3 Biggest Concerns for the Eagles in 2026
Following a letdown performance last season, the Philadelphia Eagles are looking to bounce back in 2026. While Philadelphia’s roster is loaded with talent following a busy offseason, there are still several concerns that could hold back the Eagles once again. Here’s a look at the biggest concerns for the Eagles heading into the regular season.
Can the Offensive Line Return To Form?
While many were quick to point the finger at former Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo for the team’s struggles last season, Philadelphia’s offensive line was also a major problem. Eagles starting left guard Landon Dickerson and starting center Cam Jurgens seemingly never looked healthy throughout the entire season. Therefore, Philadelphia’s interior offensive line simply couldn’t dominate the way that they did during the team’s Super Bowl winning run the prior season.
Then eventual Hall of Fame starting right tackle Lane Johnson battled a foot injury that kept him out for the final eight games of the season. While Jordan Mailata and Tyler Steen tried their best to hold the fort together, it was simply too damaged. Now the Eagles will try to get the band back together and run it back while learning a new offensive scheme in 2026. If everyone can stay healthy, Philadelphia’s offensive line should return to the dominant form that we saw two years ago. Yet that’s still a huge question after the debacle that we all witnessed last season.
Potential Math Problem at WR
When the Eagles traded away All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots, some said that the move could be addition by subtraction. Yet after adding so many new pass catchers, could the Eagles be facing a different math problem in 2026? Philadelphia’s offense is going to be expecting a lot from players that haven’t necessarily had to shoulder a large workload in the NFL.
While DeVonta Smith has shown that he can be a WR1, there are questions behind him. Dontayvion Wicks is currently projected to serve as the team’s second wide receiver, yet he never surpassed more than 39 receptions in a single year during his three seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Makai Lemon is expected to round out Philadelphia’s starting trio, yet he battled a hamstring injury twice in the offseason and underwhelmed in his preseason debut.
Hollywood Brown is clearly on the decline and hasn’t recorded more than 600 receiving yards in his last three seasons. Darius Cooper hauled in all of nine receptions during his rookie year and Elijah Moore spent time on the Denver Broncos’ practice squad last season. While Philadelphia’s wide receiver room will certainly look different in 2026, it’s fair to wonder if it’s overcrowded and lacks a clear, proven running mate to dominate alongside Smith.
The Men in the Middle
Nobody was surprised when the Eagles allowed former starting linebacker Nakobe Dean and safety Reed Blankenship to walk in free agency earlier this offseason. Yet both players were important pieces in defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s unit. While they weren’t named team captains in Philadelphia, both Dean and Blankenship were key communicators for the defense. Fangio’s defense must play on a string and all be on the same page, as both of those now former Eagles were a key part of doing so over the last two seasons.
Now the Eagles will turn to second-year linebacker Jihaad Campbell and veteran safety Marcus Epps to fill those voids. Both players started several games in Fangio’s defense last season and played well. Yet now they’ll have a bit more on their plates in 2026. The Eagles are expected to have one of the best defenses in the NFL and the new men in the middle will play a huge part in the team living up to the hype. If Campbell and Epps struggle, we could see Fangio turn to Jeremiah Trotter Jr. or Michael Carter II.