The Panthers aren’t sleeping on the Eagles on Sunday: ‘Everybody knows what that defense is capable of’
Bryce Young is having the best season of his career and could get one of his top receivers back in Jalen Coker. But they know the Eagles, despite the three straight losses, are a tough test.
As the Eagles recover from a disappointing loss last Sunday across the pond, they’re also preparing to welcome a well-rested Carolina Panthers team to Lincoln Financial Field.
Though both teams have been dealing with injuries, the Panthers are coming off their bye week. Coach Dave Canales discussed the potential return of some key players, including wide receiver Jalen Coker, who was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice.
“They’re all excited to get back out there,” Canales told reporters at a news conference on Wednesday. “We gotta get them some football to kind of be able to evaluate their [game] availability in the next couple of weeks.”
For the Eagles, Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith remain sidelined, and Jalen Hurts was ruled out for Sunday with a “superficial blood clot” in his calf. Meanwhile, the 21-day practice window was opened Wednesday for left guard Landon Dickerson, among others.
» READ MORE: Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts to miss Sunday’s game with a ‘superficial blood clot’ in calf
Even though his team was idle, Canales pointed to the Week 5 games as a learning opportunity for his team and staff. This comes as Eagles coach Nick Sirianni faces scrutiny over his late-game management in the loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.
“None of us can ignore those games,” Canales said. “I had to go back because I’m getting texts from coaches, ‘Did you see this, did you see this management?’ … All these things are examples of things we like to show our guys, just to get them back in our decision-making and where we need to go as a unit.”
Though the Eagles have lost three straight, the Panthers know they’ll be facing some formidable players, especially on defense. Quarterback Bryce Young gave Eagles star defensive tackle Jalen Carter his flowers.
“I have a ton of respect for [Jalen Carter’s] game,” Young said Tuesday. “He’s dominated at every level. He’s an elite player, and we all have a ton of respect for him, and we are excited for the challenge, and it’s going to take everything.”
Canales and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, the 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year, also pointed to the Eagles’ defense as a focus heading into Sunday.
“Everybody knows what that defense is capable of,” McMillan said. “The Eagles are coming off a few losses, but that just means they’re hungrier to win.”
» READ MORE: Jihaad Campbell focused on doing ‘whatever it takes for us to win’ amid LB rotation with Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
Canales said his staff has been studying defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s scheme and learning “what leverages they like to play and what things might look like right before the snap.”
But Fangio’s defense will will be up against an explosive offense that’s third in the NFL in total yards and second in passing yards per game. Young is having one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 317 yards, and Coker’s possible return adds another dimension — the Panthers average 9.0 yards per attempt with the wideout on the field, according to Next Gen Stats.
The Eagles do have one major advantage, however: Philly fans, a factor that did not go unmentioned by Canales.
“It’s a championship opportunity, and the further you get into the season, the more critical things are. You’re going to face environments like [an Eagles home game],” Canales said. “We know we’re going to have a handful of Carolina fans show up, but what we’re counting on is each other.”
The Eagles are back from London, looking to leave the disappointment of a last-second defeat behind while choosing instead to focus on lessons they can learn from a third straight loss. And you know what? The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane actually thinks there were encouraging takeaways from the game, outcome aside. He and Mike Sielski discussed why the Eagles’ sky, despite being gray, isn’t falling just yet, and what the team can build on to if it hopes to reverse its fortunes during a key stretch of the schedule that begins Sunday. Listen here.
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