The Eagles begin Phase 3 of their offseason program today, opening voluntary OTA practices at NovaCare. The schedule runs May 26 and 27, May 29, June 1 and 2, and June 4, with mandatory minicamp closing out the calendar on June 9 and 10. Today is the first time Sean Mannion gets to install his offense on the field, the first time Vic Fangio gets a look at the new-look secondary, and the first chance for fans and beat writers to take the temperature of a roster still in flux.
Here are the five storylines we'll be tracking when the gates open.
1. Will A.J. Brown show up?
The biggest question of the day has nothing to do with what happens on the field. With Brown's name attached to a Patriots trade rumor that has reportedly been tracking for a post June 1 move, the optics of his attendance Tuesday matter. If he's there, the front office still sees value in keeping him in the building. If he's not, the speculation only intensifies.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport pushed back over the weekend on the idea that Philadelphia and New England already have a handshake deal in place. "Maybe they do plan to get rid of him, but it doesn't have to be right now," Rapoport said. "The Patriots would like to have him, but that doesn't have to be right now." The financial math still favors a post June 1 move: trading Brown before the deadline costs $43.4 million in dead cap, while a post June 1 trade drops that hit to $16.4 million. But for the first time in weeks, the timeline looks less certain than the analysts had assumed.
2. Sean Mannion's first practice as play caller
Mannion was named offensive coordinator on January 29 and held his first media availability last week, but Tuesday is the first time he gets to install the offense with players on the field. The Eagles are essentially starting over schematically after parting with Kevin Patullo, and Mannion has signaled the new offense will lean on a Shanahan style framework: outside zone, play action off it, and quarterback movement to take pressure off the protection.
What to look for: tempo, formation diversity, and how often Mannion has Jalen Hurts under center versus shotgun. Last year's offense lived in the gun. A Shanahan style install almost always means more under center looks. Even a few practice reps under center tomorrow would tell us a lot about where this thing is heading.
3. Jihaad Campbell will not be on the field
The 2025 first round linebacker had a second consecutive offseason shoulder surgery in March to repair a torn labrum, and Vic Fangio said publicly that Campbell will not participate in OTAs. Fangio expects Campbell to be ready for training camp in late July, which keeps him on track for Week 1, but the missed reps matter for a player still learning the defensive system in year two.
This is also a chance for Zack Baun, Nakobe Dean, and whoever the Eagles run out as the third linebacker to take a heavier rep load. Keep an eye on Smael Mondon and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. in particular.
4. The safety room is wide open
Reed Blankenship signed with Houston in free agency, and Sydney Brown was traded to Atlanta. That leaves Drew Mukuba (rookie last year, finished on IR with an ankle), Marcus Epps (started the final four games of 2025), and Michael Carter II (moving from corner to safety this spring) competing for the two starting spots opposite each other, with Andre' Sam and Tristin McCollum as depth pieces. Fangio has not tipped his hand on a depth chart pecking order.
Mukuba's recovery from the ankle injury will be the first thing to track. If he's full go today, the job is his to lose. If he's limited, the door opens for Epps and Carter II to push for early reps.
5. Riq Woolen's integration on the outside
The Eagles signed Tariq "Riq" Woolen to a one year deal worth up to $15 million, and Fangio said last week that Philadelphia was already monitoring the former Seahawk at the 2025 trade deadline. Woolen pairs with Quinyon Mitchell as the projected starting outside cornerback duo, with Cooper DeJean inside in the nickel.
The thing to watch is how Fangio uses Woolen's length. At 6 foot 4, Woolen is one of the tallest corners in the league. Fangio's scheme has historically asked corners to play more press man and zone match than pure off coverage, which suits Woolen's profile. If he looks comfortable in his first practice with the new system, the Eagles' outside cornerback room just got significantly better than it was when 2025 ended.
The bottom line
OTAs are voluntary, lightly contested, and historically prone to overreaction. But for the first time since the 2025 wild card loss in San Francisco, the entire roster is back in one building. Tuesday is the day we start finding out what the 2026 Eagles actually look like.
