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The Philadelphia Eagles have enough star power to enter training camp with championship expectations, but some of the most important summer developments may come from players whose roles are still being defined.
That makes this camp especially important for Philadelphia. A.J. Brown is no longer on the roster, the wide receiver room has been rebuilt, the tight end position has a potential future piece behind Dallas Goedert, and Vic Fangio’s defense has several young players capable of forcing changes in the rotation. Some players are competing for snaps. Others are competing for starting jobs or more specialized roles that could matter once the regular season begins.
These seven Eagles could see their responsibilities change the most during training camp.
1. Tank Bigsby
Bigsby enters camp with a chance to become more than just a depth running back behind Saquon Barkley. Philadelphia’s offense will still run through Barkley, but the Eagles need to be smart about preserving him over a 17-game season. Bigsby flashed during spring work, and his physical running style gives the offense a different kind of backup option if he earns trust in pass protection, short-yardage situations, and special teams. His camp role could shift quickly if the Eagles decide he is reliable enough to handle a regular workload rather than occasional snaps.
2. Dontayvion Wicks
Wicks may be one of the most important offensive players to watch because his role could grow dramatically in the post-A.J. Brown offense. The Eagles acquired him from Green Bay while also adding Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore, and rookie Makai Lemon, but Wicks received heavy offseason work and has already drawn a notable comparison from Nick Sirianni to Keenan Allen. That matters because it suggests Philadelphia views him as more than a back-end receiver. Wicks has the size, route craft, and intermediate ability to become a chain-moving target for Jalen Hurts, especially in the areas where Brown’s physicality once created easy answers.
3. Eli Stowers
Stowers is not being asked to replace Goedert immediately, but the rookie tight end could change how Philadelphia structures its tight end position. The former quarterback became one of the SEC’s most productive tight ends at Vanderbilt, producing 638 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 2024 before catching 62 passes for 769 yards and four touchdowns in 2025. He also brings rare athletic traits, including a 45½-inch vertical leap, a 4.51-second 40-yard dash, and an 11-foot-3 broad jump. If Stowers proves he can handle blocking, protections, and route adjustments, he could push for the TE2 job and give the Eagles another mismatch piece in the passing game.
4. Tyler Steen
Steen has a chance to turn camp into a stabilizing moment for the offensive line. Philadelphia has relied on depth and development up front for years, and Steen’s ability to elevate his game towards Pro Bowl status would help an offense built around Hurts and Barkley maintain its physical identity. His role will be determined more by consistency than by flashes. The Eagles need Steen to communicate cleanly, handle interior power, assist Lane Johnson on double teams, and prove he can be trusted against Fangio’s defensive front in daily work. If Steen can take the next step convincingly, one of the offense’s biggest questions becomes much easier to answer, and a new contract could follow.
5. Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
The newly married Trotter Jr. could see his role change because the linebacker room is still sorting itself out. He received first-team work during the spring while Jihaad Campbell continued working back from a shoulder issue, giving Trotter a chance to build momentum before pads come on. His instincts and football background have always been part of the appeal, but this camp will test whether he can handle communication, coverage spacing, and downhill run fits at a starter-level pace. If he proves dependable, he could move from promising depth piece to meaningful defensive contributor in Fangio’s rotation.
6. Michael Carter II
Carter may have one of the most flexible roles in the secondary. The Eagles have looked at him in the safety conversation, and his nickel background gives Fangio another hybrid defensive back who can move based on personnel. That matters because Philadelphia’s safety structure is still taking shape behind Andrew Mukuba, with Cooper DeJean expected to play safety in base packages and Marcus Epps factoring into sub packages. Carter’s role could shift from cornerback depth to safety/nickel utility player, and that versatility may be what secures his game-day value.
7. Jalyx Hunt
Hunt could force one of the most meaningful defensive role changes on the roster. He led the Eagles in sacks and interceptions in 2025, showing a rare blend of pass-rush ability and playmaking range. That kind of production demands a longer look, especially in an edge group that also features Jonathan Greenard, Nolan Smith, and other rotational pieces. Hunt’s next step is proving he can handle more snaps with the same efficiency, physicality, and assignment discipline. If he continues developing, he could move from an intriguing weapon to a central part of Fangio’s pass-rush rotation.
The Eagles do not need every role to change dramatically before Week 1, but camp will reveal which players are ready for more responsibility. Bigsby can become a real backup plan behind Barkley. Wicks can climb the receiver hierarchy. Stowers can push the tight end room into a new phase. Steen can stabilize the offensive line. Trotter can make the linebacker competition more interesting. Carter can become a defensive chess piece, and Hunt can force a larger edge-rushing role.
Those are the kinds of summer developments that often shape a season before it begins. Philadelphia already has proven stars. Training camp will determine which emerging pieces are ready to join them.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: 7 Eagles whose roles could change the most in training camp
Continue reading...
That makes this camp especially important for Philadelphia. A.J. Brown is no longer on the roster, the wide receiver room has been rebuilt, the tight end position has a potential future piece behind Dallas Goedert, and Vic Fangio’s defense has several young players capable of forcing changes in the rotation. Some players are competing for snaps. Others are competing for starting jobs or more specialized roles that could matter once the regular season begins.
These seven Eagles could see their responsibilities change the most during training camp.
1. Tank Bigsby
Bigsby enters camp with a chance to become more than just a depth running back behind Saquon Barkley. Philadelphia’s offense will still run through Barkley, but the Eagles need to be smart about preserving him over a 17-game season. Bigsby flashed during spring work, and his physical running style gives the offense a different kind of backup option if he earns trust in pass protection, short-yardage situations, and special teams. His camp role could shift quickly if the Eagles decide he is reliable enough to handle a regular workload rather than occasional snaps.
2. Dontayvion Wicks
Wicks may be one of the most important offensive players to watch because his role could grow dramatically in the post-A.J. Brown offense. The Eagles acquired him from Green Bay while also adding Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore, and rookie Makai Lemon, but Wicks received heavy offseason work and has already drawn a notable comparison from Nick Sirianni to Keenan Allen. That matters because it suggests Philadelphia views him as more than a back-end receiver. Wicks has the size, route craft, and intermediate ability to become a chain-moving target for Jalen Hurts, especially in the areas where Brown’s physicality once created easy answers.
3. Eli Stowers
Stowers is not being asked to replace Goedert immediately, but the rookie tight end could change how Philadelphia structures its tight end position. The former quarterback became one of the SEC’s most productive tight ends at Vanderbilt, producing 638 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 2024 before catching 62 passes for 769 yards and four touchdowns in 2025. He also brings rare athletic traits, including a 45½-inch vertical leap, a 4.51-second 40-yard dash, and an 11-foot-3 broad jump. If Stowers proves he can handle blocking, protections, and route adjustments, he could push for the TE2 job and give the Eagles another mismatch piece in the passing game.
4. Tyler Steen
Steen has a chance to turn camp into a stabilizing moment for the offensive line. Philadelphia has relied on depth and development up front for years, and Steen’s ability to elevate his game towards Pro Bowl status would help an offense built around Hurts and Barkley maintain its physical identity. His role will be determined more by consistency than by flashes. The Eagles need Steen to communicate cleanly, handle interior power, assist Lane Johnson on double teams, and prove he can be trusted against Fangio’s defensive front in daily work. If Steen can take the next step convincingly, one of the offense’s biggest questions becomes much easier to answer, and a new contract could follow.
5. Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
The newly married Trotter Jr. could see his role change because the linebacker room is still sorting itself out. He received first-team work during the spring while Jihaad Campbell continued working back from a shoulder issue, giving Trotter a chance to build momentum before pads come on. His instincts and football background have always been part of the appeal, but this camp will test whether he can handle communication, coverage spacing, and downhill run fits at a starter-level pace. If he proves dependable, he could move from promising depth piece to meaningful defensive contributor in Fangio’s rotation.
6. Michael Carter II
Carter may have one of the most flexible roles in the secondary. The Eagles have looked at him in the safety conversation, and his nickel background gives Fangio another hybrid defensive back who can move based on personnel. That matters because Philadelphia’s safety structure is still taking shape behind Andrew Mukuba, with Cooper DeJean expected to play safety in base packages and Marcus Epps factoring into sub packages. Carter’s role could shift from cornerback depth to safety/nickel utility player, and that versatility may be what secures his game-day value.
7. Jalyx Hunt
Hunt could force one of the most meaningful defensive role changes on the roster. He led the Eagles in sacks and interceptions in 2025, showing a rare blend of pass-rush ability and playmaking range. That kind of production demands a longer look, especially in an edge group that also features Jonathan Greenard, Nolan Smith, and other rotational pieces. Hunt’s next step is proving he can handle more snaps with the same efficiency, physicality, and assignment discipline. If he continues developing, he could move from an intriguing weapon to a central part of Fangio’s pass-rush rotation.
Final analysis
The Eagles do not need every role to change dramatically before Week 1, but camp will reveal which players are ready for more responsibility. Bigsby can become a real backup plan behind Barkley. Wicks can climb the receiver hierarchy. Stowers can push the tight end room into a new phase. Steen can stabilize the offensive line. Trotter can make the linebacker competition more interesting. Carter can become a defensive chess piece, and Hunt can force a larger edge-rushing role.
Those are the kinds of summer developments that often shape a season before it begins. Philadelphia already has proven stars. Training camp will determine which emerging pieces are ready to join them.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: 7 Eagles whose roles could change the most in training camp
Continue reading...
