Logo

After 19-17 Win Over Jets, Eagles’ Nick Sirianni Focuses on Growth, Not Score, and Points to Players on the Roster Bubble

22 views

The Philadelphia Eagles closed out Week 3 of the preseason with a narrow 19-17 win over the New York Jets, and head coach Nick Sirianni used his postgame press conference to emphasize growth, depth, and accountability.

One of the biggest storylines was rookie quarterback Kyle McCord playing the entire game. Sirianni explained the decision, noting that Dorian Thompson-Robinson already has plenty of tape, while McCord needed a full workload to evaluate him properly. “There were some plays he’d want back, but overall he ran the offense smartly and showed command,” Sirianni said. The coach also added that with Tanner McKee still nursing a finger injury, giving McCord extensive reps was essential.

The head coach praised the versatility of offensive lineman Drew Kendall, who lined up at both center and guard. Sirianni stressed how valuable flexibility is for building depth on the line, especially when considering roster cuts. He also pointed out that some of the veterans were held out intentionally, with the Thursday night turnaround in mind.

Article image

Defensively, Sirianni singled out rookie Antwaun Powell-Ryland for his strip sack, as well as Max for recovering the fumble — a play he credited to habits built in practice. “We drill that every week. Scoop and score mentality. That showed up tonight,” he explained. He also highlighted Perry’s turnover, saying it reflected the daily emphasis on ball security and discipline in practice.

When asked about roster concerns, Sirianni admitted the loss of wide receiver Johnny Wilson to injured reserve was tough. “You don’t replace size and length like that easily,” he said, but quickly added the team would look to others on the roster or even outside options to step up.

Perhaps the most important theme of the night came when Sirianni spoke about the team’s overall identity. He said the biggest lesson of the past month has been watching the players grow closer together. “The bond in this locker room is real,” Sirianni emphasized, adding that the staff has made an effort to create off-field activities that strengthen unity.

For Sirianni, the win over the Jets wasn’t about the final score. It was about seeing rookies take meaningful snaps, depth players step into bigger roles, and the team continue to build the habits that will define them when the regular season begins.

INJURY UPDATE: Packers HC Matt LaFleur Explains Brandon McManus Injury Concern Comments
Green Bay Packers fans, show your Cheesehead pride! Snag the latest jerseys, caps, and gear to back Jordan Love, Josh Jacobs, and the Pack as we hunt for another Super Bowl. Get yours now and let’s go, Green Bay! SHOP NOW After enjoying a red-hot start to the 2025 campaign, the Green Bay Packers have suffered a pair of odd results over their past two games, losing to the Cleveland Browns before tying the Dallas Cowboys. After getting some time off during their Week 5 bye week, the Packers will have a great opportunity to get back in the win column in Week 6 when they take on the Cincinnati Bengals. Green Bay may be heavy favorites heading into this game, but they were recently dealt a concerning injury update regarding kicker Brandon McManus. On Friday, head coach Matt LaFleur addressed his situation and whether or not the team expects him to be able to play in their upcoming game. Matt LaFleur Dishes on Brandon McManus’ Injury McManus is in his second season with the Packers, and he’s generally held up well as the team’s kicker. He has made seven of his nine field goal attempts, while also nailing 11 of his 12 extra point attempts. McManus hit a clutch kick at the end of overtime in Week 4 against the Cowboys to help his squad escape with a tie after they very nearly ran the clock out on themselves. During the week, McManus picked up a quad injury that has thrown his status into doubt. Considering how the Packers don’t have another kicker at their disposal, this is a bit concerning, because if McManus can’t go, they will be in a tough spot. To this point, though, Green Bay hasn’t made a move to bring another kicker to town. When speaking about his injury earlier in the week, McManus made it clear that he doesn’t think it will impact his Week 6 status. LaFleur had a different viewpoint on Friday, though, as he said that the team is going to keep tabs on McManus’ status before ultimately deciding whether or not he can play through this injury on Sunday. “I was trying to tell him, ‘Yeah, you’ve dealt with this. Well, we haven’t, and I haven’t, in my experience,'” LaFleur said in response to McManus’ comments on his injury status. “You’re a kicker, and your leg is bothering you. That’s a problem. It’s no different than a quarterback that has something with their throwing arm or throwing shoulder, that is a concern. Whether or not you can work yourself through it or not, time will tell.”