Nick Sirianni explains Eagles trading for Jakorian Bennett

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni spoke to reporters on Tuesday, just days before the team’s first preseason game of 2025 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He reiterated several times that they are still far from needing to name any starters, and there are a lot of factors that go into each of those decisions. He also wouldn’t say who will play on Thursday, only pointing out that they’ve had three practice days in a row, so how players are feeling will have an impact.

Here’s what the head coach had to say:

On trading for CB Jakorian Bennett

Sirianni gave Howie Roseman credit for doing a good job continually trying to improve the team, and they thought this move was an opportunity to add some depth at corner. The head coach noted that they’ll have to get him going and catch him up, but thankfully Bennett is joining the team pretty early in camp, so they’ll get him ready to go.

“We liked his tape coming out. We liked his tape when he was with the Raiders, and just that he’s got speed, coverage ability, and special teams value, so we’re excited to have him.”

When later asked what Bennett’s addition meant for Adoree’ Jackson and Kelee Ringo, Sirianni reiterated that this was a move based on adding depth.

“I think both of those guys have done an outstanding job and I know Vic [Fangio] talked about that yesterday. That’s a battle. You love having battles and I think you can look out there and see Adoree’ [Jackson] make a play and you see Kelee [Ringo] make a play, and you guys have seen it. They’re doing a really nice job and [we’re] excited about how they worked and how they worked all offseason, how they worked all summer and came in here ready to compete.”

On their DT depth

“I think obviously you’ve seen Jordan Davis have a really good camp so far. You’ve seen Moro [Ojomo] have a really good camp. Jalen Carter’s back obviously and doing really well. I think Byron Young has done well. The whole group’s done well. Gabe [Hall]– again, I feel like that group’s done a really good job.”

Sirianni went on to call DL coach Clint Hurtt one of the best position coaches in the NFL and gave him and the other Eagles position coaches credit for getting guys prepared.

On preseason game evaluations

Sirianni said that he talks to all the coaches and gets input about what guys to play in the preseason, but ultimately, the final decision of who plays comes down to himself and Howie Roseman.

“I guess what you’re looking for when you play a game like this is that you’re looking at all your habits when the pressure’s high and the stakes are high, that all your habits come to life, and so you want to see good tackling, you want to see good ball security, you want to see good takeaway ability. You want to see good blocking, you want to see good block destruction, you want to see smart situational football. You want to see all those things, right? We want to see all those things right there.”

As for how big the preseason games are for guys trying to make the final roster, Sirianni emphasized that their practices are highly, highly competitive, so the only difference in a game is that it’s live and they can see more tackling.

“Preseason games tell us a lot and we’re so excited to play those. It’s such a great evaluation tool, but we wouldn’t be doing our job in practice if we weren’t going about our practice the way we do, where we get to evaluate there. So, I think the only thing that’s different is that it’s live to the ground, but our offensive line, defensive line, linebackers, they’re essentially going live every single play that we have pads on. And so, we get that evaluation there.”

Preseason games are also a good opportunity for the coaching staff to continue growing their game day operation. Sirianni explained that they’ve already had a couple operations practices to date, but this will be another way for them to go through a full game setting.

On the RG competition

“Again, we don’t have to name any starters at this particular point. Tyler [Steen]’s obviously been in there with the ones and he’s doing a really good job. I thought Tyler had a really good offseason the way he worked. I get reports, I talk to the strength staff every single day, and Tyler Steen seemed to come back every single time of how good he was doing in the weight room with his strength, with his agility, all those things. So, pleased with where he is right now and I look forward to continuing [seeing] him grow.”

On the WR depth

“Johnny [Wilson] had a big third-down catch in a backed-up scenario yesterday, which again, builds confidence. So, I think those guys in that wide receiver room are doing a nice job. Jahan [Dotson]’s been good all offseason. Same thing like how I mentioned Tyler Steen. Jahan is another guy that’s really showed up, and then, it has been a good battle for that four or five spot. I think Ainias [Smith] shows great quickness and acceleration. He’s scrappy.

Johnny, I think it’s probably underestimated how much Johnny did for us last year on that field. One of our better special teams players, a guy that was very powerful at the point of attack on the number one rushing team, and then looking forward to Terrace [Marshall] getting back out there. Elijah Cooks is doing a good job. Darius Cooper has got a lot of talent, and we’re excited to continue to work with those guys.“