It's time to get back to work for the Eagles, at 6-2 holding the best record in the NFC. This is a familiar spot for a team that has been in the chase for each of the past four seasons and they understand how difficult the next nine weeks to reach the postseason will be.
That's the fun of it all.
"You want to put yourself in position to do great things," linebacker Zack Baun said after the team's win over the New York Giants in Week 8. "You take it day by day, week by week, and you do what you need to do to play your best football. The teams that win late in the season are usually the ones who are playing deep into the playoffs."
What's ahead for the Eagles? The immediate focus is a Green Bay Packers team coming off a stinging 16-13 loss on Sunday to Carolina at Lambeau Field, a game that was more punishing than just a loss in the standings for Green Bay. The Packers won't have tight end Tucker Kraft, their leading pass catcher and touchdown maker in the passing game. He suffered a knee injury in the loss to the Panthers. He is among a host of players who suffered injuries that will be evaluated later in the week.
As for the Eagles, there are a lot of storylines to follow as they get back into the groove of things at the NovaCare Complex after a week of rest and relaxation for everyone except Executive Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman …
1. Eagles make trade at edge rusher
The Eagles made a trade ahead of Tuesday's 4 PM Trade Deadline, agreeing to acquire outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips from the Dolphins in exchange for Philadelphia's original 2026 third-round pick. Phillips has three sacks this season and had 6.5 in just eight games under then-Dolphins Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio in 2023.
Phillips has been productive when on the field with 26 sacks in his career and 158 pressures, according to Next Gen Stats. Phillips joins an edge group of Nolan Smith (currently on Injured Reserve), Jalyx Hunt, Brandon Graham, Joshua Uche, and Patrick Johnson.
Here's what you need to know about the newest Eagle:
- Phillips has played 55 games in his career (38 starts) and has 26 tackles, 61 quarterback hits, and 177 tackles. According to Next Gen Stats, Phillips has 158 pressures since entering the NFL.
- Phillips broke the Miami rookie sack record with 8.5 in 2021. He was second amongst NFL rookies, just ahead of current Eagle Azeez Ojulari, who had eight.
- In eight games playing under then-Dolphins Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio in 2023, Phillips had 6.5 sacks and his lone interception.
- Phillips was the Dolphins' 2022 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee. He also won the NFLPA Community MVP in Week 8 of that season and earned the Nat Moore Community Service Award in 2021.
- Phillips started his college career at UCLA before transferring to Miami. He was the No. 18 overall pick in 2021 and had his fifth-year option exercised for the 2025 season.
2. The cornerback position is filled with possibilities
Roseman worked the phones ahead of Tuesday's 4 PM trade deadline, acquiring cornerbacks Michael Carter II and Jaire Alexander. So, what does that mean for the position? Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio and Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach Christian Parker have some serious competition and multiple scenarios to consider for the second half of the season. We know that Quinyon Mitchell is one of the best corners in the NFL and that Cooper DeJean is great in the nickel and offers versatility at safety and at outside cornerback. Reed Blankenship and Andrew Mukuba have been starting at safety and Sydney Brown has played quality reps. Adoree' Jackson and Kelee Ringo have played well enough at cornerback for the Eagles to win games and keep teams off the scoreboard. Jakorian Bennett's practice window is open, so he's in the cornerback picture.
How will it work out? Time will tell and the Eagles think that competition will bring out the best in all of these players. This is going to be fun to watch.
3. How much did the week off help the offensive line?
This a group of incredibly tough guys who play through pain and still perform at a high level. What does a week of rehab and rest and relaxation mean? It usually helps a lot. The Eagles are comforted that they have some great depth with Brett Toth playing so well against the Giants and with Fred Johnson repeatedly playing well at the tackle positions. Matt Pryor is a veteran who can really help and rookie Drew Kendell gained his first NFL reps in Week 8. Center Cam Jurgens missed the New York game with a knee injury, so we will see what his status is moving forward. Guard Landon Dickerson has played through injuries all season, as has right tackle Lane Johnson. The week off should really be a big plus for the guys up front.
4. Health picture: A.J. Brown and others
Look, the week off is going to be a help for the entire team and for someone like wide receiver A.J. Brown, who missed the Giants game with a hamstring injury, the timing could not have been better. The next nine games are going to be physical and critical and the healthier the Eagles are, the more potent they will be. Having Brown on the field obviously makes the Eagles better.
5. A new piece for the offense?
Welcome to attack, running back Tank Bigsby! His 104-yard output, on just nine carries, against the Giants was eye-opening. But the truth is, the Eagles saw how hard-charging Bigsby was on his lone carry against Minnesota (he gained 11 yards) and they understood what he could bring to the running game. Now we will see how Offensive Coordinator Kevin Patullo utilizes Bigsby in the very, very talented backfield. The Eagles dominated in the running game against New York and know how important it is to keep that running game going. It happened last year with Saquon Barkley and the Eagles think that with Barkley, Bigsby, Will Shipley, and A.J. Dillon, they are well-equipped to win on the ground down the stretch.
6. Eagles are a prime-time team the rest of the way
Speaking of down the stretch ... it's a doozy. And the entire country will see it. Green Bay is on Monday Night Football, and the following week, Detroit visits Lincoln Financial Field for a Sunday night game in prime time. Then it's off to Dallas for a 4:25 PM game – and a huge national television audience – against the Cowboys.
In Week 13, the Eagles play on Black Friday against the Chicago Bears in a Prime Video game at Lincoln Financial Field. In Week 14, the Eagles have another Monday Night Football appearance at SoFi Stadium against the Los Angeles Chargers.
That's not all, folks!
Following a 1 PM game at home against the Raiders in Week 15, the last three games of the season are against Washington – Week 16 and Week 18 – and a 4:25 PM kickoff and a huge audience at Buffalo in Week 17. Flex scheduling comes into play here, so the Eagles could be on national TV a whole lot more.
Welcome back! We've got a great second half of the season to go!
