Jordan Mailata says young Eagles are seizing opportunities amid injuries and roster moves
Philadelphia Eagles tackle Jordan Mailata said after a practice last week that injuries and roster movement have created significant opportunities for the club’s younger players. Mailata stressed preparation and attention to detail, noting his emphasis on notetaking as part of getting ready for increased responsibility. “You have to buy into being the next man up, but it starts when you’re not the starter,” he said, adding that the mindset begins in the meeting room.
The openings followed a string of personnel setbacks, including guard Landon Dickerson being placed on injured reserve after Week 1, the retirement of right tackle Lane Johnson before the Rams game, and the trade of longtime center Cam Jurgens before Week 5. Second-year interior linemen Drew Kendall and Willie Lampkin have taken on starting roles inside the line, and rookie Markel Bell, a third-round pick out of the University of Miami, became the starter at right tackle after Johnson’s retirement. Kendall, a fifth-round pick in 2025, started three games at center before suffering a knee injury against the Rams, and the Eagles signed second-year center Jake Majors from the practice squad to start against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers.
On defense and special teams, the Eagles have also leaned on late-round contributors. The Eagles elevated seventh-round rookie outside linebacker Keyshawn James-Newby from the practice squad for the Panthers game, and he became the primary left outside linebacker after Nolan Smith suffered a concussion early in the second quarter; Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio said James-Newby saw his role increase from “a handful” of snaps to “close to 50.” The Eagles also elevated seventh-round safety Cole Wisnewiski, who played 17 special-teams snaps and recorded his first career tackle in his NFL debut.
Mailata emphasized leadership and preparation as keys to navigating the personnel changes, saying, “There are things I can control — my emotions, my direction, and how I lead this team.” He added, “Pouring into Tanner McKee, pouring into Willie Lampkin, pouring into Jake Majors, Markel Bell, that’s all I think about,” and specifically referenced quarterback Tanner McKee among the younger players he is mentoring. Linebacker Zack Baun echoed the sentiment in the locker room, saying veteran encouragement can mean a great deal to young players and boost their confidence when they face challenging matchups.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Philadelphia has relied on internal depth, practice-squad promotions and veteran leadership to fill sudden gaps along the line and in the front seven. Jordan Mailata has emphasized preparation and hands-on mentoring as rookies and second-year players have stepped into starting roles. Contributions from late-round special-teams players such as Cole Wisnewiski and Keyshawn James-Newby highlight the value of depth, and how these young players perform in the coming games will be a key indicator of the Eagles’ ability to stabilize protection and sustain offensive consistency.