Eric Seals / USA TODAY NETWORK Jared Goff just dropped a pretty sleek line of apparel with 100% of proceeds going to a nonprofit. More info here. For the third straight year, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff has dropped a line of apparel with all of the proceed going to charity. But this isn’t any ordinary clothing line. No, this series of shirts, hoodies, and hats were designed with the help from children in the Fate Program. A little backstory: For the last three years, Goff has partnered with Merit—a Detroit-based nonprofit aimed at youth in the hopes to provide them with the resources and opportunities to both graduate high school and go to college. Within Merit is the FATE Program, which they define as the following: This four-year, cohort-based program provides innovative programming that blends project-based learning, character development, career exposure, and mentorship into a co-curricular experience that emphasizes the value of education and its role in achieving long-term career and personal goals. Goff’s program is an innovative one. He collaborates with kids already in the FATE Program to produce some really nice Detroit apparel. Every year, they come out with new designs, and in Year 3, they’ve really hit their stride with the Grit City collection, which you can view here. Here’s a great background video on how they developed this year’s designs. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jared Goff (@jaredgoff) Of course, the best part about the programs is that 100% of the proceeds will go toward funding a college scholarship. According to Goff’s website, last year this program provided four-year scholarships for each of the kids involved in the design of the shirts, plus extra money to go towards other children in the FATE Program. Oh, and did I mention that Goff himself matches every single dollar raised? So if you purchase a $30 shirt, all $30 goes towards a scholarship, plus an additional $30 from Goff for a total contribution of $60. If you like any of the designs or just want to support a great cause, you can purchase here.

Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images We’re a week away from Detroit Lions football! What are you looking forward to the most? Detroit Lions football is just a week away. Before you know it, Sunday night will be upon us and the Lions will be ready for another primetime bout against the Los Angeles Rams. The return of football means so many things to so many people. For me, who does this for a living, it’s a return to a normal schedule and a much-welcomed structure to my weekly life. For some fans, it’s the Sunday ritual of sitting down and watching 10 hours of football with loved ones. Maybe some are just excited for their fantasy league to start up. But for most fans, it’s the nine months of anticipation for their specific team to finally take the field after a long offseason. So today’s Question of the Day is: What are you most excited to see with the 2024 Lions? My answer: The chalk answer would just be to witness a Lions season with such high expectations and unlimited potential. A true Super Bowl run for the first time in franchise history would be unbelievable to witness, and we know this because it almost came last year. But if I wanted to get more specific here, I think I just love watching the Lions offense. Thanks to brilliant offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, it’s so intricate and detailed that you could go down a rabbit hole trying to break down why they chose every little decision they made in each individual play. Beyond that, the Lions have an abundance of talent on that side of the ball that is a pleasure to watch every day. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, Frank Ragnow, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Sam LaPorta are all arguably top-five at their position. And let’s be honest: the story of Jared Goff is one of the coolest stories in franchise history. It’s not very often a quarterback gets discarded in the way that he was and revitalizes his career—let alone doing it with one of the losingest franchises in the history of the sport. It’s an incredible tale of inspiration, hard work, and coaching done right. Every day, Goff goes out there and proves another doubter wrong, and it’s a pleasure to watch. What are you looking forward to the most for the 2024 Lions season? Scroll down to the comment section and let us know!

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK Justin Melo of The Draft Network has Lions receiver Isaiah Williams as one of his undrafted free agents poised to make an impact in 2024. Seemingly every year, one Detroit Lions receiver captures the hearts of the fanbase during the dog days of August. For a while, it was now-veteran receiver Tom Kennedy’s reign. Someone would pop off in the preseason, and while it was fun to watch, most understood that the production wasn’t likely to translate to the regular season. However, this year’s competition was a bit different. Everything was wide open behind roster-locks Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Kalif Raymond. Coaches were nearly begging for someone to step up and take control of the race, and in an unlikely turn of events, undrafted free agent Isaiah Williams ended up seizing his opportunity. So much so that Justin Melo of The Draft Network tabbed Williams as one of his three UDFAs set to make an impact in 2024. And while Williams doesn’t really fit the bill of the traditional X-receiver the Lions are currently lacking when they go three-wide, he made enough plays in August to stick on the active roster anyway. You can read the entire article from Melo right here. And now, onto the rest of today’s notes: According to several metrics compiled by offensive line analyst Brandon Thorn, the Lions have one of the more elite offensive lines in the NFL. Here is the top 10 in weight-adjusted RAS for 2024 compared to their 2023 ranking. Keep in mind with the Saints Ramczyk doesn’t have a RAS score, so with Penning in the lineup that was the primary source of their jump. pic.twitter.com/kWs95Zf2SF — Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) August 30, 2024 New this year is a side-by-side ranking of each unit from 2023 to 2024 that I added in this morning. Here is the top 32 over the last two years in total weight. The Eagles total 1688 pounds, 38 pounds heavier than any unit over the last two years. pic.twitter.com/pHdvpHMYFD — Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) August 30, 2024 Total experience is another interesting one (combined games started). 2024 to 2023 differences: pic.twitter.com/XMSe4xoqew — Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) August 30, 2024 If you live in the Metro Detroit area then chances are you are aware of Gardner White Furniture. And if the Lions win a certain big game in February of 2025, then your furniture could be free. Lions rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold visited his former stomping ground in Tuscaloosa ahead of his NFL debut next week. Terrion Arnold in attendance for Alabama vs. Western Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/ceqd2jgZUe — Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) August 31, 2024 Sports Illustrated’s Greg Bishop wrote about how Jared Goff’s resurgence in Detroit has been essential for the Lions’ ascension to a team with championship aspirations. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press wrote about how Lions defensive end James Houston offers a completely different type of rusher off the edge. This was hilarious and the editing was S-tier. Definitely take the time to watch it if you are looking for a few good laughs. We are so back. Milk and Cookies, Episode 1, featuring @JKERB25 and @ArnoldTerrion pic.twitter.com/iZpNhUmSFZ — Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 31, 2024 Another funny and unique concept from the Lions media department—smoothie competition between three rookies. This offseason, our rookies competed to make the best smoothies incorporating protein and carbohydrate-rich dairy products to help fuel their bodies. Part 1 | Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Mekhi Wingo pic.twitter.com/ABe2dbyOlz — Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 31, 2024 I love this mentality from Lions receiver Jameson Williams. Williams had his number retired at his high school back in St. Louis over the weekend. #Lions’ Jameson Williams to ESPN on Year 3 goals:“I just want to have the most yds and TDs – that would be my personal goals. Out of the whole NFL, I want to have the most receiving yds and TDs. It don’t matter about catches, because I know what I’m gonna do when I get the ball.” pic.twitter.com/5XssWdK6XT — Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) August 31, 2024

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports The Lions were able to re-acquire LB Trevor Nowaske this past week and we explored the reasoning behind that move, as well as what his role could be in 2024. When it comes to team building, the Detroit Lions have maintained several philosophies over the past four offseasons. Two of the most common are as follows: they’re never comfortable with where they’re at and are consistently working to improve the team, and secondly, they also strongly believe in building all three phases of football, giving equal attention to offense, defense, and special teams. On Wednesday, the Lions stayed true to those two primary philosophies when they claimed Trevor Nowaske off waivers, returning their 2023 UDFA linebacker to the roster. Nowaske (6-foot-3, 237 pounds) played his college ball locally at Saginaw Valley State where he stood out for his positional versatility (he played at MIKE and SAM) and athleticism (9.86 RAS). His college film displayed strong tackling skills, fluid lateral movement, some pass-rushing chops, as well as the ability to drop into zone coverage. In my initial analysis, I favorably compared Nowaske to Anthony Pittman—Lions’ long-time special teams stalwart who departed in free agency this offseason. After a solid training camp in Detroit, Nowaske was brought back to the Lions practice squad, and then in November, he was elevated to the active roster after the Dallas Cowboys tried to poach him. Nowaske lasted nearly two months on the roster before Detroit reluctantly waived him to make room for an influx of players returning from injured reserve. The Arizona Cardinals would claim Nowaske off waivers. After spending the end of last season and this offseason in the desert, Nowaske was released by the Cardinals at cutdowns, and the Lions seized their opportunity to bring the young linebacker back home. When general manager Brad Holmes was asked why—with a roster capable of competing for a Super Bowl—he claimed Nowaske, his immediate reaction was simple: “Well, special teams,” Holmes responded. “it’s just as important as offense and defense for us.” For the previous three seasons, the Lions have kept six linebackers on the active roster, with all of them active on game days for special teams. The Lions returned five of the six linebackers from last season, with the aforementioned Pittman as the only one to exit in free agency. That led me to speculate: Is Nowaske viewed as the next Pittman in the Lions’ eyes? To answer that, I went back through the Lions’ press conferences from 2023, both the offseason and regular season, looking for clues on how coaches viewed Nowaske. Sure enough, the special teams angle rang true every time Nowaske’s name was brought up. Here are a few samplings of Lions coaches discussing Nowaske in 2023: From coach Dan Campbell following 2023 preseason Game 1: “He’s developing, he’s getting better. I thought he showed up the other day too. I thought he showed up in the game. Look at all those kickoff reps, he’s the first one down the field. I mean, it’s just over and over and over […] He’s a guy that’s intriguing on special teams, is a core player, and then in the meantime, he continues to grow at linebacker so he’s doing good.” Campbell, following Nowaske’s promotion to the active roster: “Yeah, he was being poached, potentially, so we didn’t want to lose him and we felt like we had the flexibility to make that move. We feel like we’re going to need him before it’s all said and done and we like where he’s going. […] it’s an outstanding (linebacker) room between what they’re able to do defensively, but special teams too. I mean, we rely on them for a lot, so yeah, he was a guy that we didn’t want to lose.” Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp following the promotion: “If he (is) up and playing in a game and active on game day, we’d get him in right away at a bunch of different spots.” Fipp after Nowaske’s first NFL game against the Saints: “He was great. And the thing about him, I mean, I love talking about him because I feel like he’s been a great football player since training camp and has just done a great job, […] I was excited to see him be able to get out there because a guy like him, he’s doing all this work in practice, he’s giving the looks to the other team every single week and all he wants is a chance to play and finally got a chance to play, I thought did a nice job for us.” So to answer my question, the Lions seem to have identified Nowaske as a potential key contributor on special teams for some time now, and I believe they view him as a Pittman-type of player. “He does have a lot of upside with his size, he’s got straight-line speed, he’s tough, he’s physical, he has instincts for special teams,” Holmes said on Thursday. “I think that’s one of the things that, you look at a special teams player, you look at size, speed, trying to get downfield, being able to break down in open field. But he has instincts, he’s got the spatial awareness to understand where the ball’s coming. And so, all those things, it makes him have a bright future at special teams and he’s still going to be growing as a linebacker well.”

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images Which player currently on the Detroit Lions practice squad will end up making the biggest impact in 2024? The Detroit Lions’ initial 16-man practice squad has been settled. While the group will undoubtedly change throughout the season, many of the players in that group will likely stick around for the entire season. Every week, the Lions are allowed to elevate two players from the practice squad and make them part of their gameday roster. Practice squad players are often eventually signed to the 53-man roster, as well. Given the strength and experience of several players on the practice squad, it seems inevitable that a few players of the current 16 will end up making a difference on Sunday. That’s why general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell continue to call it the 69-man roster (53+16). They’re all important. So today’s Question of the Day is: Which Lions practice squad player will have the biggest impact on the 2024 Lions? My answer: Well, first take a look at the Lions’ practice squad with Erik Schlitt’s fantastic breakdown of each player. Early in the season, the answer will undoubtedly be Kyle Peko. With Brodric Martin on injured reserve and DJ Reader’s Week 1 status still very much up in the air, Peko is currently in line to be the starting nose tackle—as he has been in training camp for the past month. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him make it on the 53-man roster after Week 1 (the Lions are likely waiting because the salaries of veteran players become guaranteed if they’re on the Week 1 53-man roster). But he’s the easy answer. Let’s dig a little deeper beyond Peko. The Lions’ WR-X position remains essentially unfilled among their 53-man roster. Yes, the Lions are likely to play Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Kalif Raymond when they go three wide, but none of those players possess exactly what they’re looking for in the position. Detroit will continue that WR-X position battle with three practice squadders: Donovan Peoples-Jones, Tim Patrick, and Allen Robinson. Peoples-Jones likely has the early advantage simply for being with the team since late October. However, I think Patrick eventually wins that job and gets added to the 53-man roster. If you need any convincing, check out our 6 Questions with Mile High Report on Patrick’s career. Who else on the practice squad will have an impact in 2024? Scroll down to the comment section and let us know your thoughts!

The Eagles head coach spoke about playing in a neutral site Week 1 and explained his role in the offensive game planning. The Eagles were back at practice on Sunday preparing for their Week 1 game in Brazil, and head coach Nick Sirianni spoke to reporters prior to taking the field. He said a lot of words about playing in Brazil, and tried really hard to sound positive about the international game — but, the head coach was less than effusive in his excitement about it. Sirianni also kept bringing up that game is being played on a neutral site, which felt like a thinly veiled irritation about not having an actual home game. Here’s what he had to say: On playing in Brazil Sirianni was asked about some comments made by players about having to play in Brazil, but the head coach said they just have to make sure that the players are in the right mindset to play, because their only goal is to win a football game. He noted that they just have to focus on the things that they control. “We’re going to Brazil to play, and that’s what it is, and we’re excited about that. We’re excited about the opportunity to play in a neutral site, and having a slightly different schedule of things that happen — like, you have a mini-bye coming off of it. So, there are a lot of positives in it. And, it’s also to spread the game to a new country which is exciting.” The head coach emphasized controlling what they can, and being prepared to play at a neutral site. He likened it to playing in the rain, and whichever team is better prepared to play in the rain, will win. “It’s going to be good for us just to go play in this neutral site and handle the different things that pop up in the NFL.” Sirianni also talked about the travel implications of a 9-plus hour flight, and acknowledged that it’s something they’ve put a lot of thought into. The medical, training, and strength staffs have been giving their input and forming a plan for pre-flight and post-flight things, like IVs, to make sure they’re in a good position when it’s time to play. On his role in offensive game planning The head coach said that he still enjoys sitting in and listening to — and contributing to — the offensive game planning meetings, but he also likes being able to step out and talk to a player, or to Howie Roseman, or check in on the defense. “I find that very freeing — that I’m able to stretch myself to different spots that I’m needed, and not have to be hunkered down.” He went on to admit that he had a hard time finding time to meet with Howie in past years on Mondays or Tuesdays because there wasn’t time after players left, so being able to handle a greater variety of things is important. Still, Sirianni said that it’s still important for him to lend his expertise to the offensive room, and for him and OC Kellen Moore to be on the same page as far as some of the game management decisions during those meetings. Sirianni later talked about Moore’s teaching ability and quipped about how he’ll sometimes sit in on the offensive group meetings and observe — he also referenced the defensive team meetings being a little cramped, so they don’t always have a seat for him. On Jalen Hurts calling protections The Eagles QB mentioned on the radio this week that he was told to let Jason Kelce handle all the protection calls, so he didn’t get to develop that part of his game as much as he would have liked. Sirianni confirmed that this was “100% true,” noting different offenses give the QB all the control, and others give that role to the center, and some use a collaborative effort. Hurts will be collaborating with Cam Jurgens this season, a new role for both players. Sirianni said that Jurgens has stepped up into more of a leadership role, and will have to be confident getting the offensive line set up and on the same page. Other notables Sirianni confirmed that James Bradberry got dinged up in practice, and the DB will miss some time, which is why they put him on IR. He wouldn’t name any starters just yet — the head coach notoriously waits until the last minute citing competitive advantage —, but said that Mekhi Becton had a good camp at right guard. Addressing DeVonta Smith not being a captain this season, Sirianni said that he had to go with the players who had the most votes, but noted that doesn’t mean that Smith and other guys like Saquon Barkley and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, aren’t still leaders on the team. There can only be so many captains, and the head coach admitted he may have had a couple too many last season.

The “Fangio defense”. Named after its creator, Vic Fangio, who was recently hired as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator, this defense is known for being complex. In particular, Fangio’s defense is known for using confusing terminology that can make things sound more complicated than they are. I wanted to study Fangio’s defense again and write a series of posts where I will attempt to simplify the Vic Fangio style defense, breaking it down into easy-to-understand parts. Numerous writers have already written incredibly in-depth articles on Fangio’s defense. I have learned the most from Honest NFL, Shawn Syed, and Cody Alexander (Match Quarters). I will frequently use their work in these articles, and I can’t thank them enough for their work and for teaching me the intricacies of Fangio’s defense. However, while these accounts do a brilliant job explaining the intricacies of the Fangio defense, I think some of it can be too complicated or necessary for the fan who wants to understand the basics when watching the game on Sunday. Not everyone needs to analyze football, but understanding the schemes can make watching the game more enjoyable. So, my goal for this series is to simplify the Vic Fangio-style defense and break it down into easy-to-understand parts. Please read the articles in order so they make sense. Previously: Previously: Part 1: The Basics / Part 2: MFO Coverages / Part 3: MFC Coverages This will be the final one, so I hope you have enjoyed and found this study on Fangio interesting! Run Fits In this section, I must discuss gap identification and technique alignments. This handy graph from Big Blue View includes both the gaps and the techniques of defensive linemen. The nose tackle is the 0 technique directly over the top of the center. Anything shaded to the center’s outside shoulder is called a 1 technique or a shade. A handy note to remember is that any defender aligned directly in front of an offensive player receives an even number. You can see that above. Additionally, Any defender aligned on the inside shoulder of a guard or tackle is referred to as the corresponding number with an “i” next to it. It’s pretty simple! Historically, you will have heard analysts talk about ‘2-gap’ and ‘1-gap’. This refers to whether defensive linemen are responsible for 2 separate gaps or 1 specific gap. Linemen love playing in 1-gap systems (think Jim Schwartz) as it makes their role easier! Here are a couple of great examples from Blogging the Boys. A 2-gap often comes from 3-4 looks, and you must be a big defensive tackle to deal with 2-gaps. Think back to Bennie Logan 1-gap often comes from 4-man fronts as the defensive tackles. Think Fletcher Cox in his prime with Jim Schwartz as the DC. This is a very simplified version of 2-gap and 1-gap, but it is necessary. Now, let’s get into Vic Fangio’s run fits… A Gap and a Half? Some of you may have heard of Vic Fangio’s defense using a technique called a ‘gap and a half.’ Before getting into this, we must remind ourselves that Fangio wants a two-high pre-snap look on most snaps. If you can’t remember why, go back and read part 1. This is a standard Fangio look against 11 personnel. Let’s do some simple math. Two deep defenders + three cornerbacks = six in the box, just like above. Fangio has a problem. The offense has seven in the box, not even including the quarterback. This means seven gaps are available to the offense, but the defense only has six defenders because the two safeties are deep. If you aren’t sure what I mean by 7 gaps, have a lovely edited photo from yours truly. To deal with this, Fangio asks his defenders to play ‘gap and a half.’ This sounds a bit silly, and it is. Now, I had to do some of my own research on this because I haven’t studied Fangio’s run fits in too much detail. So a massive shoutout to one of my favorite football nerds on X @PhillyWannabGM who gave me a ton of information on run fits. I almost have too much information, so I’m just going to fire off a bunch of key points on Fangio’s style. I will call it 1.5 -gap, too, as I’m bored typing out a ‘gap and a half.’ Here we go… The defensive tackles usually play a hybrid read-and-react/aggressive style. They have to be stout and get their body in their main gap. However, ideally, they need to ‘help out’ a second gap. So it is a 1-gap defense, but rather than fly upfield, they are a bit more passive to help with a second gap. As the defense is often outnumbered in the box, you almost need to ‘steal’ a gap. You are responsible for your primary gap, but when it is clear that the runner will not take it, you can try to help out your secondary gap. Watch #72 Moro Ojomo in this clip below; this is perfect. He controls his gap but still helps out in the gap next to his. This is 1.5-gap, but you can see he doesn’t fly upfield and has to play a read-and-react style. Sometimes, you may ask one defender (Jordan Davis) to truly 2-gap to make it easier on the others. When watching a film, it is hard to tell if someone is playing 1.5-gap or 2-gap. It is a grey area. Similarly, you may allow certain defensive linemen (Jalen Carter) to 1-gap if they are explosive and want to fly up the field. With a 5-man front, you will often see the 3 interior’s 1.5-gap, but the EDGE defenders will set the edge and play contain. In this case, the two 4i techniques will have to control the B gap but will also try to help out the nose tackle in the A gap, too. So it’s sort of a 1.5 gap. This is a great

Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The Philadelphia Eagles officially announced two transactions on Sunday afternoon. Here’s an overview: WR Griffin Hebert and TE Kevin Foelsch were signed to the practice squad. These signings put the Eagles’ practice squad at maximum capacity (16 players, plus one international exemption). Let’s sort through this news on a player-by-player basis. GRIFFIN HEBERT Hebert (pronounced AY-bear) was waived by the Eagles earlier this week as they cut their roster from 90 players down to 53. He’s had an on-again, off-again relationship with the Eagles since originally signing to their practice squad last December (via Pro Football Reference): Hebert occasionally had some good moments in training camp. He was also the Eagles’ leading receiver in the preseason finale against the Minnesota Vikings with his three targets resulting in three catches for 48 yards. 35 of those came on a nice grab seen here: AJ Brown or Griffin Hebert? What a nice catch-and-run by Griffin Hebert pic.twitter.com/5o1wyV15KH — DIE-HARD REALTOR® (@Eaglesfans9) August 24, 2024 Doesn’t hurt to keep him around for more wide receiver depth. Hebert is one of three WRs on the practice squad to go with five on the active roster. The team also has the option to activate rookie wideout Ainias Smith from injured reserve after he misses four games. KEVIN FOELSCH The Eagles originally signed Foelsch (no relation to Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles) to give them an extra body at tight end during training camp. He finished the preseason with three catches for 17 yards. Foelsch is one of three TEs on the practice squad to go with two on the active roster. The team also has the option to activate Albert Okwuegbunam from injured reserve after he misses four games. EAGLES PRACTICE SQUAD WR Griffin Hebert TE Kevin Foelsch DB JT Woods WR Parris Campbell RB Tyrion Davis-Price OL Nick Gates QB Will Grier DT Gabe Hall TE E.J. Jenkins C Dylan McMahon WR Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint S Andre’ Sam LB Brandon Smith S Caden Sterns TE Jack Stoll T/G Brett Toth OT Laekin Vakalahi (international exemption)

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 9/1/24. Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links … Mailbag: Which Eagles players might overperform, underperform expectations? – PhillyVoiceQuestion from @barackchain: One player to overperform expectations, one player to underperform? After watching Nakobe Dean make plays all summer, I feel like he has a chance to surprise some people who have already checked out on him. Then again, over the last dozen or so years of covering Eagles training camps I’ve seen plenty of linebackers make plays during the summer only to play poorly during the fall. Dean also has to prove that he can stay healthy. We’ll see, but Dean had the best summer of his career, by far. As for underperforming to expectations, it depends on whose expectations we’re talking about. The team paid Bryce Huff $17 million per year, so it’s going to be hard for him to prove that he is worth all that money. However, I’m not so sure fan expectations for Huff are super high. I do think there are some fans who think Mekhi Becton is going to come in and just start tossing guys around, but I think that his adjustment to a new position might not be so smooth initially. Eagles depth chart: Some interesting notes ahead of Week 1 – BGNBased on Covey being listed behind him, Dotson is slotted (pun intended) for the slot role on this chart. But, as BGN’s own Jonny Page highlighted, Dotson isn’t just a slot receiver. He might even be better on the outside. The Eagles will likely rotate their slot options under Kellen Moore … but DeVonta might actually be the leader there. In Roob’s Eagles Observations: How many touches make sense for Saquon Barkley? – NBCSP1. It’ll be fascinating to watch how the Eagles use Saquon Barkley, how many touches he gets, how often he gets spelled by Kenny Gainwell or Will Shipley and what he’ll look like when he’s not the only weapon on the field for the first time since his rookie year. Not counting 2020, when he missed almost the entire season, Barkley averaged 20.3 touches per game with the Giants, with a high of 22 touches per season in 2018 and 2022 and a low of 15.6 in 2021. If you’re Kellen Moore you’re looking for the perfect balance between protecting Barkley and doing everything possible so he’s healthy come December and January and also trying to maximize his ability. I think 22 is way too high. Considering wear and tear and injuries and a desire to keep him healthy all year and also considering the other weapons Moore has at his disposal, I feel like somewhere around 18 per game makes the most sense. Miles Sanders and D’Andre Swift both made the Pro Bowl the last two years at around 16 ½. Barkley is more of an every-down back than them, so he needs to be higher, but anything beyond 18 and you’re probably going to get diminishing returns. The number will fluctuate, but based on his career average of 5.3 yards per touch, 18 touches gets him to run around 95 scrimmage yards per game. And with the other weapons on this offense and the best o-line he’s ever played behind? He should surpass that 5.3 figure if he stays healthy. Now you’re looking at about 1,700 scrimmage yards, which only Christian McCaffrey hit last year. The Giants had to over-work Barkley because they didn’t have any other threats. They had no choice. He was their only hope. The Eagles don’t have to worry about that. A.J. and DeVonta have to get their seven or eight targets per game, Dallas Goedert needs four, Gainwell will get a handful too, and you’d like to see Jahan Dotson involved as well. Moore loves spreading the ball around and with these skill players there’s no reason not to. There’ll be plenty of opportunities for Barkley to shine. And just as importantly, plenty of opportunities for him to recover. 2024 NFL rookies guide: Stat leaders, fantasy picks, top QBs – ESPN+Miller’s top Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates. 2. Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Philadelphia Eagles (+1400). It remains to be seen exactly what Mitchell’s role will be in Year 1 with the Eagles, but in preseason snaps and training camp battles, he has proved to be the sticky cover man the team expected when taking him in the first round. Mitchell has been aligning some in the slot, where his quick feet and fast processing skills are a huge asset. With six interceptions in his final two years at Toledo, Mitchell’s ball skills are developed enough to see him quickly flipping the field with his hands. The Chiefs made 6 roster moves on Friday – Arrowhead PrideIt has also been reported the Chiefs are signing former Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu to their practice squad. The former sixth-round pick appeared in 28 games over three seasons before being released earlier this week. That move has not yet been made official; we don’t yet know the corresponding move the team intends to make. Veterans Jalen Reagor, Trysten Hill among Patriots’ latest additions to practice squad – Pats PulpitReagor, 25, had been released as a vested veteran. The No. 21 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft first arrived in Foxborough as the practice squad formed last August after appearing 45 games, including 24 starts, with the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings. Reaching the limit in elevations before being promoted to the 53-man roster, Reagor finished 2023 with 138 receiving yards, 17 rushing yards, 221 return yards and a 98-yard touchdown across 11 contests. The 5-foot-11, 197-pound former TCU standout was retained on a one-year deal in March. Steelers add WR Quez Watkins to practice squad – Behind The Steel CurtainWatkins spent the summer with the Steelers, notably struggling as a returner and failing to make a splash as a wide receiver. However, the former Eagles pass-catcher has good speed

Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images The Philadelphia Eagles’ first regular season team-issued depth chart is here! Since it’s compiled by the team’s media relations department, it’s not necessarily the most accurate representation of how the coaching staff truly views the roster. But the media relations department certainly takes public perception into account. And, on that note, there are some interesting takeaways here. Depth chart first and then some thoughts to follow. OFFENSE QB: Jalen Hurts, Kenny Pickett, Tanner McKee RB: Saquon Barkley, Kenny Gainwell, Will Shipley WR: A.J. Brown, Johnny Wilson WR: DeVonta Smith WR: Jahan Dotson, Britain Covey TE: Dallas Goedert, Grant Calcaterra LT: Jordan Mailata, Fred Johnson LG: Landon Dickerson, Trevor Keegan C: Cam Jurgens RG: Mekhi Becton, Tyler Steen RT: Lane Johnson, Darian Kinnard DEFENSE EDGE: Bryce Huff, Brandon Graham, Patrick Johnson DT: Jordan Davis, Byron Young DT: Jalen Carter, Thomas Booker IV DT: Milton Williams, Moro Ojomo EDGE: Josh Sweat, Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt LB: Devin White/Nakobe Dean, Ben VanSumeren LB: Zack Baun, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Oren Burks CB: Darius Slay, Eli Ricks CB: Isaiah Rodgers, Kelee Ringo NCB: Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean S: C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Avonte Maddox S: Reed Blankenship, Tristin McCollum SPECIAL TEAMS P: Braden Mann K: Jake Elliott H: Braden Mann LS: Rick Lovato PR: Britain Covey, Isaiah Rodgers KR: Isaiah Rodgers, Kenny Gainwell THOUGHTS Based on Covey being listed behind him, Dotson is slotted (pun intended) for the slot role on this chart. But, as BGN’s own Jonny Page highlighted, Dotson isn’t just a slot receiver. He might even be better on the outside. The Eagles will likely rotate their slot options under Kellen Moore … but DeVonta might actually be the leader there. Jack Stoll projects to be the TE3. The Eagles could very well look to temporarily elevate him from the practice squad before eventually promoting him to the roster. Fred Johnson is likely the top backup at both left tackle and right tackle. If the Eagles only keep eight offensive lineman active, Keegan and Kinnard are bound to be the healthy scratches … assuming Gates is temporarily elevated (and then eventually added to the roster) to be the top backup center. Gates might also be the top backup left guard whereas Steen is Becton’s backup. The Eagles don’t have a true nose tackle frame behind Davis but they’re listing new addition Byron Young behind him. One would thinkk the Eagles will add someone with prototypical NT size on the practice squad, at the very least. Nolan Smith is listed ahead of Jaylx Hunt, who is dealing with an oblique injury. It’ll be interesting to see if the snap counts reflect the same thing once they’re both healthy and playing. Prior to the first preseason game, the Eagles were listing “Devin White/Nakobe Dean” and “Zack Baun/Jeremiah Trotter Jr.” in the top two linebacker spots. Now Baun is by himself with Trotter Jr. behind him while the White/Dean split remains. The Eagles almost exclusively had Baun and White as the first first-team linebackers every day in training camp. But Dean finished camp strong and could apparently overtake White as a starter. Prior to the first preseason game, the Eagles were listing “Isaiah Rodgers/Kelee Ringo” at cornerback. Now it’s Rodgers in the lead spot. That being said, Rodgers has been dealing with an undisclosed injury … so it’s unclear if he’s even ready to play Week 1. Prior to the first preseason game, the Eagles had the nickel cornerback position listed like this: “Avonte Maddox, Tyler Hall, Parry Nickerson, Shon Stephens.” Maddox is the only remaining player from that group still on the roster and he’s a backup safety. Now it’s Mitchell who figures to be in the slot while DeJean provides depth. DeJean might be a healthy scratch early in the season as he still catches up from missing a lot of time in training camp? Rodgers being listed over as DeJean as the top backup punt returner is interesting. Not sure if that’s actually how it would play out in a game, especially if Rodgers is starting at cornerback. And the same deal for Rodgers returning kicks.