Training camp is when the Philadelphia Eagles start finding out who they actually are heading into the 2026 season — and right now, the biggest question mark is the offense itself.
Philadelphia enters the year with a new coordinator, a retooled receiver room and a roster largely built to defend a Super Bowl title. But early camp practices in South Philadelphia have shown an offense still finding its footing, along with individual battles at running back and offensive tackle that carry real roster implications. Here are three areas worth watching as the Eagles push toward Week 1.
The Offense Is Still Learning a New Language
Sean Mannion is running Philadelphia’s offense for the first time in his coaching career, and installing a new system always takes time — especially with quarterback Jalen Hurts and the rest of the unit absorbing new terminology on the fly.
Mannion, a former NFL quarterback who spent the previous two seasons on Green Bay’s offensive staff, was hired in January after the Eagles finished the 2025 season in the bottom third of the league in total offense. He replaced Kevin Patullo, who was let go following Philadelphia’s wild-card loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Publicly, at least, the early returns from Sirianni’s locker room have been positive. Speaking at his Monday press conference, Sirianni said Mannion has stood out for his command of every position group.
“Sean just shows a very good overall view of the offense,” Sirianni said. “He has everybody’s attention and is able to talk to every position. I’ve been very impressed by that.”
According to Athlon Sports, offensive lineman Jordan Mailata has nicknamed Mannion an “evil genius” for how thoroughly he’s coached up the unit through the first week of camp.
Sirianni has also cautioned that the installation is ongoing and things will “evolve” as the year progresses, a nod to how much ground Mannion still has to cover before Week 1. That matches what Eagles beat coverage has described more broadly this camp: a receiving corps that returns only DeVonta Smith among last year’s top pass-catchers, and a coordinator who wants versatility across the board. Mannion said he wants “every receiver capable of lining up at any spot on the field,” according to the Northeast Times.
None of that guarantees results once the pads come off and real bullets start flying in September. But the pattern early in camp — a talented roster still speaking a new offensive language — is one Eagles fans have seen before during Sirianni’s tenure, given Mannion is Philadelphia’s sixth offensive coordinator in six years.
Will Shipley’s Role Is Anything but Settled
Shipley enters his third NFL season with a crowded backfield behind Saquon Barkley, and last year did him no favors. According to Pro Football Focus data, Shipley finished the 2025 season with just 49 rushing yards on 14 carries, a marginal role that never grew as the year wore on.
That backdrop matters heading into 2026 because Shipley now has more competition for third-down and change-of-pace touches than he’s ever faced in Philadelphia. Tank Bigsby joined the roster in a trade right before Week 1 last season, and the Eagles also added running back depth this offseason as they try to build a viable complement to Barkley’s workload.
Shipley’s clearest path to a roster spot may not even be on offense. He’s carved out a role on Michael Clay’s special teams unit — the Eagles’ own team site credits him with finishing fourth on the roster in special teams snaps last season — which likely keeps him on the 53-man roster regardless of how the backfield competition shakes out. Still, running backs entering their third year without an established offensive role rarely carve out long-term futures elsewhere in the league, which raises the stakes on Shipley finding traction in camp.
| Running Back | 2025 Role | 2026 Camp Question |
|---|---|---|
| Will Shipley | 49 rush yards, 14 carries (PFF) | Passing-down role vs. new competition |
| Tank Bigsby | Added via trade before Week 1 | Expected uptick as RB2 in new offense |
| Saquon Barkley | Workhorse starter | Locked in atop the depth chart |
Fred Johnson’s Grip on the Swing Tackle Job Isn’t Guaranteed
Fred Johnson has been Philadelphia’s go-to reserve tackle for most of his tenure with the team, but that status is being tested this camp by a rookie the Eagles clearly view as their tackle of the future.
Johnson signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency last offseason before Philadelphia traded a 2026 seventh-round pick to bring him back in August 2025, according to public transaction records. He re-signed with the Eagles on a one-year deal in March. Johnson graded as the 69th-ranked tackle out of 89 qualifiers last season, per Pro Football Focus, which tracked 18 total pressures allowed, including two sacks, across 626 offensive snaps.
The bigger threat to Johnson’s role appears to be third-round rookie Markel Bell, a 6-foot-9 tackle out of Miami whom Philadelphia views as the eventual successor to Lane Johnson. Bell has already been getting first-team reps at right tackle over Fred Johnson during portions of the offseason program, a notable development for a rookie who never played the position in college, according to SI’s Eagles coverage.
With Lane Johnson working back from injury and unable to practice, camp has effectively become an audition for both tackles. Fred Johnson making the 53-man roster remains the likely outcome given his experience and versatility at both tackle spots, but a strong summer from Bell could squeeze his snaps and complicate any conversation about a Philadelphia future beyond this season.
What It All Means Heading Into September
None of these storylines are alarming in isolation — this is what training camp is for. But together, they outline the real questions facing Philadelphia as the regular season approaches: how fast a first-time playcaller can get a talented but retooled offense playing fast, and whether Barkley’s top backups can lock down their roles before final cuts.
