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Welcome to The Linc, the daily Philadelphia Eagles links roundup at Bleeding Green Nation!
Really excited to see how Willie Lampkin fares in his first NFL start. Despite his unconventional frame, he might be a pretty good player? Lampkin was the 11th-highest graded interior offensive lineman by Pro Football Focus during the 2025 preseason. He was sixth-highest in the 2026 preseason. Lampkin stood out in a good way during training camp practices and he drew unprompted praise from Lane Johnson in a conversation
the former Eagles right tackle had with some reporters off to the side with no microphones or cameras after a joint training camp practice with the Patriots. Let’s see what he’s got!
Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles news and links …
Willie Lampkin to make NFL history Sunday in first career start – NBCSP
There’s never been an NFL offensive lineman built like Willie Lampkin. There’s about to be. Lampkin stands 5-foot-11, 290 pounds. And when he made his NFL debut playing four special teams snaps in the Eagles’ opener vs. the Commanders, he became the heaviest offensive lineman in NFL history under six feet. That’s a distinction previously held by Terry Long, who was 5-11, 272, and played in 105 games for the Steelers from 1984 through 1991. Now, for at least one week, Lampkin will be a starter. With Landon Dickerson not eligible to come off Injured Reserve until next week and Cam Jurgens now a Baltimore Raven, Lampkin will play regular-season offensive line snaps for the first time in his career. It may be at guard and it may be at center. Lampkin and Drew Kendall are both natural centers who got reps at guard this summer, but one of them will have to start at left guard. Most likely it will be Lampkin because you would think they wouldn’t want to move a 24-year-old Kendall to guard when he’s just starting to play well at center. Although it’s easier to hide a 5-11 guy at center than guard. So we’ll see. Either way, Lampkin on Sunday will become the Eagles’ shortest offensive line starter in 69 years, since 5-11 Abe Gibron started 12 games at left guard in 1957.
There’s almost a foot between Markel Bell and Willie Lampkin. But they’ve become ‘brothers’ as O-Line careers take off. – Inquirer
When the two players first met, over the summer, they realized they shared a resilient spirit. Before long, they were inseparable; “always together” at the practice facility and at the stadium, in Lampkin’s telling. “He’s like my brother, man,” the guard said of Bell. “He’s like a humble beast.” Like any brothers would, they began to engage in some good-natured ribbing, mostly about the ACC rivalry between UNC and Miami. They never faced each other, but Lampkin will never let Bell forget about the Tar Heels’ 41-31 win over the Hurricanes in October of 2023. “I always tell him that we beat them,” Lampkin said. “I got my dub over Miami.” He also gave Bell a nickname (which appears to have been borrowed from reality TV personality Alexis Radcliff). “I call him ‘Big ‘Kel not the Little One,’” Lampkin said. “He hates when I say that. I’ve heard it online and I always just say it to him. I don’t even know, I just heard it. I always be like, ‘Big ‘Kel not the Little One.’” Added Bell: “He just be trollin’, he just be trollin’. I laugh and I tell him to get out of my face.”
Eagles-Jaguars Game Preview: 5 questions and answers with the Week 5 enemy – BGN
1 – The Jags are 16-5 in the Liam Coen era. What’s he done to turn this team around since Super Bowl LII champion Doug Pederson was fired? … When Coen was hired, the thought in Jacksonville was, “He seems to have the goods as a playcaller. But can he also be a culture-setter?” 18 months later, the answer is a resounding yes. Look no further than Jacksonville’s latest victory: a gritty five-point win in Cincinnati. The Bengals may not be juggernauts, but the last time the Jaguars played at their stadium (Week 2 last season), Jake Browning led a stunning second-half comeback to steal the dub. “Winning ain’t easy in this league,” Coen told the locker room after getting redemption this past week. “Do we have to clean sht up? Absolutely. But guess what? Our culture prevailed. Our fcking toughness prevailed … The last time we were in this locker room, in a similar type situation, it wasn’t a great feeling, right? Talk about growth. Talk about us as a unit, us as an organization, what the f*ck we’re building. That’s what I’m proud of.”
Jaguars vs. Eagles: Matchup History Through the Decades – Big Cat Country
The Jacksonville Jaguars begin their London stretch this week against the Philadelphia Eagles. The two teams have played each other eight times, and the Eagles currently lead the series 5-3. The Jags are technically the home team this week, so let’s look at Philadelphia being defeated in Jacksonville throughout the decades.
Eagles-Jaguars preview: 5 things to watch – PhillyVoice
If there’s a weakness on this Jaguars team, it’s probably their offensive line. It’s just kind of an average group. But, they’re (mostly) healthy, so at least there’s that. The only injury they have is to starting RG Patrick Mekari, who has been on injured reserve all season so far. The Eagles’ defensive line has been disappointing this season. One way the Eagles can win this game is if the pass rush makes a few big plays and creates turnovers. I just don’t see it. My guess? The Jags run a conservative offense on Sunday, take what the Eagles give them, and let their talented defense shut down the Eagles’ woeful offense.
NFL Week 5 preview: Picks, predictions, schedule, betting odds, fantasy tips – ESPN
Bold prediction: The Jaguars will win by two touchdowns. Philadelphia is 2-2 and ranks 27th in EPA per play on offense and 25th on defense. That is rough. And in three of those games, the Eagles had the now-retired Johnson, too. We can and should think about these teams dramatically differently now than when the season began (for the Jaguars, this is a good thing!). […] Why you should watch this game: You can play a game called “how many Eagles players do I recognize?” as they take the field without Johnson (retired), TE Dallas Goedert (knee), WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and RB Saquon Barkley (hamstring) — and now Jurgens is a Raven! If Willie Lampkin gets the start on the now sparse offensive line, as expected, he’ll be the shortest Eagles offensive lineman (5-foot-11) to start in over 60 years.
Eagles trading Cam Jurgens fully accelerates a mid-season rebuild on the offensive line | Five Thoughts – PHLY Eagles
Final thought, written a few hours removed from all the commotion of the day: The Eagles find themselves fully in a transition on the offensive line now. They’ve made bets, at least in the short-term, that some combination of Lampkin, Kendall, and Bell can be part of a rebuilt group tasked with replacing one of the best collections of offensive-line talent the NFL has seen in recent memory. And they’ve made that bet having just split with one of the league’s best talent developers at the position in Jeff Stoutland. It’s fair to ask whether Roseman has done enough replenishing the offensive line for this sudden rebuild given the shaky ground Johnson, Dickerson, and Jurgens were on even entering this year’s training camp. As I said on our show Tuesday before the Jurgens trade, it’s hard to argue with any individual pick Roseman has made in each of the last few drafts, but the cumulative affect of missing out on the offensive line prospects at the latter stages of the first and second rounds over the years has now shown up. The best argument by my estimation would be in favor of taking former Arizona State tackle prospect Max Iheanachor last April instead of Makai Lemon (something I suggested in our shadow draft episode in the spring). Outside of that, an aggressive trade up the draft board may have been the only revisionist history suggestion worth levying toward Roseman. If the trio of Kendall, Lampkin, and Bell are up to the challenge, the Eagles will find themselves in a similar situation picking late in the first round again in 2027. If they’re not, though, that issue may “solve” itself …
The Best Bets of NFL Week 5 – The Ringer
The Eagles offensive line went from elite to average to bad in the last three years. They’re trying to implement a new offense, but they still aren’t able to consistently throw over the middle, generate yards after the catch, or run play-action. There’s a reason I’ve bet against the Eagles heavily each of the last three weeks, but I think the market is now properly pricing them here. Edges don’t last forever in sports betting, and the time to bet against Philly in the season-long and game-to-game markets has come and probably gone now. This is the stingiest run defense they’ve faced all year, and Will Shipley is the starting RB behind two brand new interior offensive linemen. I’ll have more Jags thoughts in the weeks to come, but I’m continuing to notice that their defense is top three in points per drive allowed since Anthony Campanile became defensive coordinator to start 2025. Consider Jaguars alternate spreads.
Eagles in London: Inside their travel plans and Jemal Singleton’s homecoming – The Athletic
“The whole travel part, I think it’s tricky because of the lack of a bye week after, like you kind of got to stay on some sort of a schedule,” said kicker Jake Elliott, the Eagles’ longest-tenured player. “I understand the science behind it all, and I think we’re doing a good happy medium of adjusting our week this week to kind of adjust domestically.” Elliott called it a “two-week plan” focused on both this weekend’s game and next week’s. And the players “don’t want to get too far to the other side and then have to readjust back next week.” The organization also believes it benefits players to rehab and recover at their own facility this week rather than in a hotel abroad. The players slept in their own beds during the week. When they fly late Friday, the emphasis is on getting a good night’s sleep on the plane, on a schedule comparable to the one they maintained in Philadelphia. Their travel accommodations, with with lie-flat seats and minimal time commuting to and from the airport and waiting in security lines and at the gate, are better than those of the legions of Eagles fans (and the group of Eagles reporters) making the flight. The overseas trip has not even been a major topic this week. Perhaps in different circumstances, the travel might be more scrutinized. But a future Hall of Famer retired, a two-time Pro Bowler was traded and the Eagles are preparing for Sunday’s game without key starters. They have bigger concerns than an unconventional travel schedule. “I honestly have no opinion on it,” Jalen Hurts said. “My approach is just to prepare. Doesn’t really matter where we play.”
NFL Week 5 bold predictions: Jahmyr Gibbs breaks Barry Sanders’ record; ‘Hawks punish Brock Purdy – NFL.com
Jalen Hurts’ only TD pass in London game goes to Travis Hunter. An Eagles squad in crisis will find no respite against the Jaguars’ second-ranked defense in points allowed. Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith are ailing with hamstring injuries, and the team’s anchor at right tackle, Lane Johnson, retired on Tuesday. It’s not a good equation with Philly heading off to Europe to face a stingy, opportunistic defense that’s already tallied eight takeaways. Travis Hunter accounted for one of those with his first career interception in Week 3, and he brought down another pick in Week 4 that was wiped out by a roughing the passer penalty. His next INT comes Sunday — this one stands, and he takes it to the house. Better yet, he’s the only player on either team to score a touchdown off a Jalen Hurts pass.
Spadaro: Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ offense embrace ‘next-man-up’ mentality – PhiladelphiaEagles.com
POV for quarterback Jalen Hurts Sunday in London against Jacksonville? A new left guard. A second start for a rookie at right tackle. New personnel at running back. Young talent at wide receiver. The tight end position not looking as expected when Training Camp began. So, what is he supposed to do? Go with it. Roll with it. Work hard during this week of practice and head into the game against Jacksonville with confidence and trust. That’s how the NFL works. That’s just how it has to be. “I feel good about it. I feel good about the guys that we have. I feel good about the work that we’re putting forward and the week will tell how much that will improve,” Hurts said on Wednesday at his weekly press conference at the Jefferson Health Training Complex. “I get ready for meetings. We’ve got a lot of opportunity in front of us. We’ve got a lot of room to improve and we’re attacking that every day.”
Roundtable Reactions: Ravens trade for Cam Jurgens – Baltimore Beatdown
The Ravens moving a future second-rounder definitely raises an eyebrow with a front office that has been traditionally stingy about keeping their draft picks. I’ve seen the word “desperate” floating around, and I don’t necessarily think it’s the wrong word to use for this situation, but maybe just a reminder that a move made in desperation doesn’t mean it was a panic move. The Ravens were very depleted along the O-line at this early stage of the season and now once again face the specter of Lamar Jackson missing time with an injury. To keep the season on its trajectory, they had to make a move to solidify the trenches, so they paid a premium price for Cam Jurgens. Jurgens has struggled playing out of position for Philly, but moving back to Center could be the thing he needs to have the best parts of his game restored (we hope). History has shown it’s bad business to deal with Howie Roseman, but then again, Baltimore got something for nothing from Philly in the Jaire Alexander move, so who knows how this one shakes out. I’m glad they have another O-lineman in the room that’s not just a body, but a guy who has shown a high level of competence. — Kevin McNeils.
NY Giants get WR Malik Nabers, OT Andrew Thomas back at practice – Big Blue View
The New York Giants got some good news on the injury front Thursday as they continued to prepare for a Week 5 game against the Washington Commanders. Wide receiver Malik Nabers, who said he was “sore” on Wednesday and did not practice, was a limited practice participant. He continues to manage his knee in his return from a torn ACL. Left tackle Andrew Thomas, managing a groin injury, returned to practice as a limited participant after not practicing on Wednesday. Running back Cam Skattebo was again a limited participant, but shed the red, non-contact jersey on Thursday.
The Cowboys’ brand is soul-crushing embarrassment – SB Nation
The Cowboys were awful on Thursday night, and managed to make history in the worst possible way. By losing to the Buccaneers, Dallas became the second team since 1975 to lose to an 0-4 team at home. It’s what we’ve come to expect from the Cowboys’ exceptionalism over the last three decades — because exceptionally mediocre has become their brand. It would be easier to swallow for fans if there was a singular nexus of blame, something you can easily point to and say, “This is why Dallas is losing.“ Unfortunately, there’s no one answer to what’s gone wrong, no silver bullet, nothing to focus on, correct, and get better. Sure, you can point to Jerry and Stephen Jones as being the problem — and make no mistake, they are problems, but there are so many issues. Dallas has shuffled coaches over the years, made splashy trades, invested huge money in their stars, and yet they’ll still lose to a winless football team with a backup QB under center making his first NFL start.
Cowboys vs. Buccaneers: 2 winners and 3 losers – Blogging The Boys
Loser: Dak Prescott. Dak Prescott looked nothing like the quarterback who engineered last week’s comeback. Prescott went 24-of-42 for 316 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Several throws were simply inaccurate, but his response to pressure was the bigger concern. Tampa Bay sped up his internal clock and too often made Prescott hurry even before the rush actually reached him. Some responsibility belongs to the protection and the play calling, but Prescott is the veteran quarterback being trusted to identify pressure and find the correct answer. Against a defense that entered the night with only six sacks in four games, Dallas shouldn’t have looked this uncomfortable. Tampa Bay dictated the terms, and Prescott struggled to change them.
Commanders roster moves: Sixth-round NFL draft pick Kaytron Allen waived – Hogs Haven
Allen was expected to make an immediate impact and looked good during the summer and was thought to have an active role in the rushing game, though that outlook has changed with the personnel available. The running back room was getting crowded and Allen was an odd man out, though the Commanders will probably try to sign him to the practice squad, but there’s no guarantee that he’ll clear waivers. Seattle signed Robert Henry Jr. off the practice squad, where Craig Reynolds still resides. It’s hard to imagine the Commanders giving up on Allen, even as a lower-round draft pick. Time will tell if he’s able to get to the practice squad. All it takes is one team that liked him in the draft to sign him to their active roster.
Patriots promote safety Mike Brown to 53-man roster after consecutive elevations – Pats Pulpit
The Patriots re-signed outside linebacker Jose Ramirez to the 17-man practice squad after he cleared waivers the afternoon prior. Ramirez, 27, first agreed to terms in Foxborough as the calendar turned to September. A promotion from the practice squad to the 53-man roster followed for the 6-foot-2, 252-pound edge rusher as safety Dell Pettus landed on injured reserve last month. From there, Ramirez appeared in two road matchups. He recorded one solo tackle across 30 snaps between defense and special teams before being waived. Entering the NFL in the sixth round of the 2023 draft at No. 196 overall, Ramirez checked into four games while a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and notched one quarterback hit. The former MAC Defensive Player of the Year by way of Arizona, Riverside City College and Eastern Michigan spent last year with the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats en route to reaching a futures contract with the Philadelphia Eagles in January.
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