The Linc

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links …

2024 NFL trade deadline: Players to watch, team needs, rumors – ESPN+
Which player should they target? Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne. The Eagles traded for Jahan Dotson before the season to be their third receiver, but that move has not panned out. Dotson has an almost impressively poor 0.2 yards per route run this season. Bourne, who recently returned from an ACL tear sustained last season, could be an upgrade. Though he has never rekindled the level of play he showed during a strong 2021 season (when he recorded 800 receiving yards with 2.1 yards per route run), ESPN’s receiver scores have always liked him. His overall score has been at least 50 in every season, including and since that 2021 season (and at least 60 in all but one). […] Who could be on the move? Cornerback Eli Ricks. Ricks showed some promise his rookie season in 2023, holding quarterbacks to a completion rate of 48.3% (per NFL Next Gen Stats) with four pass breakups as a part-time player. The Eagles’ corner room is pretty deep this season, though, which has kept Ricks largely on the sideline. Given the Eagles’ surplus at the position, cornerback-needy teams could look to Philadelphia for help.

Should the Eagles trade for Cooper Kupp? – BGN
Eagles GM Howie Roseman is notorious for finding ways to make a splash ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline, and now that the Rams have revealed their interest in finding a trade partner for WR Cooper Kupp, there’s little doubt Roseman has picked up the phone. The GM always checks on any player who might add value to the team, and Kupp fits the bill. In addition to being one of the league’s top receivers, the Rams are only reportedly asking for a second-round pick and are even willing to cover some of the existing contract. Adding a low cost, veteran WR is something Roseman will absolutely look into.

2024 NFL offensive line rankings ahead of Week 8 – PFF
12. Philadelphia Eagles (Down 3). Right guard Mekhi Becton exited Philadelphia’s Week 7 game with a concussion. He was replaced by second-year guard Tyler Steen, whose 45.8 PFF overall grade was the lowest on the Eagles’ offensive line. This was another rough week for the Philadelphia offensive line, which allowed 11 pressures despite the team dropping back to pass only 23 times. Their 71.7 PFF pass-blocking efficiency rating ranked second to last in the NFL this week.

NFL Power Rankings, Week 8: Chiefs back at No. 1, but Ravens and Lions hot on Kansas City’s heels – NFL.com
It was another slow start offensively, but Saquon Barkley wasn’t about to be a no-show in his return to New York on Sunday. He took over for an offense that was otherwise limited and inflicted some damage against his former team. The Eagles’ pass rush also took batting practice on Daniel Jones and Drew Lock, racking up eight sacks and holding them to a net 43 passing yards. The Giants’ long gain on the day was 14 yards; Barkley alone had three runs longer than that. And for good measure, Jalen Hurts salvaged a tough afternoon with arguably his best throw of the season on his 41-yard TD connection with A.J. Brown. There were blocking issues early, as Jordan Mailata missed the game, Mekhi Becton left early with an injury and Cam Jurgens had his hands full with Dexter Lawrence, but the Eagles found a way to work through them.

NFL Week 7 Under Review: What’s Wrong With Kyle Shanahan’s Offense? – The Ringer
The Eagles are 4-2, and Barkley has been their best player. His 761 rushing yards are second in the NFL. He’s averaging 6.1 YPC. And his rushing success rate is the highest of his career. On Sunday, Barkley put the Eagles offense on his back in his return to MetLife Stadium, rushing 17 times for 176 yards. He ran both through and away from Giants defenders and was an explosive play machine. All season long, when the Eagles offense has been in a rut, Barkley has provided a spark. This is the best version of him we’ve ever seen. The Giants, meanwhile, are 2-5. They had 104 total yards in the first three quarters of Sunday’s blowout loss before head coach Brian Daboll, in search of an offensive spark, replaced quarterback Daniel Jones with Drew Lock. He did not find one. On the season, the Giants’ minus-50 point differential ranks 27th in the NFL. Their quarterback situation is a disaster, and their roster needs work. At some point, Schoen is going to have to convince Mara that he deserves more time, and the Barkley decision is going to come up. The old “process over results” line might not be enough to save him.

Battle of the brothers: Sydney Brown to face twin brother Chase on Sunday – PE.com
Amid the chaos and excitement of the Eagles’ 28-3 victory over the Giants on Sunday, safety Sydney Brown had a moment to think about this Sunday’s special game against the Bengals. Outside of his locker at MetLife Stadium, Brown, who played his first game back since tearing his ACL on the same field in Week 18 of last season, was asked about facing his twin brother, Chase, for the first time ever on Sunday. “I’m excited for it because it’s been something that we’ve been looking forward to since we were little kids,” Brown said. “It’s surreal, but we expected it. We worked for it and it’s going to be cool to have that moment with him on the field.” Growing up in London, Canada, Sydney and Chase haven’t had the easiest road to the NFL, but their continued connection and resilience helped them make it to the league.

Why don’t the Eagles ever get takeaways? – NBCSP
This is the first time since 1937 the Eagles have forced two or fewer takeaways through Week 6. They’re only the seventh team since 1940 with two or fewer takeaways after six games. The Raiders this year also have two. Since 1940, only two teams have had a winning record despite starting off a season with two or fewer takeaways the first six games of a season. The 2011 Steelers were also 4-2. This is the third time in franchise history the Eagles have gone three straight games without a takeaway. They went five straight games in 2012 – one off the 49ers’ record of six games in 2018 – and they also had a three-game streak last October. The Eagles have just 14 interceptions in their last 33 games. Think about that for a moment. They’ve faced 1,127 passes and picked off 14.

Week 7 DVOA: Ravens Offense Setting Records – FTN Fantasy
[BLG Note: The Eagles rank 18th in DVOA. The Bengals rank 12th in DVOA.]

Zac Taylor gives an injury update on Geno Stone and Orlando Brown Jr. – Cincy Jungle
The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Browns in Cleveland on Sunday, winning their third win of the season. They’re now just a win over the Eagles at home away from a .500 record. Their win over the Browns wasn’t without cost, though. Starting left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. left the field and eventually went to the locker room with a calf injury, and starting safety Geno Stone was carted off the field with an air cast on his lower leg. However, according to head coach Zac Taylor, neither injury is very serious, and it’s possible that one or both could play Sunday against the Eagles.

Washington Commanders Roster Moves: Jamin Davis released – Hogs Haven
The Washington Commanders announced several roster moves today, including the release of DE/LB Jamin Davis. He was a 1st round pick by Ron Rivera in 2021, and he never lived up to that draft status. When Dan Quinn took over, his position was changed to the defensive line, and he worked on the edge during training camp. Washington added several LBs including Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu, making his place on the roster more questionable and the team declined his 5th-year option. Davis was a healthy scratch against the Ravens, and now he’s off the team.

What is, and isn’t, at stake for Dallas Cowboys at 49ers in primetime – Blogging The Boys
All of this adds up to this week’s game being one that’s critical to look beyond the rich history of both franchises. Cowboys versus 49ers is sure to drum up championship memories for both teams, but only one team has consistently played at a championship level anytime over the last decades. The Cowboys beating this depleted 49ers team for their fourth win of the season through seven games does not make them such a team overnight. Showing they can be competitive and refreshed off of the bye with a better approach to the game can be the first baby step towards getting there though, as McCarthy is publicly confident the lumps his young team is taking now will pay off later. Now is as good a time as any to show this could be true. The Cowboys schedule does not get any easier in the weeks following this game. A win at the 49ers could easily be humbled with road trips to the Falcons or home date with the Eagles to follow, or a loss could lead to more spiraling that makes it even more challenging for the front office to honestly evaluate what they can even draw from this difficult season.

Thoughts on Daniel Jones, Brian Daboll, the NFL trade deadline, and more – Big Blue View
Removing Jones from the lineup now is something I know many fans want. As he said above, it is something Daboll won’t do yet. I think the coach is telling the truth when he says he thinks Jones gives the team the best chance to win among the quarterbacks it has. Remember, Daboll’s job might be hanging in the balance and he has to win some games to ensure that he keeps it. Replacing Jones is waiving the white flag not only on Jones’ Giants career, but on this season. How would that sit with Brian Burns? Dexter Lawrence? Bobby Okereke? Jon Runyan? Darius Slayton? It matters because Daboll doesn’t want to lose the locker room, either. Truth is, though, the Giants will keep spinning their wheels — sometimes offering glimpses of what they could be but too often falling short — until they can find a quarterback who can do what Jones has been unable to do. Lift them up. Make them better. That guy is not on the team right now.

DeAndre Hopkins traded to Kansas City Chiefs in latest wide receiver move – SB Nation
Patrick Mahomes is getting some help for the Kansas City Chiefs passing game. In the latest NFL trade involving a wide receiver, the Chiefs are finalizing a deal to acquire veteran DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans. The move comes almost two weeks ahead of the NFL trade deadline and is the third wide receiver move made this season, after Davante Adams was traded to the New York Jets, and Amari Cooper went to the Buffalo Bills.