Jordan Mailata harps on notetaking – and not just because he loves to brag about how good his own notetaking skills are.

"You have to buy into being the next man up, but it starts when you're not the starter," Mailata said after a practice last week. "It starts when and how you attack the meeting room, and taking official notes at the start."

The phrase "next man up" has been the story of the season for the Eagles, particularly for Mailata's offensive line. Guard Landon Dickerson was placed on Injured Reserve just after Week 1, future Hall of Fame right tackle Lane Johnson retired before taking part in Week 4's matchup against the Rams, and longtime center Cam Jurgens was traded to the Ravens before Week 5.

"As much adversity as we've handled, it also has created so much opportunity for our young guys. And so that's what I keep focusing on," Mailata said. "Our room might be the most perfect example of the next man up. Look at who we have right now."

Second-year interior offensive linemen Drew Kendall and Willie Lampkin entered the starting lineup in the absence of Dickerson and Jurgens. When Johnson retired, rookie third-round draft pick Markel Bell became the starter at right tackle.

A fifth-round draft pick by the Eagles in 2025, Kendall started three games at center before suffering a knee injury against the Rams. This opened an opportunity for second-year center Jake Majors, who was signed from the practice squad and started against the Jaguars and Panthers.

"There are things I can control – My emotions, my direction, and how I lead this team," Mailata said. "Pouring into Tanner McKee, pouring into Willie Lampkin, pouring into Jake Majors, Markel Bell, that's all I think about."

On the other side of the ball, Zack Baun shared a similar sentiment as his fellow captain.

"Between retirements, trades, and injuries, this team's been riddled with a lot of everything. But I think the young guys, looking at Markel, I just glanced over and saw him now. He's excited to play," Baun said in the locker room after practice. "Just boosting those guys up, boosting confidence. When I was a young guy, nothing meant more to me than a vet believing in me and boosting my confidence."

Drafted out of the University of Miami this offseason, Bell experienced baptism under fire – by facing off against Los Angeles' Pro Bowl edge rusher Byron Young in his first career start.

"We've all been in college and we've all been stars on the team and done really well. And it can be a reality check sometimes coming to the league and you play an All-Pro defensive end and you're starting your first game at right tackle," Baun said. "It can be daunting, but there's a lot of encouraging stuff coming out of the young guys and it is next-man-up mentality."

A player who had to embrace the "next man up" mentality on Sunday against the Panthers was rookie outside linebacker Keyshawn James-Newby. The Eagles elevated the seventh-round pick for the game against the Panthers with Jalyx Hunt ruled out and A.J. Epenesa listed as doubtful. Jonathan Greenard was also coming off an ankle injury. In other words, depth was needed.

"Everyone looks for this blessing and I just happened to get it," James-Newby said.

Making his NFL debut off of the practice squad, the former New Mexico Lobo became the primary left outside linebacker when Nolan Smith suffered a concussion early in the second quarter.

"For the circumstances, they (Arnold Ebiketie and James-Newby) did a good job," Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio said on Wednesday. "We were planning on playing Keyshawn (James-Newby) a little bit in the game, but then when Nolan (Smith) went down and Jonathan Greenard's ankle started bothering him, he went from a handful to close to 50."

Even though he was just elevated from the practice squad, James-Newby felt prepared for the moment.

"You always got to prepare yourself like you are the starter. You got to study like you are a starter because at the end of the day, you never know," James-Newby said. "Shout out to my vets that helped me get ready and get prepared for this situation."

Another of the Eagles' three seventh-round 2026 NFL Draft picks was also elevated against the Panthers – safety Cole Wisnewiski. The former Texas Tech Red Raider contributed 17 special teams snaps for the Eagles on Sunday, recording his first career tackle in his NFL debut.

"It's something that we've talked about at the start of the season, even Week 1 right after we made cuts and the (initial 53-man roster). Whoever we had, that's who we were going to rock with," Mailata said.

"You know that you just have to be ready because when your number is called, it will be called. And you will be counting on them."

- Written by Caroline Connor