expected to play some role at the safety position when he’s not needed on the field as a slot corner. This is the best pathway for the Eagles to put the best players on the field at all times.
Ty Robinson or Byron Young?
The Eagles’ deepest position on the roster may be the defensive tackle group. That does not bode well for Ty Robinson, a fourth-round pick in 2025 who has continued to underperform.
Robinson had a very weak rookie season and has not shown much improvement in the early parts of training camp. He needs to step it up if he wants to spend his second NFL season on the Eagles roster.
Byron Young, a former third-rounder, has just been better throughout his entire Eagles tenure. He was released by the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024 during final cuts, leading to Philadelphia claiming him off waivers.
Robinson would likely need to outperform Young if he intends to make the roster. A steep task that should get a lot of attention in each preseason game.
Andy Dalton or Tanner McKee?
The battle between Dalton and McKee for the backup QB spot stems from the fact that both are too good to be QB3. Cole Payton will be the third-string quarterback, meaning one of these two will not be on the roster come week one.
Dalton appears to have the upper hand heading into preseason. He was traded for early in the offseason when the intention appeared to be to trade McKee. That still seems to be the plan where we stand right now.
McKee will not be released, so finding a trade partner who will give up adequate value will be required. If they aren’t able to do that, he should just stay on the roster.
The best outcome of this battle is for McKee to perform well enough in the preseason for a team to acquire him with a pick in the middle rounds. Dalton goes into the 2026 season as the backup QB with Payton as QB3.
Who’s the WR2?
Makai Lemon should take this spot quite easily by the midpoint of the season; however, a hamstring injury has held him out of minicamp and training camp. His limited reps have hurt important development time as he pushes for a starting spot. It is still considered likely he is the starting slot receiver if healthy come week one.
Dontayvion Wicks has taken advantage of his health in training camp. He has made full use of his time with Jalen Hurts and has formed a strong connection with the Eagles QB. His standout performance makes him one to watch in the preseason and in the battle with Lemon for WR2.
Who’s the RB3?
Will Shipley has the head start in this battle as he’s been rostered in this role for the last few seasons. He is the best pass catcher among all options, so that should help his case as well. The difference in comparison to the previous seasons is the competition level.
Elijah Mitchell has already been discussed as a player to watch in the preseason, and he could play a major part in this battle. If he shows that he can still play at a high level, keeping him in the roster makes a ton of sense given his familiarity in the system.
Dameon Pierce has one particular advantage over Mitchell, and that is his ability as a returner on special teams. If the team thinks he brings more value than Shipley in that role, he could win the battle in the preseason.
Pierce has also found success in the NFL. He finished his rookie season in 2022 with just under 1,000 yards. His health has been a major factor in his career, but that shouldn’t be an issue if he’s the RB3.
The Eagles are a team that typically rests a majority of starters every preseason game. There may be one or two drives in the third game where we see Jalen Hurts, but don’t expect much more than that. Some fringe defensive starters see more game action towards the end of the preseason. Don’t be surprised to see Nolan Smith, Jihaad Campbell, and some others get playing time.
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