Philly Leader

The Philadelphia Eagles returned to their training facility at the NovaCare Complex on Monday, aiming to begin the second half of the 2024 regular season positively. Their upcoming opponent is the Cleveland Browns, who are currently struggling with a 1-4 record after a significant loss to the Washington Commanders.

Reflecting on their performance in the NFC East division, where all three rival teams secured victories last Sunday, the Eagles acknowledge that "the NFC East is on the rise." The Washington Commanders lead with a 4-1 record, while Dallas and New York have shown strong performances recently. Philadelphia's task is to build from past experiences and improve upon their current 2-2 standing.

A key concern for the Eagles is player health. Wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith missed recent games due to injuries, as did right tackle Lane Johnson. Head Coach Nick Sirianni remains optimistic about their recovery post-bye week but stated that an official injury update would be released on Wednesday.

Cleveland's difficulties were evident in their recent defeat by Washington, where they struggled offensively and defensively. Quarterback Deshaun Watson was sacked seven times during the game, highlighting ongoing issues with their offensive line plagued by injuries.

Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio emphasized improving tackling and coverage as priorities for his squad. Sydney Brown's return to practice after recovering from a torn ACL is seen as a positive development for Fangio’s defense.

On offense, Kellen Moore highlighted areas needing improvement such as reducing penalties and scoring inefficiencies. "We are just doing such a deep dive on so many things," Moore said regarding their focus during the bye week.

As they prepare for Sunday's game against Cleveland, Philadelphia aims to bring consistency across both offense and defense in pursuit of achieving their season goals.