Tag: Philadelphia

Aug 2, 2014; Canton, OH, USA; Sonny Jurgensen waves to the crowd at the TimkenSteel Grand Parade on Cleveland Avenue in advance of the 2014 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Hall of Fame QB Sonny Jurgensen dies at 91

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen has died at age 91, his family announced Friday.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our husband, father and grandfather, Sonny Jurgensen,” said a statement from the Jurgensen family, distributed by the Washington Commanders.

“We are enormously proud of his amazing life and accomplishments on the field, marked not only by a golden arm, but also a fearless spirit and intellect that earned him a place among the legends in Canton.”

Jurgensen spent the final 11 seasons of his 18-year career playing for the Washington franchise.

A native of Wilmington, N.C., Jurgensen was a fourth-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles out of Duke in 1957. He was the backup to Norm Van Brocklin when Philadelphia won the 1960 NFL Championship before becoming the Eagles’ starter the following season.

That was the only NFL title of his career.

In 1964 he was traded to Washington, where his No. 9 is retired. After his playing career, he became a longtime radio and television broadcaster for Washington.

“Sonny Jurgensen is, and always will be, one of the defining legends of Washington football. He was a brilliant leader, Hall of Fame quarterback, and had one of the best arms the game has ever seen. After his career on the field, Sonny’s voice became a fixture of Washington Sundays for decades, shaping the way generations of fans experienced the game,” Commanders’ managing partner Josh Harris said in a statement Friday.

Jurgensen is in Washington’s Ring of Fame and the Eagles’ Hall of Fame and was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.

A first-team All-Pro in 1961, he was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and named to the Hall of Fame’s All-1960s team.

Jurgensen led the league in passing yards five times. His 32,224 career passing yards ranks 51st all-time.

He finished 69-71-7 in 218 games (147 starts) with Philadelphia (1957-1963) and Washington (1964-1974), throwing 255 touchdown passes. He added 15 on the ground and ran for 493 yards in his career.

–Field Level Media

Contending for the NFC’s No. 2 seed, Eagles seek familiar sweep of Commanders

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The NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles will attempt to sweep the visiting Washington Commanders for the sixth time in nine seasons on Sunday afternoon.

The Eagles (11-5) won both meetings with Washington (4-12) in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023 and registered a 29-18 victory two weeks ago in Landover, Md.

The rematch features a familiar Week 18 NFL storyline with both teams wrestling with whether to play their starters.

The Eagles still have a chance to secure the No. 2 seed in the NFC — if they beat the Commanders and Chicago loses to Detroit — but reportedly are planning to rest their regulars for the wild-card round. At worst, they will have the No. 3 seed.

The Commanders have lost 10 of their last 11 games and have little to play for — other than the proverbial pride and a few potential personal payouts — and may decide to give younger players a chance to audition for 2026.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on Wednesday that the Eagles will sit quarterback Jalen Hurts and several starters. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters Wednesday he still needed to speak with the team.

“We have a team meeting coming up. I haven’t communicated that with our players, so I’ll always talk to our players before,” Sirianni said. “… (I’ll) discuss it with them before I discuss it (with you).”

Tanner McKee, the Eagles’ sixth-round pick in 2023, would be in line to make his second NFL start if Hurts rests. He also started in Week 18 last year, throwing for 269 yards and two TDs in a 20-13 win over the New York Giants. This season, McKee has completed 3 of 3 passes for 33 yards in three cameo appearances.

“He’s really good about knowing where to go with the football, seeing the defense and being able to deliver things accurately,” Sirianni said. “… He’s able to sit in that meeting room with Jalen for hours upon hours a day just learning from him, and that’s a big deal.”

With Marcus Mariota (quad) considered a “long shot,” in the words of head coach Dan Quinn, to return this week, Washington likely will give 39-year-old journeyman quarterback Josh Johnson his second straight start.

Johnson, who has only one win in 10 career starts since he was drafted in 2008, took over after Mariota sustained hand and quad injuries in the Week 16 loss to the Eagles. Johnson completed 15 of 23 passes for 198 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in a 30-23 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas.

With Jayden Daniels shut down for the season, Washington’s other options under center are veteran Jeff Driskel, who hasn’t thrown a pass in two years, and untested Sam Hartman.

Even though the season has been a disappointment, Quinn said he loved seeing “the number of guys that are really hungry for this opportunity and chance to compete together” on Sunday.

“Obviously this game doesn’t have the magnitude we hoped it would have when the schedule came out, but at the same time, we also recognize it’s a really important opportunity for a lot on our roster, and so we don’t take that lightly,” Quinn said Wednesday.

At least a couple of veteran Commanders will be clamoring to play. Linebacker Von Miller needs one sack to trigger a $1 million bonus for reaching nine sacks. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel needs 93 receiving yards to claim a $450,000 bonus for 800 yards and two touchdowns to collect a $250,000 bonus for eight touchdowns.

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley needs 87 all-purpose yards to reach 1,500 and earn a $250,000 bonus.

Washington put center Tyler Biadasz (knee/ankle) on injured reserve Wednesday. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil (oblique) did not practice Wednesday and is doubtful to play Sunday. Also missing practice were running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (illness) and linebacker Bobby Wagner (knee/rest).

Philadelphia right tackle Lane Johnson (foot), linebackers Nakobe Dean (hamstring) and Jaelan Phillips (ankle) and tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) did not practice Wednesday. Goedert leads the team with 11 TD receptions.

–Field Level Media

Reports: Eagles plan to start QB Tanner McKee, rest Jalen Hurts, other starters

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The Philadelphia Eagles plan to start little-used quarterback Tanner McKee and rest Jalen Hurts and several other starters in the regular-season finale at home Sunday against the Washington Commanders, according to multiple reports on Wednesday.

The Eagles (11-5) cannot fall any lower than their current No. 3 seed in the NFC playoffs but would rise to No. 2 if they win and the Chicago Bears (11-5) lose to the Detroit Lions. Both games kick off at the same time late Sunday afternoon.

Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni said Wednesday that the team would rest several starters and were “nearing” a decision, but he wanted to talk to players first at a team meeting.

McKee, 25, has appeared in three games this season as relief for Hurts and completed all three pass attempts for 33 yards. He is 33 of 48 for 356 yards and four touchdowns in five career games, winning his lone start 20-13 against the New York Giants to close out the 2024 regular season.

The Eagles selected McKee in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Stanford.

“When you see Tanner, he’s really good about knowing where to go with the football, seeing the defense and being able to deliver things accurately,” Sirianni said. “It’s a great room where those guys feed off each other and learn from each other.”

The Philadelphia Inquirer first reported that the Eagles plan to make 10 or so key starters inactive and suit up another 10 or so on the active roster but hop they rest against the Commanders (4-12), who lost at home to the Eagles 29-18 on Dec. 20.

Among those likely to rest are Hurts, running back Saquan Barkley, receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, tight end Dallas Goedert, several offensive linemen and a host of defensive starters, per the Inquirer report.

–Field Level Media

Expect no rest for playoff-bound Eagles, Bills

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Two playoff-bound teams with something to prove meet Sunday when the Philadelphia Eagles visit the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y.

The NFC East champion Eagles (10-5) want to show the doubters that their resurgent ground game is legitimate and not built on the backs of lesser opponents.

The Bills (11-4) are one game behind the New England Patriots in the AFC East race with two games left and need to prove to themselves that they can stop the run.

Cold temperatures, a chance of precipitation and a heavy dose of Saquon Barkley are all in the forecast for the Week 17 clash at Highmark Stadium, where Buffalo is 6-1 this season.

Barkley has rushed for 332 yards with three touchdowns in the last three games to top the 1,000-yard mark for the fifth time in his career. The Eagles are averaging 4.9 yards per carry during that span, which included an overtime road loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, a shutout of the Las Vegas Raiders and a 29-18 road win last weekend against the Washington Commanders.

“We’re starting to hit our stride and look to build upon that,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said Wednesday.

The Bills have won four straight games to keep the pressure on the Patriots despite their struggles against the run. Buffalo ranks 30th in rushing defense (144.3 yards per game) and allows a whopping 5.4 yards per carry — second-most in the NFL to the New York Giants (5.5). Nobody has allowed as many touchdowns on the ground (24) as the Bills.

After allowing a season-high 246 rushing yards (and four TDs) in a Week 15 win at New England, Buffalo surrendered 160 yards on the ground in a 23-20 escape at Cleveland last weekend.

“We know who Saquon is. He’s a Hall of Fame player. Their offensive line is very talented as well,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said Tuesday.

“… It’s a tough unit to stop. Their run game in particular is real. I know the numbers say (they’re down compared to last season), but I’m not buying the numbers.”

Philadelphia wants to run the football, chew up the clock and keep reigning MVP quarterback Josh Allen and current NFL rushing leader James Cook (1,532 yards) on the sideline as much as possible.

It’s true that the Bills have more to play for than the Eagles, who are all but locked into the NFC’s No. 3 playoff seed. Philadelphia needs Chicago to lose out to have a chance to move up. Buffalo, which ends the regular season at home against the New York Jets, can still catch New England and win its sixth straight division title.

That said, Sirianni said there is no plan to rest his starters on Sunday.

“You do what you think is best for your football team, and we think playing our guys is the best thing for our football team,” Sirianni said.

“… This is an opportunity for us,” he added. “This is a week that we have to get better.”

Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson, who has missed the last five games with a foot injury, did not practice Wednesday along with left guard Landon Dickerson (illness), linebacker Nakobe Dean (hamstring) and wide receiver A.J. Brown, who reportedly had his wisdom teeth removed. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jalen Carter (shoulders) was a full participant after missing three games.

For the Bills, Allen (foot) was limited Wednesday but expected to play Sunday. Defensive end Joey Bosa (hamstring), defensive tackles DaQuan Jones (calf) and Jordan Phillips (ankle), tight ends Dalton Kincaid (knee) and Dawson Knox (knee), safety Jordan Poyer (hamstring) and kicker Matt Prater (quad) did not practice.

–Field Level Media

Eagles OC: ‘Line was crossed’ when vandals egged his home

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Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo said criticism comes with the job but a “line was crossed” when his house was vandalized because his family was targeted.

Patullo spoke to the media Wednesday for the first time since the incident early Saturday morning, when vandals egged his New Jersey home, according to the Moorestown Police Department. The incident, still under investigation, followed the Eagles’ 24-15 home loss to the Chicago Bears on Friday.

“Unfortunately, (the vandalism) happened,” Patullo said. “I’ve been here five years now, and it’s been awesome. This is such a unique place to coach and play. It’s very special. We’ve been to two NFC Championship Games we’ve won at Lincoln Financial (Field), a Super Bowl, the parade, it’s an amazing atmosphere to be a coach and a player. And as coaches and players, we all know that part of our job is to handle criticism.

“It’s perfectly acceptable to sit up here and talk about what’s going on, how to fix it, what we’re going to do going forward, and we know that,” Patullo continued. “But when it involves your family, obviously it crosses the line. And so, that happened. At this point, we’ve just gotta move on. We’re trying to win. That’s all we want to do is focus — whether it’s my family, whether it’s the team — all we’re trying to do together is focus on this week.”

The defending Super Bowl champions are 8-4 and lead the NFC East but have lost two straight, 24-21 at Dallas and at home to the Bears.

Patullo, 44, is in his first season as offensive coordinator after Kellen Moore left to become head coach of the New Orleans Saints.

Philadelphia ranks 19th in scoring (22.5 points per game), 24th in total yards (304.8), 23rd in passing yards (196.3) and 22nd in rushing yards (108.5).

The offensive woes, despite the overall record, have brought greater scrutiny to Patullo, who came with Nick Sirianni from the Indianapolis Colts staff (2018-20) to the Eagles when Sirianni was hired as head coach in 2021. Patullo was the passing game coordinator and added the title of associate head coach in 2023.

He will continue to call plays as the OC, Sirianni confirmed on Monday.

“Nick does a great job with all of us as coaches, just preparing us for these kind of moments, and different mentors you have,” Patullo said Wednesday. “You know the pressure is there, but we all accept it because we ultimately want to be at the highest part of our coaching career and continue to work through that and this is part of it.

“It’s a challenge but it makes it fun, and when you look back on it, you hope that you have more good than bad memories,” he added. “And when you go through the process like this, it defines you as a person in your career but not as an individual and not as your family.”

Patullo said the job should be separate from family, but “that line was crossed.” He said his family has received support from “great people in the community” since the incident.

–Field Level Media

Bears clicking heading into Friday matchup with Eagles, who aren’t

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The Chicago Bears have several reasons to be upbeat heading into their “Black Friday” showdown against the host Philadelphia Eagles.

For starters, the Bears (8-3) find themselves atop the NFC North on the strength of their second four-game winning streak of the season.

Chicago may also catch Philadelphia (8-3) flat-footed after the latter saw its second four-game winning streak halted in horrific fashion. The Eagles’ offense went limp in squandering a 21-point lead in a 24-21 road setback to the rival Dallas Cowboys last Sunday.

As for the Bears, Caleb Williams threw two of his three touchdown passes to DJ Moore in a 31-28 home victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday.

“Yeah, I mean, we’re an 8-3 team in the National Football League,” Williams said. “We feel good where we’re at, but we do got to get better. I would say, ‘Yeah, we don’t feel like we’re the same old Bears.’ We pull through for each other when it matters most. We got to keep getting better, like I said. It starts with me on my side, and we’ll keep growing from there.”

Rookie Kyle Monangai has found the end zone in three straight games, while fellow running back D’Andre Swift likely is champing at the bit to see his former team with which he had a career year in 2023 and made his lone Pro Bowl as an Eagle.

The Bears rank eighth in the league in points per game (26.3), sixth in total yards per contest (369.6) and tops in forced turnovers (24).

Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts totaled three touchdowns last weekend versus Dallas, rushing for two and tossing one to A.J. Brown. The latter led the team with eight receptions for 110 yards while fellow wideout DeVonta Smith had six for 89, respectively.

Smith, who leads the Eagles in catches (55) and receiving yards (754), sat out his second consecutive practice Wednesday. He had an illness designation added to his chest and shoulder injuries as the reason for his absence.

Star running back Saquon Barkley (groin) remained limited Wednesday, while offensive tackle Lane Johnson (foot) and wide receiver Xavier Gipson (shoulder) did not participate in practice. Philadelphia placed starting safety Andrew Mukuba (ankle) on injured reserve after he was hurt against Dallas, and he must sit at least the next four games.

The Eagles on Friday will see a familiar face in CJ Gardner-Johnson, who was traded from Philadelphia to the Houston Texans in March. It didn’t work out in Houston for Gardner-Johnson, who has since played four games with the Bears.

“Yeah, I love CJ,” Philadelphia head coach Nick Sirianni said on Wednesday. “We’ve had some great times together in the one Super Bowl together, won another one together. I always loved the emotion he played with and how he went about his business. So yeah, I miss him and he’s playing good football.”

Chicago cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson (groin) and Kyler Gordon (calf), who currently are on injured reserve, were both full participants in practice for the second consecutive day on Wednesday.

Bears coach Ben Johnson wasn’t tipping his hand in regard to the availability for those two players, however.

“We have a plan in place with them, and we’re really right on track with what we’re hoping to get done with them,” he said. “We’ll know soon enough.”

Gardner-Johnson may have let the cat out of the bag in regard to Jaylon Johnson, labeling him as one of the league’s best cornerbacks while telling the Chicago Sun-Times that “he’ll probably get a chance to actually show that, being active this week against a great receiving corps.”

The following players did not participate in practice for the second straight day for the Bears: starting linebackers T.J. Edwards (hand, hamstring), Noah Sewell (elbow) and Ruben Hyppolite II (shoulder), defensive back Tyrique Stevenson (hip), offensive lineman Luke Newman (foot) and defensive lineman Dominique Robinson (concussion).

–Field Level Media

Eagles place starting S Andrew Mukuba (ankle) on injured reserve

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The Philadelphia Eagles placed starting safety Andrew Mukuba on injured reserve on Wednesday due to an ankle injury he sustained in Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Multiple reports earlier this week said the rookie, who must sit out at least four games, will have surgery for a fractured ankle.

Mukuba, 22, has started 10 of the team’s 11 games and has 46 tackles, two interceptions, one-half sack and three passes defensed. He has been on the field for 93% of the defensive snaps.

Philadelphia selected Mukuba in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Texas.

The Eagles are also dealing with a thigh injury to their other starting safety, Reed Blankenship, who was limited at practice on Wednesday. Safety Sydney Brown, who started one of 11 games played this season and seven of 36 in his career since 2023, is likely to replace Mukuba in the lineup.

Wide receiver DeVonta Smith (shoulder/chest/illness), offensive tackle Lane Johnson (foot) and wide receiver Xavier Gipson (shoulder) did not practice Wednesday.

Running back Saquon Barkley (groin), offensive lineman Landon Dickerson (knee) and defensive end Brandon Graham (groin) were limited.

Philadelphia elevated wide receiver/punt returner Britain Covey to the active roster and placed offensive tackle Luke Felix-Fualalo, the team’s international practice squad exemption, on practice squad injured reserve (undisclosed injury).

–Field Level Media

Oct 19, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) waves to the fans after the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

Reports: Eagles star WR A.J. Brown does not practice on Wednesday

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Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver A.J. Brown was at practice only as an observer on Wednesday, according to multiple media reports.

Brown is coming off of his most productive game of the season on Sunday in a 28-22 road victory over the Minnesota Vikings. He caught four of six targets for season highs of 121 yards, two touchdowns, 30.3 yards per reception and a long of 45 yards.

Teammate DeVonta Smith hauled in nine of 11 targets for 183 yards — all season highs — with one TD.

A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Brown has on occasion expressed his frustration with his role in the Eagles’ offense, which can be heavy on the running game and inconsistent in the passing attack despite overall success for the defending Super Bowl champions.

Brown was not targeted until the final drive of the game in the Eagles’ season-opening win over the Dallas Cowboys. He caught an 8-yard pass to help Philadelphia seal the 24-20 victory.

After catching five passes for just 27 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs and having a six-reception, 109-yard performance against the Los Angeles Rams, Brown saw nine targets but hauled in only two for 7 yards in Philadelphia’s 31-25 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 28.

Brown declined to speak with reporters after the game, then posted to X a modern translation of a Bible passage that read: “If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.”

That cryptic communication created a lot of attention on the Eagles’ offense, as did a supposed meeting between Brown, quarterback Jalen Hurts and running back Saquon Barkley in the days following a 21-17 home loss to the Denver Browns on Oct. 5. Hurts and Barkley said they talked with Brown, who was more elusive about the details before later clarifying that it was an informal chat in the parking lot.

Brown, 28, gained at least 1,079 yards in each of his first three seasons with the Eagles and helped them win Super Bowl LIX, with 12 catches for 163 yards and two touchdowns over four playoff games last winter. He has 29 catches for 395 yards and three scores this season.

The Eagles (5-2) host the New York Giants (2-5) on Sunday. New York defeated Philadelphia 34-17 on Oct. 9.

–Field Level Media

Nov 24, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean (17) reacts after sacking Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (not pictured) during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Alex Gallardo-Imagn Images

Eagles LB Nakobe Dean activated, will make season debut vs. Giants

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Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean is set to make his season debut Thursday night after he was activated off the reserve/physically unable to perform list earlier in the day.

Dean, 24, has been sidelined since sustaining a torn patellar tendon in the Eagles’ playoff opener vs. Green Bay on Jan. 12. He missed the final three games of Philadelphia’s run to the Super Bowl championship and the first five contests this season, but is set to return for the Eagles (4-1) against the New York Giants (1-4) in East Rutherford, N.J.

Before his injury last season, Dean was having a breakthrough campaign in his third year in the league. He recorded 128 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks, an interception, four pass breakups, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and six quarterback hits in 15 games (all starts) a season ago.

His return will be a boost for a Philadelphia defense which has been middling early this season, ranking 22nd in rushing defense (126.8 yards allowed per game).

The Eagles also announced Thursday afternoon they will be elevating defensive tackle Gabe Hall from the practice squad for the matchup with New York. That may be indicative of star defensive tackle Jalen Carter’s status after he was listed as questionable on the Eagles’ final injury report with a heel injury.

–Field Level Media

Sep 4, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (88) at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Eagles TE Dallas Goedert (knee sprain) ruled out in Week 2 vs. Chiefs

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Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert will miss Sunday’s Super Bowl rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs due to a knee sprain, the team said Friday.

Goedert, 30, sat out all three practices this week after sustaining the injury and was officially ruled out on the team’s final injury report. The veteran caught 42 passes for 496 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games last year, and led the Eagles in receiving yards with 215 during their postseason run. He also had two receptions for 27 yards in Philadelphia’s 40-22 Super Bowl victory over Kansas City.

With Goedert sidelined, the Eagles will turn to Grant Calcaterra and Kylen Granson at tight end, while practice-squad options Cameron Latu and E.J. Jenkins could be elevated. Wideout Jahan Dotson may also see increased snaps.

Philadelphia also ruled out rookie running back Will Shipley (oblique) and offensive tackle Cameron Williams (shoulder), while backup quarterback Tanner McKee (thumb) is listed as questionable. The Eagles travel to Kansas City at 1-0, facing a Chiefs team seeking to rebound from a Week 1 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

–Field Level Media