PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles held their first practice of the week Sunday ahead of their season opener Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys and later this afternoon they will release their first injury report of the 2025 season.
So who will be ready and who won’t when the Eagles kick off the new season?
Based on the portion of practice open to the media Sunday, this is our best guess:
Backup quarterback Tanner McKee, who is dealing with a fractured thumb on his throwing hand that he sustained late in training camp, was on the practice field, but he was in a white bucket hat rather than a helmet and did not participate in individual drills with the rest of the quarterbacks.
That’s a pretty good indication that McKee probably won’t be ready for the role of QB2 behind Jalen Hurts Thursday, leaving that job for Sam Howell, who the Eagles acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings last week.
Howell, a fifth-round pick by Washington in 2022, has made 18 career starts with 17 of them coming in 2023 with the Commanders. He appeared in just two games and threw 14 passes last season with the Seattle Seahawks.
If the Eagles want to have an emergency third quarterback on Thursday night, they will have to activate rookie Kyle McCord from the practice squad.
The rest of the news on the injury front appeared to be pretty good for the Eagles. Eighteen days after undergoing surgery on his right knee, left guard Landon Dickerson was on the practice field and going through individual drills.
Meanwhile, rookie safety Andrew Mukuba, the team’s second-round pick, returned to the practice field after being out the last 11 days with a hamstring injury. Mukuba is likely to open the season in a backup role behind Sydney Brown, but he could end up in a starting role at some point this season.
The Eagles also signed offensive lineman Kenyon Green off their practice squad to fill the roster spot vacated when they placed undrafted rookie Willie Lampkin on injured reserve last week. Lampkin, claimed by the Eagles after being waived injured by the Rams last week, is dealing with a right knee injury and was at practice as an observer only Sunday.
Veteran receiver Terrace Marshall, who spent training camp with the Eagles, was signed to the practice squad.
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Bob Brookover can be reached atrbrookover@njadvancemedia.com
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