12 Eagles to watch in regular season finale vs. Commanders

12 Eagles to watch in regular season finale vs. Commanders originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Eagles have something to play for in Week 18 but they have elected to rest Jalen Hurts and other key starters against the Commanders.

But that doesn’t mean the Eagles can’t win this game against a four-win Commanders team that is likely going to start 39-year-old Josh Johnson.

Without some key starters playing, there are plenty of Eagles backups who will play in this game who are worth watching.

Here are 12 of them:

QB Tanner McKee: Every time the Eagles’ backup quarterback has gotten an opportunity to play, he has looked good. The 2023 sixth-round pick has played in 5 career games with his only start coming last Week 18 in a 20-13 win over the Giants. In that game, McKee completed 27 of 41 passes for 269 yards and 2 touchdowns. McKee (6-6, 231) is a big pocket quarterback, who seems to have a quick processor. This could be a game where he shows he has future starter potential.

RB Tank Bigsby: The Eagles traded for Bigsby in early September and he eventually settled into his role as the Eagles’ backup running back behind Saquon Barkley. Bigsby this season has 42 rushers for 269 yards (6.4) and a touchdown. He has given the Eagles some explosive runs in limited time. It’s worth noting that Bigsby is under contract for the 2026 season.

WR Darius Cooper: The UDFA from Tarleton State earned a roster spot in training camp and has gotten some playing time this season. He has just 6 catches for 59 yards but has played 158 snaps and has been a solid blocker. There’s definite potential with Cooper and it’ll be fun to watch him in a game where he’s able to get more run at receiver.

WR Jahan Dotson: The Eagles’ No. 3 receiver has played in all 16 games this season with 9 starts but has just 15 catches for 222 yards and 2 touchdown this season on 539 snaps. There are 68 receivers who have played at least 500 snaps this season and Dotson is dead last in catches among them. But in Week 18 last year, Dotson caught 7 passes for 94 yards and then had a huge catch in Super Bowl LIX.

WR Britain Covey: The Eagles’ primary punt returner has done a really nice job in that role again this season after getting that job back. But he doesn’t get many opportunities to play on offense. Covey this season has played a total of just 5 offensive snaps and has played just 132 offensive snaps in his four years in the NFL. But Covey shows shiftiness in his role as a punt returner and it’s always fun to see if that translates to offense.

C Drew Kendall: The Eagles drafted three Day 3 offensive linemen this year but Kendall is the only one to be on the roster all season. The fifth-round pick from Boston College had a promising training camp but has played a total of 25 offensive snaps this season and has played in just six games.

OT Cameron Williams: The Eagles on Thursday activated Williams from IR to the 53-man roster so he’ll make his NFL debut on Sunday. The sixth-round pick from Texas has been on IR all season with a “shoulder” injury but will get a chance to play in a meaningful game.

LB Jihaad Campbell: Of all the players on this list, Campbell is the one you’ve seen the most of this season. The first-round pick from Alabama began the season as a starter but lost that job when Nakobe Dean returned from the PUP list. Despite that, Campbell has had a very encouraging rookie season and his future looks bright.

LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr.: After getting a ton of first-team reps in training camp, Trotter settled back into his role as a backup and special teams for the second straight season. But Trotter showed some ability in training camp and definitely has some natural instincts that make you think he could play on defense in the NFL. He might not have the traits of a first-round pick but this could be a chance for Trotter to show he’s more than a special teamer.

DT Ty Robinson: When the Eagles drafted the 24-year-old Robinson in the fourth-round, there was an expectation that he would have a somewhat significant role as a rookie but that never materialized. Robinson has been buried on the depth chart and has played just 53 defensive snaps all season.

CB Mac McWilliams: Earlier in the season, when the CB2 position was really unsettled, it looked like the fifth-round pick from UCF could fight for a job but that never happened. McWilliams has been learning the nickel corner and outside corner jobs behind the scenes but has played just 7 defensive snaps all season. He could get more than that on Sunday.

CB Michael Carter II: One of the Eagles’ mid-season trade acquisitions, Carter II technically has two more years on his contract but without much guaranteed money, he won’t be here in 2026 without a restructure. But Carter offers value as a nickel and a safety and he might get to play both positions on Sunday.

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