Brandon Graham unretires, describes first Eagles practice and his trash talking
Eagles legend Brandon Graham described what it was like going through his first practice since he un-retired
PHILADELPHIA − The Eagles won’t go so far as to call this a revenge game, but that’s how they’re treating it.
After all, the Giants embarrassed the Eagles 34-17 just 17 days ago, handing the Eagles their second straight loss.
The Eagles do have a few things working in their favor. First of all, they have seen rookies in Giants QB Jaxson Dart and running back Cam Skattebo, so they can make the necessary adjustments. And they can do that with defensive tackle Jalen Carter in the lineup after he missed the first meeting with a heel injury.
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Secondly, the Eagles have won 12 straight home games against the Giants, including playoffs, dating back to 2014. That doesn’t mean they’ll automatically extend the streak. After all, Dart and Skattebo weren’t a part of any of the previous losses.
The Eagles do have a few things working against them, too. Both wide receiver A.J. Brown and center Cam Jurgens are out with injuries, and the Eagles have only three healthy edge rushers (four if you count linebacker Jihaad Campbell) because Brandon Graham hasn’t been cleared to play after coming out of retirement only five days ago.
The Delaware News Journal is providing live coverage of the Eagles’ game against the Giants. Follow along here for all of the latest news, analysis:
Saquon Barkley finally broke free, at least early on, scoring from 65 yards out on the second play from scrimmage.
But it was a slog from there until the Eagles got a 6-yard touchdown pass from Jalen Hurts to Dallas Goedert with 21 seconds left in the first half, giving the Eagles a 21-10 lead.
The Giants, behind QB Jaxson Dart, hung tough with the Eagles, even after star running back Cam Skattebo left in the second quarter with a gruesome leg injury. He was carted off the field and ruled out with an ankle injury
Skattebo had tied the game with an 18-yard TD reception with 2:56 left in the first quarter. But Barkley scored on a 9-yard pass from Hurts with 11:38 left in the second quarter before the Giants got a field goal with 2:53 left.
Barkley had 10 carries for 107 yards in the first half. Not only was it Barkley’s highest total for a game this season, but also for the season. His previous high was 88 yards in Week 2 against the Chiefs.
Hurts, meanwhile, was 9-for-12 passing for 82 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Giants running back Cam Skattebo suffered a gruesome lower leg injury as he tried to make a catch over the middle in the second quarter against the Eagles. Skattebo was tackled by Eagles linebacker Zack Baun, and players on both sides were immediately signaling for trainers to come onto the field as his leg was bent awkwardly.
Several players on both sides kneeled in prayer. There was no word yet on Skattebo’s injury or the severity.
Saquon Barkley scored his second TD on a 9-yard pass from Jalen Hurts. It came after the Eagles converted a 4th-and-1 from the Giants 11 with a tush push. But the Giants challenged the first down, saying that Hurts fumbled the ball.
But the referee explained that the whistle had already blown and the Giants can’t challenge. But they challenged anyway. The play was not overturned and the Eagles had a first down. Two plays later, Barkley scored, giving the Eagles a 14-7 lead with 11:38 left in the second quarter.
The Eagles had a chance to extend the lead, but Jake Elliott’s 58-yard field goal attempt hit the upright and bounced out. The Giants took over at their 48, and drove down the field. Jaxson Dart capped the drive with an 18-yard TD pass to Cam Skattebo. Patrick Johnson was in coverage, but fell down, leaving Skattebo wide open.
The Eagles have waited for this all season. Saquon Barkley’s longest run through the first seven games was 18 yards. But on the second play of the game, Barkley took a handoff from Jalen Hurts, cut to the left and ran 65 yards for a touchdown, giving the Eagles a 7-0 lead just 17 seconds into the game.
The 65-yard run represented Barkley’s second-highest total for a game this season. He had 88 yards in Week 2 vs. the Chiefs.
The Eagles are not moving left guard Landon Dickerson over to center to replace the injured Cam Jurgens. Instead, it will be Brett Toth, who replaced Jurgens when he left the Oct. 19 game against the Vikings with his knee injury.
Toth was the first-team center during warmups. Dickerson did replace Jurgens in the NFC Championship game. But Dickerson, who played center in college, had not done it before that in his four prevous NFL seasons.
The Eagles already ruled out three starters for the game in WR A.J. Brown (hamstring), Cam Jurgens (knee) and CB Adoree Jackson (concussion).
But Brandon Graham, who’s technically not yet on the roster, isn’t playing either after he un-retired on Oct. 21. The 37-year-old only had three practices, so he’s not quite ready to play.
The Eagles are expected to use Jahan Dotson and John Metchie at wide receiver with DeVonta Smith. As for center, it’s expected that Brett Toth will replace Jurgens.
The Eagles’ other inactives are edge Azeez Ojulari (hamstring) and QB Sam Howell (emergency QB).
The Eagles decided not to elevate anyone from the practice squad ahead of their game against the Giants. But they did activate WR Darius Cooper (shoulder) off of the injured reserve list. Cooper was listed as questionable for the game. But he will likely play now that A.J. Brown is out with a hamstring injury.
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What time does Eagles vs. Giants start?
- Date: Oct. 26
- Time: 1 p.m.
- Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
What TV channel is Eagles vs. Giants today?
- TV: FOX
- Announcers: Kevin Burkhardt (play-by-play), Tom Brady (analyst), Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi (sideline)
- Radio: 94WIP: Merrill Reese (play-by-play), Mike Quick (analyst), Devan Kaney (sideline)
- Spanish radio: TICO: Rickie Ricardo (play-by-play), Oscar Budejen (analyst), David Gerhardt (commentator)
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Eagles vs. Giants prediction
- Eagles 32, Giants 27: Some perspective is needed. If the Vikings weren’t a putrid 1-for-6 in the red zone, and if Carson Wentz wasn’t, well, Carson Wentz, the Vikings would have beaten the Eagles. As for the Giants, their fourth-quarter collapse vs the Broncos can’t completely overshadow how they dominated Denver for the first three quarters in building a 19-0 lead. And yet, the Eagles are home, they want revenge, and the key factor above all: Jalen Carter is playing this time. – Martin Frank
Eagles vs Vikings predictions:
Eagles injury updates
The Eagles ruled OUT WR AJ Brown (hamstring), C Cam Jurgens (knee), CB Adoree Jackson (concussion), edge Azeez Ojulari (hamstring), edge Brandon Graham (not injury related) and CB Jakorian Bennett (pectoral). Bennett is still on injured reserve, and Graham is on the retired list. The Eagles listed WR Darius Cooper (shoulder) as QUESTIONABLE. He was activated off of IR.
Giants injury updates
The Giants ruled OUT CB Paulson Adebo and DL Chauncey Golston, and downgraded S Jevon Holland. Everyone else has been cleared to play.
Weather forecast for Eagles vs Giants
The National Weather Service is calling for mostly sunny skies at game time, with a temperature of 58 degrees, staying steady throughout the game. Clouds will increase as the game goes along, but no rain is in the forecast, and winds will be light and variable.
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Here is the Eagles’ schedule.
- Week 1: Sept. 4, Eagles vs. Cowboys, W, 24-20
- Week 2: Sept. 14, Eagles at Chiefs, W, 20-17
- Week 3: Sept. 21, Eagles vs. Rams, W, 33-26
- Week 4: Sept. 28, Eagles at Buccaneers, W, 31-25
- Week 5: Oct. 5, Eagles vs. Broncos, L, 21-17
- Week 6: Oct. 9, Eagles at Giants, L, 34-17
- Week 7: Oct. 19, Eagles at Vikings, W, 28-22
- Week 8: Oct. 26, Eagles vs. Giants, 1 p.m.
- Week 9: BYE
- Week 10: Nov. 10, Eagles at Packers, 8:15 p.m.
- Week 11: Nov. 16, Eagles vs. Lions, 8:20 p.m.
- Week 12: Nov. 23, Eagles at Cowboys, 4:25 p.m.
- Week 13: Nov. 28, Eagles vs. Bears, 3 p.m.
- Week 14: Dec. 8, Eagles at Chargers, 8:15 p.m.
- Week 15: Dec. 14, Eagles vs. Raiders, 1 p.m.
- Week 16: Dec. 20, Eagles at Commanders, TBD
- Week 17: Dec. 28, Eagles at Bills, 4:25 p.m.
- Week 18: TBD, Eagles vs. Commanders, TBD
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Sign up for the “Eye On The Eagles” newsletter, emailed to your inbox every Friday monring. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com
