The regular season always brings surprises. Training camp stars don't always become September stars, and preseason momentum can disappear quickly once games begin to count. Still, several Philadelphia Eagles enter Week 1 trending in the right direction.
Veterans are settling into larger roles. Newcomers are earning trust. Young players are building on strong offseason performances. Philadelphia has plenty of reasons to be optimistic. They're preparing for their season opener against theWashington Commanders. Here are a handful of cornerstone pieces looking to build on some spring and summertime momentum.
Darius Cooper and Hollywood Brown, wide receivers
Neither receiver is likely to challenge DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, Dallas Goedert, or Saquon Barkley for featured roles in the offensive
attack. Both, however, have done enough to earn attention heading into Week 1.
Cooper flashed relatively early. Brown came on later and put together one of his strongest stretches of the offseason, consistently finding ways to get open while producing whenever opportunities came his way.
The Eagles are confident they have reliable depth behind their top receiving options. Targets may be limited, but both receivers appear capable of making meaningful contributions when their numbers are called.
Nolan Smith, EDGE
Jonathan Greenard's delayed introduction to the defense has created additional opportunities for Nolan Smith and possibly an early starting role. He appears ready to take advantage.
The reviews from coaches and observers have been overwhelmingly positive. Smith looks stronger, more confident, and more comfortable operating within Vic Fangio's system than he did a year ago. The flashes that Eagles fans saw previously are beginning to look more like sustained production.
Philadelphia has been waiting for Smith to put all the pieces together. Week 1 offers the first opportunity to show that a full-season breakout could be on the horizon.
Riq Woolen, cornerback
The discussion surrounding Woolen's arrival has often focused on outside narratives. Inside the building, however, the reviews have been consistently positive.
Woolen enjoyed a strong offseason and appears to be a natural fit alongside Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Opposing quarterbacks are expected to avoid Mitchell and DeJean whenever possible, which could leave Woolen seeing plenty of action.
That may work in Philadelphia's favor. Woolen's combination of length, speed, and ball skills allows him to capitalize on those extra targets. If things break right, he could emerge asone of the Eagles' most productive playmakers in the secondary.
Saquon Barkley, running back
It almost feels unnecessary to include Barkley because expectations are already so high, but his importance to Philadelphia's offense cannot be overstated. The Eagles have spent much of the offseason discussing ways to evolve the offense under Sean Mannion. One of the easiest ways to do that is by finding even more opportunities to get the ball into Barkley's hands.
Whether as a runner, receiver, or outlet option for Jalen Hurts, Barkley remains the player most capable of changing a game with a single touch. If Philadelphia wants to start fast, it makes sense to put the offense in the hands of its most explosive weapon. Be advised. Rumors of his demise may have been overstated.
Jalyx Hunt, EDGE
At some point, trying to find a new breakout candidate becomes an exercise in overthinking. Jalyx Hunt has earned the spotlight.
Last season, Hunt accomplished something no Eagles defender had done in the franchise's 93-year history by leading the team in both sacks and interceptions. Rather than slowing down, reports suggest he was even more disruptive throughout training camp.
The Eagles believe Hunt is becoming one of the cornerstones of their defense. If the summer is any indication, he may be ready to elevate his game to another level.
Final thought
Every NFL season creates new stars, and every contender needs players who can build on the momentum generated during the offseason. The Eagles believe several members of their roster are positioned to do exactly that.
If these upward trends continue into September, Philadelphia won't just open the season as an NFC contender. The Eagles may once again look like one of the league's most complete teams.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles vs. Commanders: 6 players carrying offseason momentum into Week 1
