Welcome to The Linc, the daily Philadelphia Eagles links roundup at Bleeding Green Nation!
To no surprise, Smitty is off to a strong start. Did anyone actually question if he could be WR1? That never shouldn’t been in doubt, if it even was at all.
Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles news and links …
NFL wide receiver rankings: Jaxon Smith-Njigba leads top 32 – PFF
DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles. Smith has benefited from the departure of A.J. Brown this offseason, averaging 2.30 yards per route run
and ranking fourth at the position with a 91.4 PFF receiving grade. Now the No. 1 target in Philadelphia, he has a strong chance to put together the best season of his career.
Eagles vs. Bears Game Preview: 5 questions and answers with the Week 3 enemy – BGN
4 – What’s the biggest matchup in the Bears’ favor and the biggest matchup against their favor? Well, I think the easiest one is the biggest disadvantage, and that will be the Eagles offensive line vs. the Bears defensive line. I understand Landon Dickerson is out, and the Eagles offensive line isn’t quite what it used to be, but it’s still a strong unit, and the Bears defensive line just isn’t. If the Philly OL can’t control the line of scrimmage, that would be rather surprising. I think the biggest advantage for them is the fact that the Eagles are struggling to stop the run right now, and the Bears block it extremely well. Maybe it’s a cliché, but I think this game is going to come down to controlling the line of scrimmage. Both teams have strong offensive lines and have a chance to control the line when they have the ball. I think the Bears need to really have long drives and keep their defense off the field. Can they do it without Caleb Williams? We will see on Monday night.
Eagles mailbag: OL talk galore: Regrets? Trades? Reason for hope? – PhillyVoice
Question from @jjapostolico (via Bluesky): Do Jurgens’ and Dickerson’s health make them less viable than the young guys like Drew Kendall and Willie Lampkin? Dickerson has been a great player for the last half decade for the Eagles. He was a first-round talent who they got in Round 2 because he had major injury concerns. I think that when they drafted him they knew he wasn’t going to have some sort of 12-year career, and they got a bunch of Pro Bowl seasons out of him. But it does feel like the end is near, and we could kind of see it in training camp, even before he performed poorly Week 1 against the Commanders. The younger guys are more viable options than him at this point. Jurgens has kind of gotten lumped in with Dickerson because he had injury issues all last season and both guys went to Colombia for stem cell treatments during the offseason. But to me, Jurgens looked fine in training camp, at least compared to Dickerson. In Week 1, Jurgens had a couple of penalties in the first quarter, but I thought he played well enough otherwise. Obviously, he had a terrible game Week 2 against Simmons after he was forced into a new role. But I’m not yet ready to say that he’s a candidate for replacement in the starting lineup.
Week 3 NFL game preview: Chicago Bears vs. Philadelphia Eagles – Windy City Gridiron
The first primetime game for the 2026 Chicago Bears has lost much of its luster since the team will most likely be starting its third quarterback on Monday night. The Bears welcome the Philadelphia Eagles to Soldier Field in what should have been a great matchup of historical franchises with young quarterbacks dueling it out. But the NFL is a fickle thing. Bears head coach Ben Johnson has to navigate his first game without his QB1 or QB2. And the Eagles, coming in 2-0 but not looking dominant, have a lot to prove. Beyond wanting to flush the memories of Black Friday last season, when the Bears completely dominated them. The Eagles want to make a statement that they’re back to being true contenders and that their new offense is working well. Even with a third QB, it should be an interesting game. Let’s get into the opponent then.
One thing we’ve learned about the Eagles at every position group through two weeks: Offense edition – PHLY Eagles
Tight end: Howie Roseman’s view of the position needs to evolve. I wonder, if given truth serum as he often likes to say, if the tight end position is the group Howie Roseman would most like a mulligan on from this offseason. For as much credit as Roseman should get for rebuilding the Eagles receiving corps in a post-A.J. Brown world, there are as many if not more questions about whether his additions at tight end are sufficient for the offense Mannion wants to run. At the start of the offseason, Roseman said he needed to change the way he viewed the position to better reflect the value of versatility on the perimeter rather than prioritizing capable pass-catching options, something that has accelerated league-wide even further this season. According to TruMedia, the Rams, Bills, Bears, and Ravens have all run more plays out of 13 personnel through two weeks than any team did this time last season. The Rams and Bills in particular have double the snaps with three tight ends on the field this year than last year’s leader (the Arizona Cardinals with 20 snaps). Watching these teams, it’s not hard to understand why they’ve shifted toward getting heavier personnel sets on the field. It often forces modern defenses set up to play with five defensive backs to instead play out of their base personnel groupings with one fewer and gives the offense an advantage on outside-zone runs in particular because of the improved blocking on the outside. And for teams like the Rams and Bills, the versatility of their tight-end rooms allows them to still throw out of those looks without sacrificing too much of a threat downfield. According to TruMedia, the Bills have generated four explosive plays out of 13-personnel this season, more than a handful of offenses have managed overall this season. At least through two weeks, the Eagles tight end room seems behind the curve. Eli Stowers projected as a receiving-only tight end even before a disappointing summer ended with a quad strain that landed him on injured reserve. Johnny Mundt’s addition gave them the option to put two trusted blocking options on the field to start the season, but Mundt’s even struggled at times in understandably difficult matchups with bigger defensive linemen. With Dallas Goedert sidelined and Zach Ertz stepping into his role, the room is not tailor-made for this outside zone-based system Mannion wants to run. It may be one of Roseman’s biggest misses this offseason, especially considering the questions about Stowers’ usage will likely extend beyond just his rookie season.
Why Jalen Hurts got emotional pulling up to Nissan Stadium in Nashville Sunday – NBCSP
Hurts, in his weekly chat with the Eagles beat writers after practice, grew emotional sharing a story about the Eagles’ team bus pulling up to Nissan Stadium in Nashville Sunday before the Eagles-Titans game and how a giant photo of long-time Titans quarterback Steve McNair on the side of the stadium caught his attention. “It was a really good feeling and a bit emotional feeling, you know, pulling up to the stadium and seeing Steve McNair on the wallpaper outside,” Hurts said. “He’s the only one that I’ve looked up to … I got to meet, you know, M.J. (Michael Jordan) and, you know, build relationships with him and Tom Brady and all these other guys. Steve McNair is the only one that I’ve truly looked up to and watched and been enamored by and never got to meet him. So I think that was special for that reason. I was reminded of that when we pulled up to the stadium and it kind of hit me there.”
The Best Bets of NFL Week 3 – The Ringer
Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears (+4.5). If Tyson Bagent is able to play, the Bears catching more than a field goal is a bet for me. Case Keenum has not played in an NFL game since 2023. The Eagles have real questions through the middle of the defense that have made them look susceptible to the run in the first two weeks. Philly ranks in the bottom third in EPA per rush after games against Washington and Tennessee. That should raise some flags. The Eagles offense has been reliant on Jalen Hurts throwing the ball on third-and-long because the early-down run game is nonexistent through two weeks. Great spot for Chicago at home as an underdog, but I just cannot bet Keenum here.
Zach Ertz: I never wanted to leave Philadelphia, glad to be back to my favorite place – PFT
Veteran tight end Zach Ertz has returned to Philadelphia for his second stint with the Eagles, and he says he never wanted to leave. Ertz, who was drafted by the Eagles in 2013 and traded to the Cardinals in 2021, said he never knew if the Eagles would welcome him back, but always hoped they would. “There was never a plan to come back,” Ertz said. “I never wanted to leave in the first place, so let’s just put that out there. The opportunity finally arose where I could come back. There’s been times I asked in the past to come back and it didn’t come to fruition for whatever reason. But for me, it’s just a blessing to be back.”
NFL Fantasy 2026 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Wide receivers for Week 3 – NFL.com
SIT — Despite running the most routes among Bears wide receivers through two games, Rome Odunze has just five catches on seven targets. And while his average of 19 yards per reception is impressively high, Odunze’s not seeing the target rate we expect from WR1s … or WR2s … or WR3s. To make matters worse, Caleb Williams just suffered a hamstring injury. And to make worse matters even worse, the Eagles have been extremely tough against outside wide receivers. This could be the Luther Burden III breakout game, but Odunze should NOT crack starting lineups in Week 3.
Zack Baun Mic’d Up in INSANE last-minute win at Titans – PhiladelphiaEagles.com
All-Pro linebacker. All-Pro teammate. Zack Baun was Mic’d Up for the frenetic last-minute victory over the Tennessee Titans. The Bald Eagle was fired up on the game-winning drive.
NY Giants will ride with Jameis Winston at quarterback, as they should – Big Blue View
I keep seeing the opinion that if the Giants’ season turns into a train wreck, and they end up with the opportunity to draft Arch Manning, Dante Moore, Trinidad Chambliss or another top 10-worthy quarterback they should do it. My view is that idea is nonsense. One knee injury and two games missed because of a concussion doesn’t mean it is time to give up on the idea that Dart can and will be a top-tier NFL quarterback. Drafting over Dart, and starting over, is foolishness. What I could sign off on is the idea of drafting a young player in the middle rounds and trying to develop him as a viable backup. That doesn’t always work, but investing a fourth- or fifth-round pick is not that big of a gamble. I don’t know who the first one to point this out was, but I did see it online and it is correct. Matthew Stafford, who is heading to the Hall of Fame, was limited by injuries to just 13 games over his first two seasons. That was way back in 2009 and 2010, and he’s done OK since then.
Cowboys injuries: P.J. Locke, Cobie Durant DNP – Blogging The Boys
For the Cowboys, Cobie Durant (hamstring) did not practice. Also not practicing with the team were P.J. Locke (foot), DeMarvion Overshown (hamstring), and Malik Hooker (forearm). All seem unlikely to play with two DNPs to open the week. On Thursday, the Ravens were still without receiver Zay Flowers (hamstring) and offensive lineman Ronnie Stanley (toe). Flowers is a big part of the Baltimore offense and is a dynamic weapon the team relies upon at multiple levels in the field in a variety of offensive looks.
Commanders vs. Seahawks Thursday injury report: Javon Kinlaw returns – Hogs Haven
The Commanders got a little piece of good news in a sea of bad injury luck on Thursday, as defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw returned to practice in a limited capacity. That’s a win for Washington, as Kinlaw’s off to a solid start this season. He’s dealing with back and shoulder issues, according to the Commanders participation report. They’re still working without some important players, with linebacker Frankie Luvu (groin), tight end Chig Okonkwo (hamstring), right guard Sam Cosmi (concussion), safety Nick Cross (illness) and, of course, quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow).
Commanders GM: Elbow surgery ‘not on table’ for QB Daniels – ESPN
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels won’t undergo surgery on his dislocated left elbow and, as of now, he won’t be placed on injured reserve according to general manager Adam Peters. Daniels spent the past three days visiting specialists who examined his elbow. Throughout the process, one source close to the situation said surgery was a last option. Peters confirmed that prognosis while appearing on his weekly paid radio appearance on 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C. “As of right now surgery is not on the table and we have not discussed IR,” Peters told The Junkies. If that holds true, then Daniels would return within four weeks; a stint on injured reserve would require him to miss four games. In the next three weeks Washington plays Seattle, Indianapolis and the Giants.
NFL Expert Picks for Week 3 – SB Nation
The season rolls on to Week 3 and it’s unclear how much more we’ve learned about any of these teams. While the NFL is always unpredictable, this season feels especially chaotic with key injuries happening early, wild upsets reigning supreme, and Tyler Shough and Bryce Young being the Top 2 quarterbacks in the NFL … somehow. This week has some really chalk-y picks, and that’s okay. Nobody has any faith in the Chargers to beat the Bills, for good reason — same with the Lions over the Jets and Seahawks over Commanders. Two sneaky games on the schedule to watch in Week 3 is the wet noodle fight between the Titans and Giants (sans Jaxson Dart), as well as Ravens vs. Cowboys, which could be a banger.
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