Philly Leader

The anticipation is palpable as the Philadelphia Eagles prepare for their Lincoln Financial Field opener on Monday night. The team is ready to face the Atlanta Falcons with a full house of enthusiastic fans.

In the NovaCare Complex locker room, safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson set an energetic tone on Friday. "We are up tempo. We are energy. We are ready," he declared.

Linebacker Nakobe Dean, who played 64 snaps in Week 1, expressed his excitement about returning to the field after overcoming injuries last season. "Oh my goodness, it was great to be back out there," Dean said. He acknowledged that while the defense played tough in Week 1, improvements are necessary for Week 2 against a formidable Falcons offense led by running back Bijan Robinson.

Rookie Quinyon Mitchell reflected on his first NFL game, where he defended two passes and made five tackles despite a pass interference penalty. "I'm very confident in myself and in my teammates around me," Mitchell stated.

Tight end Grant Calcaterra discussed his key reception during the game against Green Bay, emphasizing the importance of making the most of opportunities given the team's offensive depth. "I have a job to do and when I'm out there, I want to be great at whatever my role is," Calcaterra said.

Defensive tackle Milton Williams highlighted the need for dominance against Atlanta's offense. "We have to win the one-on-one battles we will have and shut down the run and then get after the quarterback," Williams explained.

As Monday night's game approaches, each player is focused on refining their performance and contributing to what they hope will be a successful outing against Atlanta.