This is a massive sigh of relief. The Bears feared the worst after seeing Williams go down with a non-contact injury. The screams and reaction by the quarterback were all uninspiring. Now, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, it’s the best-case scenario for all parties involved.

While Week 2 wasn’t kind to Williams, this is incredibly good news. The Bears lost against the Minnesota Vikings and scored just three points. Given that the injury occurred in the fourth quarter, it’s not like Williams’ injury was the catalyst for a bad offensive performance.

Ben Johnson must make the offense look good in Week 3 vs Eagles

After promising that the Bears would have the best offense in NFL history and putting 59 points in Week 1, you cannot put up a dud in Week 2 with just a field goal on the scoreboard. Of course, critics came crashing on the Bears.

Therefore, Williams and Johnson need a bounce back week. Williams, though, must recover rapidly if he wants to play in Week 3 vs Eagles. If not, Tyson Bagent will be under center, and the task to score points will be way more difficult.

The Eagles haven’t been precisely elite either

The Eagles are 2-0 but if Caleb Williams is able to suit up, the Bears should be confident in maybe winning this game. Philadelphia barely escaped the Tennessee Titans in Week 2 and struggled to beat the Washington Commanders.

The Bears are a more capable team than both the Commanders and Titans. The fact of the matter is that at full strength, both of the teams are playoff-caliber franchises. The game will be in Chicago so that might aid the Bears.

Key takeaways

• Caleb Williams avoided major injury after suffering a non-contact hamstring strain in Week 2.
• The Chicago offense managed to score just three points in their loss to Minnesota.
• Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent will step in if the starter misses Week 3.

The Eagles rely heavily on their running game as it helps the team unleash the rest of the offense and make life easier for quarterback Jalen Hurts. Fortunately for the Eagles, they have quite a good running back room:

• Saquon Barkley
• Will Shipley
• Tank Bigsby

What is an arm stinger?

An arm stinger —also called a burner or brachial plexus neuropraxia— is a temporary nerve injury that causes a sharp, electric-shock-like pain shooting from the neck down the arm. During the play where the stinger happened, Barkley’s brachial plexus must’ve gotten stretched or pinched.

It is very common in high-impact sports like football, rugby, wrestling, and ice hockey when the head is forced to one side while the shoulder is pushed down. To return, Barkley must recover completely in terms of pain, numbness, and weakness.

Barkley is in a bounce back year

Usually an elite running back, Saquon Barkley had some sort of a down year in 2025 after blowing the league away in 2024. Barkley went from 2005 rushing yards in 2024 to 1140 in 2025. Basically half. It also happened on the touchdowns where he went from 13 rushing TDs to just seven.

In Week 1 of this season, Barkley had 15 carries for 83 yards against the Commanders. While the raw numbers are great, he should be getting way more touches than that.

“That I don’t know,” Brown said, via Ryan Novozinsky of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I just got to come to work. If it do, it do. If it don’t, it don’t.” The wide receiver is the Eagles’ primary option behind DeVonta Smith on the depth chart.

Sirianni and his players will travel to Nissan Stadium for one of the early games on Sunday’s NFL schedule. Will Brown finally see some action on the field against the Titans?

Sirianni did not use Brown in the season opener

DeVonta Smith was pretty low-key but clutch when needed in that tight 24-22 win over the Commanders, hauling in 3 receptions on 6 targets for 53 yards. He averaged a solid 17.7 yards per catch, highlighted by a huge 31-yard grab late in the third quarter that kept a drive alive and set up a key field goal.

While he didn’t find the end zone or blow up the stat sheet, he moved the chains when Jalen Hurts needed a big play. Sirianni said to the press that they “obviously want to get him (Hollywood Brown) into the football game because his speed is real,” but that the rotations “just didn’t work out that way” last Sunday.

What’s next for the Eagles?

First up, the Eagles hit the road to take on the Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 20, followed by a Monday Night Football trip to Soldier Field against the Chicago Bears on September 28.

They return home to Lincoln Financial Field to face the Los Angeles Rams on October 4, before hopping across the pond to London to play the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 11. Finally, they head back to Philly to wrap up this five-game stretch against the Carolina Panthers at the Linc on October 18.

Diggs scored a big touchdown with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter to cut the Eagles’ lead to 17-15. After completing the 12-yard pass from Jayden Daniels, Diggs hugged the goalpost to celebrate before landing on his back.

After the game, Diggs acknowledged his lapse in judgment. “I take full accountability,” Diggs said, as quoted by The Washington Post’s Tashan Reed. The NFL disallowed hugging, jumping on, and dunking over the goalpost in 2014.

What Diggs’ penalty cost the matchup

The 32-year-old wide receiver was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, resulting in a 15-yard penalty for the Commanders. The infraction proved costly, as Washington was forced to kick an extra point instead of attempting a two-point conversion.

According to a report by ESPN’s John Keim, head coach Dan Quinn said the team would have gone for two if Diggs hadn’t committed the foul. For his part, the four-time Pro Bowl selection declared that he “forgot” the rule.

Quinn’s change of plans

Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed that he planned to go for two after the touchdown. “Yeah, we were going to go for two,” Quinn said during his press conference.

When asked what he said to Diggs about the penalty, Quinn responded: “I did have a conversation with him about that. He’s a real competitor. He knows better in that space, and he knows that. So we did talk about that in that spot. I love his fight. I love what he stands for, but as the competitor, he knows better in that spot.”

Diggs’ mistake did not cost Washington the game. The Commanders had another chance later after Daniels tossed his second touchdown pass of the quarter, but failed on the two-point attempt.

“We don’t have to make that decision quite yet or announce that decision for competitive reasons,” the head coach said to the press. “I don’t want them to study one guy over the other. I’m not saying we don’t have an answer of who that is yet, but I don’t just have to share that quite yet publicly.”

In this league, revealing too many details can often be counterproductive. For now, with the Eagles’ Week 1 debut approaching, Sirianni prefers to keep things quiet and maintain the mystery.

What options does Sirianni have as Hurts’ backup?

Behind Jalen Hurts, the Eagles’ quarterback room features an intriguing mix of veteran security and developmental potential. The primary insurance policy is veteran caller Andy Dalton, who brings a wealth of starting experience to step in seamlessly as a steady hand if Hurts ever needs to miss time.

Right next to him on the depth chart is Tanner McKee, a home-grown option who knows the offense inside and out and continues to show solid potential as a reliable QB2/QB3. The room is rounded out by rookie Cole Payton, a raw, dual-threat developmental prospect who offers a stylistic match to Hurts’ dual-threat capabilities for the practice squad and future roster depth.

The beginning of a new dream for Philadelphia

Although they managed to win the NFC East in 2025 with an 11–6 record, the Eagles unfortunately failed to advance beyond the Wild Card round, something that hurt deeply within the franchise. With the immediate goal of getting revenge as soon as possible, these will be the first challenges facing Nick Sirianni and his players as they look to get the season off to a strong start.

• Week 1, vs Washington Commanders (September 13)
• Week 2, at Tennessee Titans (September 20)
• Week 3, at Chicago Bears (September 28)
• Week 4, vs Los Angeles Rams (October 4)
• Week 5, vs Jacksonville Jaguars (October 11) Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

According to Tim McManus of ESPN, Hurts is going through the process of getting better in the new system “and is fighting hard through the learning curve.” Hurts’ dedication is unmatched right now.

Last season with Kevin Patullo, it was stated that Hurts didn’t want to change much of the offense. He’d rather rely on staying in his comfort zone. However, after a really underwhelming season, it’s good for the Eagles to see he is changing his approach.

Sean Mannion creates plenty of hype

It seems like the arrival of Sean Mannion has turned the Eagles vibes. Despite losing AJ Brown and having rookie receiver Makai Lemon injured through training camp, Mannion is still creating a very hyped-up offense.

DeVonta Smith projects as a great heir to the AJ Brown mantle. He will surely be a stud WR1. Dontayvion Wicks and Lemon complete a very nice wideout room. If Hurts can learn the offense effectively, the Eagles could be a problem.

Sean Mannion’s rapid growth within the NFL

Mannion’s reputation is very good. While he is not precisely a veteran coach, his experience already established him as a top coaching prospect. Hence, the Eagles grabbed him while he was a QB coach on the Green Bay Packers, and trusted him to make him the Offensive Coordinator.

Mannion helped develop Jordan Love into a borderline top 10 QB in the NFL. He now has a plethora of talent and a QB that has gone to two Super Bowls, winning one of them.

Hence, Jalen Hurts won’t be suiting up. The Philadelphia Eagles have been very cautious during preseason and that is expected to be the case once again. Hence, Tanner McKee will be under center vs. Bengals.

Per NBC10 Philadelphia, the game will focus entirely on reserves, rookies, and bubble players fighting for final roster spots ahead of roster cuts. After all, teams have to officialize their final 53-man roster on Sunday.

Will Joe Burrow play vs. Eagles?

Joe Burrow and the other Cincinnati Bengals starters won’t play against Philadelphia, per head coach Zac Taylor. Hence, backups Joe Flacco, Josh Johnson, and Sean Clifford could be playing vs. Eagles.

More specifically, it’s expected that Johnson and Clifford take the majority of the workload, as Flacco is seen as a premium backup in the NFL for the last few years. Hence, there’s no need to risk him either.

Both teams have coaches with lots of eyeballs on them

The Eagles have gone to two Super Bowls in the last four years and yet somehow head coach Nick Sirianni is always getting doubted. A heavy reliance on coordinators might bring doubts over Sirianni, but he’s been proven capable to get to the top.

As for Zac Taylor, many were shocked when the Bengals didn’t fire him at the end of last season. However, after three straight years without a playoff appearance, the pressure is big. After all, Taylor is wasting Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and many other star players in their primes.

“It felt great,” Lemon said, via Olivia Reiner of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “Definitely a blessing every time I’m able to step on the field. I never take it for granted.” The former USC Trojans player was seen practicing normally at the Eagles’ facilities, putting signs of his recent hamstring injury behind him.

“I feel pretty confident [there won’t be a reoccurrence],” he also added. “Just learning from my mistakes from the previous times, working with the trainers, setting a good plan for me, just being a professional off the field.”

One of Hurts’ top targets

Lemon returned to the turf after missing the last 10 practices with his teammates and is ready to become Jalen Hurts’ ideal partner. The quarterback will also have Dontayvion Wicks and DeVonta Smith as his top alternatives.

Nick Sirianni knows he will no longer have A.J. Brown this season, as the star wide receiver packed his bags and headed to Foxborough to join the New England Patriots. As a result, the wide receiver room will have a new look heading into the upcoming NFL season.

The Lemon-Hurts connection

It is well known that for an NFL offense to succeed, the connection and chemistry between the quarterback and his top weapons are crucial. Lemon, who is taking his first steps as a professional, is already beginning to feel comfortable with Hurts.

“I feel like that chemistry and that work never stops,” Lemon said. “Each and every day after practice, just talking to him. … I feel like any time I can build that chemistry, it’s good.”

Awaiting his NFL debut

Makai Lemon is confident he will be available for Sirianni in the Eagles’ season opener. The game will take place on September 13 at home against Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders.

Philadelphia will have one final preseason game before then, although Lemon’s availability remains uncertain. The game will also be played at Lincoln Financial Field, against the Cincinnati Bengals, on Friday, August 28.

In a statement released shortly after, the Eagles confirmed that Jackson “has strength and movement in all extremities” and was being taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. That update offered relief to fans and teammates alike after the scary scene, with reports noting Jackson was even seen briefly raising his left arm before being loaded into the ambulance.

Play resumed a few minutes later, though the extended stoppage left a somber mood hanging over the rest of the preseason game. The Eagles have not yet disclosed the specific nature of Jackson’s injury, and further updates are expected once he completes evaluation at the hospital.

What happened to Jackson

Jackson went down to the turf while attempting to tackle the kickoff returner during Philadelphia’s preseason game against the Patriots in Foxborough for a match of the NFL Preseason.

He remained motionless on the field after diving to bring down the New England returner, prompting medical personnel from both teams to rush onto the field almost immediately. Athletic trainers quickly called for a stretcher, and both benches gathered near the scene as Jackson was placed onto it.

Players from the Eagles and Patriots knelt in support while Jackson was loaded onto the stretcher, creating a solemn pause at the start of the game. An ambulance entered the field to transport him, and the entire Eagles bench came out to surround their teammate before he was taken away.

The Eagles are expected to provide further updates on Jackson’s condition as more information becomes available from doctors evaluating him at the hospital, with hopes that the situation does not prove serious and that he makes a speedy recovery.

How to watch Patriots vs Eagles in the USA

The game is part of NFL Preseason Week 2 and will be televised nationally on NFL Network. For streaming, Fubo and NFL+ provides live access to out-of-market preseason games.

Can I watch Patriots vs Eagles for free?

Fubo currently offers a 5-day free trial, which is broadcasting Patriots vs. Eagles live on August 22. This allows eligible new subscribers to watch the preseason matchup during the trial period without paying upfront.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

The New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles meet in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL preseason, just days after facing each other in two joint practices at Gillette Stadium. Those sessions on August 19 and 20 give both coaching staffs an extended look at players in competitive situations before Saturday’s game, making the matchup particularly valuable for roster evaluations and position battles.

The Patriots opened their preseason with a 13-13 tie against the Indianapolis Colts, while the Eagles are coming off a 24-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. For Philadelphia, the second preseason game offers another opportunity to evaluate young players and depth following a difficult opener.

New England, meanwhile, will continue building around Drake Maye, who is entering his second NFL season and is expected to be one of the key players to watch after sitting out the preseason opener. With the regular season approaching, the preseason result itself is secondary to player evaluation.

The two joint practices and Saturday’s game give Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and Eagles coach Nick Sirianni an important opportunity to assess players competing for roster spots, determine rotations and test how their units respond against an opponent with playoff-caliber talent. The Patriots are also the defending AFC champions, adding extra interest to their preparations for the 2026 regular season.

What time is the Patriots vs Eagles match?

The Patriots vs Eagles game kicks off Saturday, August 22, at 7:00 PM ET from Gillette Stadium. For viewers across the United States, these are the corresponding start times:

• Eastern Time: 7:00 PM
• Central Time: 6:00 PM
• Mountain Time: 5:00 PM
• Pacific Time: 4:00 PM

Per Mike Reiss of ESPN, it is very unlikely that Drake Maye plays vs Eagles. After all, Maye received heavy work during joint practices. Hence, the coaching staff might be content with the evaluation of him during those periods.

Backup Tommy DeVito is again expected to start under center. In last week’s preseason opener against the Colts, DeVito completed 13 of 22 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown. The Eagles will be yet another test against him.

Is Jalen Hurts playing for Eagles vs Patriots?

Nick Sirianni also indicated that his starters will rest, so Jalen Hurts is not likely to play vs. Patriots. Hurts didn’t have the best of practices and questions around him might be growing, but he is still the certified QB1 on the team.

Tanner McKee and Andy Dalton are likely to carry the major workload for the Eagles under center against the Patriots. As always, this is more a “go out and stay healthy” kind of game for NFL teams.

Maye and Hurts have different points to prove in 2026

Maye was the MVP runner-up last season and went to the Super Bowl, albeit on a losing effort. However, his season was criticized because of the easy schedule he faced. Now, he has to prove he can deliver in a consistent basis with a tougher schedule.

As for Hurts, the Eagles offense is entering a new regime with Sean Mannion as the offensive coordinator, and they lost AJ Brown, upgraded DeVonta Smith to WR1 and drafted Makai Lemon. Hurts needs to prove he can be a leader and produce.