Eagles' depth chart hints at new role for Makai Lemon

Posted Tuesday, September 8, 2026 12:54 pm The Philadelphia Eagles have released their first unofficial depth chart ahead of their season opener this weekend. After a grueling Training Camp and a preseason filled with storylines, there are certainly some interesting takeaways from how things shook out. Here's a look at the #Eagles' unofficial depth chart: pic.twitter.com/aqu8JTxcV6 — Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) September 8, 2026 No end in sight to QB2 battle It's really hard to know what to make of this. Andy Dalton is still clinging to a fringe QB2 spot, and Tanner McKee, whose trajectory has been vertical over ther the last couple of years, has been unable to beat him out. McKee has performed well in limited and albeit slightly skewed NFL action, but if push came to shove, would Sirianni trust a proven game-managing veteran over the younger arm? We still don't know the answer definitively, which could well have some knock-on effects...although hopefully not. Safe hands Marcus Epps has been given the nod at Safety. A lot of people presumed that Cooper DeJean's forray into the defensive backfield would impact the depth chart, but if he's only sliding up in certain packages, it's not where he'll spend most of his time. Epps will work alongside second-year DB Andrew Mukuba as the Eagles look to negate the loss of Reed Blankenship with names they know well. A juicy special teams unit Makai Lemon has been listed as the Eagles' punt returner, which is an interesting twist. Lemon had a slower Summer than he would've liked due to injury. While he did occasionally return punts at USC, it was never his calling card. More crucially, he has carved out a role as the starting slot wideout alongside DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks, so whether this is the team looking to get the ball in his hands more often, or giving him more exposure to NFL action, is anyone's guess. Either way, expect to see a lot of Lemon in 2026. The trenches Willie Lampkin has been labeled as a left guard while Drew Kendall is the backup center. This might not be groundbreaking news, but it is important to see how the Eagles view their developmental offensive linemen, and both names are versatile enough to be plugged in at both spots. MORE: Eagles legend Brandon Graham announces he's 'officially done'