🦅 Lack of spark | Sports Daily Newsletter

Things have been snowballing for the Eagles these last two weeks.

Outside of injuries, it started with Lane Johnson announcing his retirement, then Howie Roseman trading Cam Jurgens, but the real cherry topper had to be Jalen Hurts being placed on injured reserve because of a superficial blood clot in his calf.

Philly’s franchise quarterback must miss at least the next four games, which means Tanner McKee will lead the offense, and hopefully he’ll have a better showing after Sunday’s 25-14 loss to the Panthers.

He was sacked three times, while going 26-for-45 for 215 yards and a touchdown. McKee expressed after the game that his “team needs me to be better.”

The Eagles are now on a four-game losing streak, their longest under head coach Nick Sirianni. They continue to get hit with injuries — Nolan Smith suffered a concussion in the second quarter and Jordan Davis was injured late in the fourth — but across the board, it was another mediocre performance.

— Isabella DiAmore, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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❓Can the Eagles still manage to win the division? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

On a brighter note, the Sixers give fans something to look forward to. They’ll open their season Tuesday night against the Knicks.

The Sixers won the NBA offseason, when they traded for Jaylen Brown, landed LeBron James, and added veteran reserves to create a new-look roster. With Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe being key returners, the star-studded group is expected to compete in the Eastern Conference and beyond this season.

Writers Gina Mizell and Chris Hine tell us what to know about the Sixers and a question that each player will face in 2026.

📺 Seeing: Pa. native Ross Tucker made himself at home in the booth for the Eagles-Panthers game. Here’s what you missed.

🤔 Wondering: What was Jordan Mailata’s loud message to his teammates after the Eagles Week 6 defeat?

📖 Reading: The MLS has piled games into its calendar since the World Cup. It’s affecting the Union and every team in the league.

🏀 Learning: Jeff Neiburg gives us four takeaways from Villanova men’s basketball exhibition win over George Mason on Saturday

The Flyers posted their first win of the season in 10 tries, beating the Ottawa Senators 3-1 at home on Saturday — and they have two of their youngest players to thank for it. Matvei Michkov and Porter Martone are clicking on the ice.

The Flyers have 14 goals this season; the duo has 21% of them. Michkov has four total goals, and Martone has two. They’ll continue to be “a big part of our team.”

However, the Flyers are also experiencing several injuries.

They’re already down Rasmus Ristolainen, Cam York, and Travis Konecny. Owen Tippett missed their win over Ottawa with an upper-body injury. Now, two more key forwards could be out for Monday’s game against Colorado.

Aidan Miller, the Phillies’ top prospect, missed nearly the entire 2026 season due to a complex diagnosis and monthslong recovery, but he returned to the field last month, won an Eastern League championship with double-A Reading, and is off to a blazing — and most important, healthy — start in the Arizona Fall League.

Miller’s tale might still have a happy ending. For the Phillies, it’s important he does.

During Saturday’s postgame, Rocco Becht’s face told the story of Penn State’s 21-18 loss to Michigan, with all 21 of the Wolverines’ points coming off Becht’s three turnovers.

The seasoned quarterback’s struggle in Big Ten play is slowly becoming the story line of Penn State’s season as it dropped to 0-4 against conference opponents. Is it time to bench Becht? Matt Campbell doesn’t seem to think so.

In other college football news this weekend:

Tanner McKee hit DeVonta Smith for a 19-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, which was a rare bright spot in an otherwise moribund loss.

McKee missed receivers, made bad decisions, failed to diagnose blitzes, and took three sacks. But he didn’t fumble, he didn’t throw an interception, and he didn’t look scared or overwhelmed. Things will only improve, writes Marcus Hayes.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Marcus Hayes, Olivia Reiner, Jeff Neiburg, Jeff McLane, Ryan Novozinsky, Mia Messina, Gina Mizell, Chris Hine, Jackie Spiegel, Gabriela Carroll, Jonathan Tannenwald, Scott Lauber, Lexie Linderman, Conor Smith, Finn Courtney, and Mike Livingston.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thanks for getting your morning started with me. I’ll be back in your inbox on Tuesday. — Bella