The Eagles are kicking off their season with a showdown against the Washington Commanders. The preseason cuts landed a lot of Eagles rookies on the practice squad or on other teams, meaning Philly only has a few first-year players in contributing positions at this point in the season. Here is what I will be watching for in Week 1.
How much does Makai Lemon even see the field?
Makai Lemon missed a ton of time this summer due to a hamstring injury. Despite getting some snaps in the final preseason game, it is fair to wonder how much he is involved
in the Eagles’ offense at these early stages.
Lemon has been listed as the Eagles’ starting WR3 and punt returner on the team-issued depth chart, but it is fair to wonder how much that status is actually reflected in his snap count. The Eagles have a handful of experienced receivers between DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore and fan-favorite Darius Cooper. Even as a listed starter, it’s possible Lemon is rotated in and out a lot as he continues to get his feet wet.
In Week 1, I am less focused on what he actually does while on the field versus how much he is playing or not.
Speaking of which…
Does the Eagles coaching staff trust Eli Stowers at all?
I have been really bummed to see how rough Eli Stowers’ transition to the NFL has been. He was a prospect I was really excited about. While his story is far from written, it is evident that Stowers has to do a lot of work to get on the field for the Eagles. He is currently buried on the depth chart, likely as the fourth tight end. If he even dresses for the game, Stowers needs to make the absolute most out of every time he sees the field on offense or special teams.
