Hilary Knight is set to make her fifth Olympic appearance, and she will lead a younger, faster U.S. women’s national team that’s favored to win gold at the Milan Cortina Winter Games next month.
The 36-year-old Knight headlines the list as USA Hockey released its 23-player Olympic women’s roster on Friday. It’s a group that returns just 11 members from the team that won silver at the 2022 Beijing Games, and features several newcomers, highlighted by defender Laila Edwards.
The 21-year-old Wisconsin senior and Cleveland native is set to become the first Black female hockey player to compete for the U.S. at the Olympics.
“It still hasn’t really kicked in yet. Getting that call is like a dream come true,” Edwards said. “Always had dreams of playing in the pros, but the biggest dream was to go the Olympics, for sure.”
As for Knight, she will set a U.S. women’s hockey record for most Winter Games appearances after winning gold in 2018 and three silver medals. The Seattle Torrent captain previously announced that these will be her final Winter Games, while she plans to continue her PWHL career.
The U.S. roster features various familiar faces, including forward Kendall Coyne Schofield and defender Lee Stecklein, who will be competing in a fourth Winter Games. Other returnees include forwards Alex Carpenter and Kelly Pannek and defenders Megan Keller and Caroline Harvey, who, at 23, is completing her senior season at Wisconsin.
The roster has otherwise been transformed under coach John Wroblewski, who placed an emphasis on a youth movement upon being hired in June 2022.
The Americans relied mostly on veterans and appeared a step behind in finishing 5-2 — both losses to Canada — in Beijing under former coach Joel Johnson.
This year’s team features seven players still competing in college, with 20-year-old Ohio State forward Joy Dunne being the youngest. The goalie trio also is new, with projected starter Aerin Frankel, projected backup Gwyneth Philips, and third-stringer Ava McNaughton set to make their Olympic debuts.
Wroblewski’s imprint on the roster was evident particularly in the most recent Rivalry Series, in which the Americans swept all four games by outscoring the Canadians, 24-7. The U.S. also is the defending world champions after a 4-3 overtime win over Canada in April.
The Americans open the Olympics by facing the Czech Republic on Feb. 5, with the gold-medal game set for Feb. 19.
The U.S. is favored to win its third Olympic gold medal, and first since defeating Canada at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games. The Americans also won the inaugural tournament at Nagano in 1998, with the Canadians winning gold at the other five Olympic competitions.
These are the first Olympics since the PWHL began play in 2024, with the now-eight-team league expected to make an impact by raising the level of international competition and bridging the gap between nations trailing the two global powers, the U.S. and Canada.
Last spring, Tage Thompson and Clayton Keller helped the U.S. win the world hockey championship for the first time since 1933, while Seth Jones was a key part of the Florida Panthers’ second consecutive Stanley Cup run.
Those contributions earned them a spot on the U.S. Olympic team as the only three additions from the 4 Nations Face-Off early last year.
USA Hockey unveiled its roster Friday on the Today show. A vast majority of it features players who took part in the NHL-run international tournament last February, when the Americans made the final before losing to Canada in overtime. The only ones not back from the 4 Nations are forward Chris Kreider and former New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox.
Introducing the 2026 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team 🇺🇸 #MilanoCortina2026
“It was incredibly difficult for our management group to get to the final roster and that’s a credit to so many in our country, including all those at the grassroots level who help make our sport so strong,” USA general manager Bill Guerin said. ”There’s nothing like the Olympics, and I know our players and staff will represent our country well and work hard to achieve our ultimate goal.”
Keller, who’s captain of the Utah Mammoth and tied for the team lead in scoring, wore the “C” at Worlds. Thompson, who plays for the Buffalo Sabres, was a point-a-game producer.
The U.S. followed Canada’s lead after its northern neighbor also chose a 4 Nations-heavy roster. But while Canada made some changes in net beyond starter Jordan Binnington, the Americans went with the same three goaltenders: Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger, and Jeremy Swayman.
Left off were Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars, who leads U.S. players in points this season, and a couple other elite goal-scorers in Cole Caufield and Alex DeBrincat.
Guerin and his management staff, along with coach Mike Sullivan, prioritized experience and players they knew well. That meant sticking with depth forwards Vincent Trocheck and Brock Nelson over Robertson and others.
Teams are allowed 25 players at the Olympics, up from 23 at the 4 Nations, and can dress 20 skaters — typically 13 forwards and seven defenseman, along with two goalies. The first U.S. game is Feb. 12 against Latvia.
“Taking what the defense gives me,” Embiid said after finishing with 22 points on 9-for-18 shooting along with six assists, four rebounds, and a block. “But physically, where I felt most [like myself] is defensively. I’m getting back to that level of [protecting the rim], blocking shots and being that defensive presence.”
The 2023 MVP and seven-time All-Star is averaging 29.2 points on 47.9% shooting, along with 8.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 33.0 minutes over his last six games. This comes after Embiid averaged 18.2 points on 40.7% shooting to go with 5.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 25.0 minutes in his first nine games.
“If you want to talk about feeling like myself, two years ago, when I felt like I reached that peak level of every time I stepped on the court, I felt like I could score 40 or 50 every single night,” Embiid said. “I can be more aggressive, but I feel like I’m also smarter.”
As a result, he notes that he also is doing more of what’s needed for the Sixers (18-14) to succeed instead of making sure he puts up big individual numbers.
But a significant sign of feeling like his usual self occurred when Embiid attempted to pass the ball to himself off the backboard in Tuesday’s 139-136 overtime victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Embiid missed this attempt. But it was a move he completed on April 20, 2024, in Game 1 of a first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks. It was a move he might have been too hesitant to try earlier this season and during the 2024-25 campaign. He said it was instinctual on Tuesday.
“The last time I tried it, I got hurt,” said Embiid, who had 34 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists against the Grizzlies. “Maybe that’s a sign that I’m feeling good. At first I was going to lay it up. … I think it’s a good sign. … To get that first one, I got to make it look exciting.
The 10-year veteran has missed 17 games this season, primarily because of swelling, soreness, and injury management of both knees.
Embiid played in just 19 games last season before undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on April 11. It was his second left knee surgery in 14 months and third in nine years. He had surgery on Feb. 6, 2024, after suffering a torn meniscus in his knee eight days earlier in a game against the Golden State Warriors. That surgery limited his regular season to 39 games.
Before that injury, Embiid was a front-runner to win a second straight MVP award and third consecutive scoring title.
Before this setback, Embiid was having a historic 2023-24 regular season. He was leading the league (and setting a career high) in scoring at 35.3 points per game, to go along with 11.3 rebounds, a career-best 5.7 assists, and 1.8 blocks.
DALLAS — The 76ers are stacking days with their Big Three.
Paul George is expected to remain primarily at small forward after Kelly Oubre Jr. returns from injury.
Quentin Grimes is adapting to a different role as players return from injury by providing solid defense and taking open shots.
Those things stood out in Thursday’s 123-108 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center.
Big Three
This marked the second straight game in which the Sixers’ Big Three of Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and George played together. And it’s starting to provide positive results, as they won both games to improve to 18-14.
The Sixers lost the first four games that the Big Three played this season. The trio actually had a nine-game skid, dating back to last season.
Give the Sixers credit. They didn’t panic and believed things would be fine once they developed a rhythm.
“Just trying to get more games with them,” Nick Nurse said. “I think that’s the key that we can move positively. Again, I still say they need more minutes, more rhythm, more time, more conditioning — all that kind of stuff. So the more games we can do in a row, the better. I think I said last time, we’re on five or six or something, we can use a lot more than that, and to have some in a row would be nice.”
Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey (right) tries to steal the ball from Mavericks forward Anthony Davis during the first half on Thursday.
Against the Mavs, the Sixers had a balanced attack with Maxey (34 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds, two steals, two blocks), VJ Edgecombe (23 points, four steals), Embiid (22 points, six assists, one block), Grimes (19 points), and George (14 points) scoring in double figures.
Embiid is averaging 29.2 points over his last six games after averaging 18.2 in his first nine.
“I feel like I’m getting back to myself,” he said. “Then I think tonight is a perfect example, different than Memphis [on Tuesday, when he scored 34 points]. Memphis, I had to be more aggressive. Tonight … I could make plays for some of the guys, all these guys on the team. So, taking what the defense gives me.
“But physically, where I felt most [like myself] is defensively. I’m getting back to that level of [protecting the rim], blocking shots, and being that defensive presence.”
His play over the last two games is a significant reason for the consecutive victories.
George at the three
George came to the Sixers last season to play small forward. But the plan was for him to slide to power forward while Oubre switched from shooting guard to small forward.
However, with Oubre sidelined for the past 20 games with a lateral collateral ligament injury in his left knee, George has played mostly small forward this season.
And while his shots aren’t falling, George has contributed nicely at the position. In addition to his 14 points, he had seven rebounds, two assists, and a steal with a game-high plus-20 against the Mavs.
Oubre was the X-factor at the position before his injury. That’s why Nurse was asked if he sees George as more of a three or a four once Oubre returns.
“A three, mostly,” Nurse said. “I just think that it does matter who we’re playing. I think it seems to go really one end of the spectrum or the other. Like, it seems like all of a sudden, you are running into a team that’s huge all over the place. Play your big lineups. Then all of a sudden, playing four guards. … So I think that’s when he will go to the four more. But this is a pretty big team tonight, so pretty good chance to play him at the three most of the time.”
George did play some power forward against Dallas when the Sixers went with their three-guard lineups.
So, who will start at power forward? Are the Sixers comfortable moving Oubre from small to power forward once he returns? Or has Dominick Barlow, who made his 19th start on Thursday, entrenched himself as the starting power forward?
“He’s played great,” Nurse said of Barlow, “Nothing to not play his minutes. I think it’s Paul. I think it’s Barlow. Could be a little Oubre. Could be a little [Adem] Bona. But I think it just depends on who we’re playing. Hopefully, we can be versatile enough to figure out what we are doing in all those different lineups. That’s what’s going to take some time.”
Paul George (left) scored 14 points against the Mavericks.
Those options might be a good problem for the Sixers to have.
Against the Mavs (12-23), Grimes, Andre Drummond, Jared McCain, Jabari Walker, and Bona came off the bench. Nurse was asked if this could be the deepest team he’s had since taking over the Sixers on June 1, 2023.
“Well, let’s hope so. I don’t want to get carried away,” he said. “I think our last 18 to 20 months have been three guys in, four guys out, three guys in, two guys out. It’s been nonstop. Let’s get about 10 or 12 games under our belt with pretty much everybody healthy, and then we can start worrying about that kind of stuff.”
New role for Grimes
Grimes’ new role with players coming back could be flying around on defense and taking shots as they come.
“Joel is getting a lot more comfortable, getting his rhythm,” he said. “P’s getting his rhythm out there, just me finding my rhythm being in attack mode, taking shots, not thinking about stuff, and that turns into easy offense for us, for sure.”
The combo guard quickly made a defensive impact after entering the game with 7 minutes, 31 seconds left in the first quarter and blocked Cooper Flagg’s drive to the basket 20 seconds later. Then, on his first shot attempt, Grimes buried a corner three-pointer to give the Sixers a 37-35 lead with 9:15 remaining in the half. His three-pointer with 1:49 left in the game gave the Sixers a 118-108 cushion.
“He was great, man, offensively and defensively,” Maxey said. “But we need that from him, night in and night out. He’s kind of a good wild card for us. He can get hot. He can make threes. He can drive the ball. He can play defensively, too. That’s what’s really good for us. He can play with a lot of lineups, too.”
Grimes made 7 of 9 shots — including 5 for 7 from three-point range — along with seven rebounds, two assists, and three blocks. And as the primary defender, he did a solid job of making Flagg (12 points) work for shots.
“Just make it physical for him,” Grimes said of defending Flagg. “I mean, he’s a rookie. He’s got a different little physicality. He’s super talented out there, so I’m trying to be physical with him. I’m trying to make it as hard as possible. I feel like I did a pretty good job of that tonight.”
Sixers guard Vj Edgecombe (center) attempts a layup against the Mavericks on Thursday in Dallas.
And none of the Sixers were surprised.
“He really tries on defense, and he has the tools to do it,” Nurse said. “He’s an athlete. He’s strong. He can jump. He got some quickness. I love … the way he takes it to the rim. Still don’t think he does it enough. … He’s explosive. He can move it around up there and score. Obviously, we need his three-point shooting.”
But the Sixers do need to figure out where Grimes and McCain fit in when the team is fully healthy.
They had primary roles during different stages of last season on a depleted team. McCain had to provide the offense at the start of last season while Embiid and George were sidelined.
“At the end last year, Q was like the last [healthy] guy left,” Nurse said. “He kind of had to score. [He] showed some great abilities to do that. I think the key to being a good basketball player is figuring out how you can impact your team to win and play a role a little bit.
“I think they are both still looking and feeling that out.”
On the eve of the only transfer portal for the year opening in college football, Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, who started the final seven games of the season, announced his intention to enter.
The decision isn’t shocking, and Grunkemeyer, a redshirt freshman, could return to the Nittany Lions. But with new coach Matt Campbell coming in with his own staff and likely running a new offense, it is becoming increasingly likely that next year’s starting quarterback is not on Penn State’s roster.
Drew Allaris making the jump to the NFL, and Bekkem Kritza and Jaxon Smolik also entered the portal, leaving Jack Lambert as the quarterbacks remaining on the roster.
That means that Campbell and his new staff in Happy Valley will need to go portal hunting for quarterback — and several other positions, as the roster is expected to have significant turnover.
Here are the options Penn State could consider at quarterback, from a player familiar to the staff to others who have had success elsewhere:
Reuniting with Becht?
The most obvious answer to Penn State’s quarterback conundrum is to bring in Campbell’s starting quarterback at Iowa State, Rocco Becht, who is in the transfer portal. Becht seems like a natural fit in Happy Valley, considering his experience, familiarity with staff, and the high-profile nature of the games Penn State will play.
Could new Penn State coach Matt Campbell bring in Rocco Becht, his starting quarterback at Iowa State?
Becht threw for 9,274 yards and 64 touchdowns in 39 starts for Campbell. A starting quarterback following his coach to another school is not unprecedented, and Becht also would reunite with Jake Waters, his quarterbacks coach at Iowa State who holds the same position at Penn State, and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser.
Having a proven quarterback for Campbell in Year 1 at Penn State with a favorable Big Ten schedule draw would be ideal. But nothing is certain in the portal, and there will be several suitors that need a quarterback.
Bring back Pribula?
Last year, before Penn State’s College Football Playoff first-round matchup with SMU, backup quarterback Beau Pribula entered the transfer portal and landed at Missouri. And after one season with the Tigers, in which he threw 1,941 yards and 11 touchdowns in 10 starts, he’s back in the portal. Could he come back to Happy Valley?
Pribula played well in relief after Allar was injured during the Wisconsin game in 2024, and his rushing ability was heavily utilized in Andy Kotelnicki’s offense. Kotelnicki won’t be on the staff next season, but the familiarity with the program could intrigue Campbell and his staff if they don’t bring in Becht.
He would be a one-year player, like Becht, barring injury. He would need to take care of the football better than he did this year (nine interceptions, five fumbles), but bringing him back seems like an option. Of course, former Penn State coach James Franklin and Virginia Tech could get involved, and his staff has plenty of familiarity with Pribula, too.
High risk, high reward
There are several other starters from Power Four schools who entered the portal and have a big pool of teams interested in their services. Quarterbacks like Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati), Dylan Raiola (Nebraska), and DJ Lagway (Florida) are among the top quarterbacks who will be highly coveted in the portal.
Penn State likely won’t land the top of the portal market for quarterbacks, considering the uncertainty on the roster and a new staff coming in. There are other quarterbacks who may not garner the same interest as the top names and come with some risks.
Aidan Chiles completed 63.1% of his passes and 10 touchdowns to three interceptions this past season at Michigan State.
Former Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles entered the portal after the program’s coaching change. After an up and down 2024 season, Chiles was much more efficient in 2025 in nine starts, completing 63.1% of his passes and throwing for 10 touchdowns to three interceptions. He has big-time talent and two more seasons of eligibility, but has an 8-13 record as a starter over the last two seasons.
Jaden Craig, the former Harvard starting quarterback for two years, is looking to make the jump from the FCS to the FBS. With the Crimson, he threw for career highs in touchdowns (25) and yards (2,869), but the level of competition in the Ivy League is much different from the Big Ten. Could he handle facing Big Ten defenses?
Penn State also has two quarterbacks (Peyton Falzone and Kase Evans) signed in the 2026 recruiting class. Campbell has his work cut out for him over the next two weeks to build out his roster for the 2026 season and beyond. Getting a quarterback locked in should be atop the staff’s list.
You never see the biggest stories coming. That’s kind of by definition, isn’t it?
The year 2025 was relatively quiet one as far as seismic activity goes. The Sixers’ arena switcheroo probably was the biggest pure news story next to the Eagles’ Super Bowl win. Compare that to 2024, in which Saquon Barkley and Paul George signed, Jason Kelce retired, Matvei Michikov arrived, and the Sixers went belly-up. That, in addition to Carter Hart being arrested, Cutter Gauthier forcing a trade, and Haason Reddick being traded.
It’s impossible to say whether the earth will shake in 2026. But if it does, here is how it could happen:
1. Lane Johnson announces his retirement after 13 NFL seasons and leaves the Eagles scrambling.
At this point, nothing suggests that Johnson will seriously consider retiring after the season. The contract extension he signed last year tacked on $40 million in guarantees in 2025 and 2026. That’s a pretty good reason for Eagles fans to take comfort, especially if Johnson returns to the field for the postseason, as is expected. He’d be walking away from some serious money if he retired this offseason.
At the same time, we’d be foolish not to at least acknowledge the possibility, given the dramatic implications it would have on the Eagles’ roster. Johnson has been the single biggest reason the Eagles have seamlessly bridged their competitive teams through a rotating cast of quarterbacks and head coaches. There will be no replacing him, at least not immediately.
Johnson has been open about the punishment that the NFL has inflicted upon his body over the years. That’s worth noting after a regular season in which he missed seven games because of injury for the first time since 2020 and just the second time in his career.
At 35 years and 239 days, Johnson is the second-oldest offensive lineman to play at least 300 snaps this season. Only Kelvin Beachum has him beat at 36 years, 207 days. Since 2015, only seven offensive linemen have a season of 12-plus starts at age 36 or older.
Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown shown after making a catch against the Bills on Sunday in Buffalo.
2. A.J. Brown gets traded for a conditional 2027 second round pick that can become a first; Eagles immediately invest in a replacement.
Forget about Brown’s public grumbling for a moment. Consider instead this fact: In the 10 games in which Brown has seen eight or more targets, the Eagles are 5-5. In the five games in which he has seen fewer than eight targets, the Eagles are 5-0. Kind of strange, isn’t it?
Correlation doesn’t equal causation, but Brown’s on-field performance clearly has dipped this season. In his first three years with the Eagles, he looked like a receiver who belonged in the conversation for best in the sport. That hasn’t been the case this season. The explosiveness, the burst, the strength at the point of attack and in the air appear to be diminished. The numbers reflect it. His 8.3 yards-per-target is down nearly 20% from 2022 to 2024 (10.3), as is his yards per reception (12.9, down from 15.4) and his catch percentage (52.1, down from 56.3).
Brown is at an age at which decline can come fast at the wide receiver position. Cooper Kupp hasn’t broken 850 yards in a season since turning 29. Same goes for Brandin Cooks and Odell Beckham Jr.
DeAndre Hopkins averaged 1,380 yards per season from 25-28 years old and 644 yards at 29-30 years old. Adam Thielen averaged 6.4 catches and 82.8 yards per game at 27-28 and 4.2 catches and 53.7 yards at 29-30.
Alshon Jeffery, Allen Robinson, Michael Thomas, Tyreek Hill … the list goes on. For Antonio Brown, Julio Jones, Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs, and Antonio Brown, the drop-off came at 30 or 31.
There are exceptions: Davante Adams, Keenan Allen, Mike Evans. But they are very much exceptions.
To justify trading Brown, the Eagles almost certainly would have to have a replacement lined up. Jahan Dotson clearly isn’t a suitable second option. In the four regular-season games Brown has missed over the last two seasons, Dotson has a total of five catches for 25 yards. In those four games, the Eagles’ total wide receiver production outside of DeVonta Smith was 20 catches for 94 yards.
The Eagles would save about $7 million against the cap if they traded Brown after June 1. They might be able to accommodate a free-agent offer to somebody like Alec Pierce, the Colts deep threat whose all-around game took an intriguing step forward this season. But there are a lot of teams that will be in the free-agent market this season, with the Patriots and dream quarterback Drake Maye at the top of the list.
Even if Brown isn’t the player at 29 years old that he was at 27, he would still be difficult to replace. Combined with the limited financial upside of moving him, we’ll have to see this story to believe it.
Sixers center Joel Embiid has scored 27 or more points in his last three games.
3. Joel Embiid helps to lead the Sixers to a first-round playoff upset and sparks trade interest among teams desperate to catch the Thunder and Spurs.
Embiid entered the new year having scored 27-plus points in three straight games. That counts as an accomplishment these days. He looked like an empty husk of his former self in his first nine games of the 2025-26 season, averaging just 18.2 points on a woeful .441 effective field goal percentage.
Question is, what if Embiid’s recent uptick in minutes and production is a signal that he has more left in the tank than we’ve given him credit for? He still needs to show a lot more defensively. And he has yet to play more than 71 minutes in a seven-day span. But he just logged 38 minutes in an overtime win over the Grizzlies, four days after playing a season-high 32 minutes in a loss to the Bulls.
With three years and $188 million left on his contract after this season, Embiid would probably have to be playing at his prime MVP level to have positive trade value. A more realistic question is whether he can play well enough to change the Sixers’ short-term narrative.
4. Eagles hire Shane Steichen or Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
The Colts would be foolish to fire Steichen, who has somehow managed to put together a 25-25 record with the following starting quarterbacks: Gardner Minshew (7-6), Daniel Jones (8-5), Anthony Richardson (8-7), Joe Flacco (2-4), and Philip Rivers (0-3). But here is what owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon told the Athletic recently:
“Most people don’t like change,” said Irsay-Gordon, who has been patrolling the sidelines with a clipboard all season. “I think there’s something wrong with me, but I feel like it is the one thing that is a guarantee. I think it can be exciting.”
Even if the Colts part ways with Steichen, a team like the Giants could easily snatch him up. I can’t imagine Nick Sirianni would demote himself from head coach in order to restore Steichen as the play-caller. It definitely would be a heck of a story.
McDaniel might be a more realistic option, although he may be in the process of saving his job by leading the Dolphins to five wins in seven games.
5. Bryce Harper takes another step backward, as do the Phillies.
There has been enough passive-aggressive weirdness percolating between Harper and management that we have to at least flag him as the main character in a potential major story. Dave Dombrowski rankled Harper when he mused about Harper’s eliteness, but it is a legitimate question. At 32 years old, Harper is coming off his worst season in a decade. Another step backward would raise some serious concerns. And create some serious headlines.
Cooper DeJeanhas sat just a few stalls away from Marcus Epps in the NovaCare Complex locker room day after day, practice after practice since September.
But, on Game Days, the second-year nickel cornerback says he hardly recognizes Epps.
The relaxed, laid-back safety doesn’t make a peep, at least compared to the boisterous DeJean, who is constantly cracking jokes with his teammates. When Epps is on the field, though, DeJean said that calm demeanor dissipates as if a switch flips in his head.
Enthusiasm emanates from Epps on every play. The 29-year-old wore his heart on his jersey sleeve in last Sunday’s win over the Buffalo Bills, especially on a critical goal-line stand late in the third quarter. After Epps stuffed James Cook for a loss of a yard on third down and Zack Baun prevented Josh Allen from scrambling into the end zone on fourth, Epps screamed and flexed on his way to the sideline.
In moments like those, Reed Blankenship says he’s scared to give his fellow safety a high five.
“He’ll try to slap me as hard as he can,” Blankenship explained. “I’m like, I don’t know if I want to do that. He’s just one of those dudes that you can tell that loves the game and loves the way it’s supposed to be played.”
Epps shows his passion through his physicality, according to DeJean.
“He loves to hit people,” DeJean said. “Loves to play downhill. You can tell he really loves to be out there just by the way he plays and his energy.”
That love for football intensified when the game was taken away from Epps. This time last year, he was recovering from a torn ACL suffered early in the season as the starting safety for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Initial devastation was eventually replaced by a new perspective, one that fueled Epps’ comeback in 2025 upon his return to the Eagles, the team he started for in the Super Bowl in 2022.
Epps says he doesn’t take any moment — even his shortcomings — for granted. His failure to make the New England Patriots roster out of training camp led him to sign to the Eagles’ practice squad two days later. Shortly after Drew Mukuba’s Week 12 ankle injury, Vic Fangio anointed a new starter in Epps, who has seamlessly slotted into one of the league’s most dominant defenses.
Months of doubt over his NFL future gave way to a sense of gratitude in Philadelphia, even before he became an Eagles starter again.
“I feel like this is exactly where I was supposed to be this season,” Epps said last week.
Marcus Epps (1) started all 17 games for the Raiders in 2023 before suffering a season-ending injury three games into the 2024 season.
‘Everything happens for a reason’
On the morning of Las Vegas’ Week 4 game against the Cleveland Browns last season, Jakorian Bennett, then a Raiders cornerback, decided to switch up his pregame look.
Bennett donned a black No. 1 Epps jersey as he walked through the Allegiant Stadium corridors to the locker room. Bennett, whom the Eagles acquired from the Raiders in early August, sought to honor Epps, who tore his ACL the week prior against the Carolina Panthers.
Even though Epps was four years Bennett’s senior, the cornerback considered him his closest friend on the team. He admired Epps, who went from a University of Wyoming walk-on to a Minnesota Vikings sixth-round pick to an NFL starter in a span of eight years.
“If you’d seen how much work he put in during the offseason, when you train so hard for, what, four months? Three months? Whatever it is,” Bennett said. “It’s year-round, really, and for it to just kind of be, I don’t want to say that it was just a waste, but just for it to kind of go out that way, it’s kind of unfortunate.”
Bennett, 25, knew just how much work Epps had put in during the offseason. Bennett’s NFL career began with the Raiders in 2023, the same year Epps joined the team after 3½ years with the Eagles. Since then, Bennett has spent two weeks of the summer training with the veteran safety at the gym he owns in Costa Mesa, Calif.
Epps and Bennett initially gravitated toward each other because they both “do things the right way,” the cornerback explained. That approach applies to their preparation, from their film study to the way they take care of their bodies.
Their bond grew stronger in 2024, when they supported each other through season-ending injuries. Bennett had shoulder surgery in November that shut him down for the rest of the year. While Epps called his own recovery a “difficult process” that required him to lean on his loved ones, it also put his career into perspective.
“I realized even more so, how much I really just love football, and just want to be out there as much as I can and play this game for as long as I can,” Epps said. “That perspective just helped me every day in terms of getting up in the morning and continuing to put the work in.”
Marcus Epps could not navigate a crowded depth chart in New England in the preseason, dimming his career prospects in the process.
Epps said he went through plenty of “dark days” during his rehab. He understood the reality of his situation — there was no guarantee that everything he worked to achieve as a starter would be waiting for him in the end. Regardless, he said he believed that everything would work out for the best.
Better days did not immediately arrive. Epps signed with the Patriots on a one-year deal in the offseason, a decision he said he made because they “came after me and they made it seem like they wanted me there.”
But he never made progress up the depth chart, leading to his release at the end of August. The Eagles came calling that same day, a silver lining to his stint in New England.
“That experience, I feel like, brought me back here,” Epps said. “Everything happens for a reason. Got to be able to just stay true to yourself, keep working, have faith in God and that he’s going to put you in the right spot.”
A ‘seamless’ transition
There’s a little bit of weirdness that comes with being the guy who returns to his former squad after a hiatus, according to Epps.
No, that feeling wasn’t associated with his having signed with another team in free agency following the Eagles’ Super Bowl loss. Rather, Epps returned to a familiar place filled with unfamiliar faces, especially on a defense under second-year Eagles coordinator Fangio. Of course, he had to learn Fangio’s scheme, too.
“[Epps] was asking me questions,” said Bennett, who had arrived in Philadelphia just a few weeks earlier. “I’m like, ‘Hey, brother, can’t really help you with that one.’”
The uniform might have been familiar for Marcus Epps (39), but there was a lot to learn after three years away.
While Epps acknowledged he had to make an adjustment, former teammates such as Blankenship, Jalen Hurts, and A.J. Brown, plus safeties coach Joe Kasper, who was a defensive quality control coach during Epps’ first stint, made his transition easier.
“Everybody really just greeted me with open arms,” Epps said. “And I can’t say enough about that and how much I appreciated that, this locker room and this building just welcoming me back and making me feel like I was wanted here and appreciated here.”
Blankenship’s appreciation for Epps dates to his rookie season in 2022, when the elder safety became his mentor. As Blankenship learned Jonathan Gannon’s scheme, Epps implored him to start small. He wasn’t going to become Ed Reed overnight.
Even when Epps wasn’t starting earlier in the 2025 season, he took that same approach with the younger safeties in the room, all while staying ready for his opportunity. Blankenship said he knows how it feels to be on the receiving end of the wisdom that Mukuba, Sydney Brown, and Andrè Sam received.
“He helped me out a lot with doing that, how to break down film, just how to communicate as a whole,” Blankenship said. “I feel like he does a really good job of doing that now.”
Then wearing No. 22, Marcus Epps (center) played 54 games as an Eagle from 2019-22, starting all 17 games in the final season of his first run with the team.
DeJean also highlighted Epps’ communication skills, stating that it’s the reason why he has been able to make an impact on the defense so quickly. Epps is adept at making sure his teammates are on the same page by communicating what he sees from the opposing offense before the snap.
His familiarity with Blankenship has helped his transition, too. Blankenship and Epps started five games together between the regular season and postseason in 2022. Their trust flourished in that span, when Epps saw firsthand just how much work Blankenship was putting in behind the scenes. Epps said he knew the rookie would be ready to play every week.
Even though they’re playing in a new defense now, Epps said they picked up where they left off three seasons ago.
“Just having played with him before and having that chemistry and trust especially, I think that’s a huge thing, especially in this system,” Epps said. “The safeties have to have a lot of trust and a lot of chemistry. And it made that a lot easier that we already had that in place. So from there, it’s just communication. And it really felt like it was seamless.”
Epps won’t see the field in the season finale against the Washington Commanders. Instead, he’ll continue his recovery from a concussion after he reported symptoms following Thursday’s practice.
Then, the playoffs await — Epps’ first postseason appearance since the Super Bowl LVII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The veteran safety is eager to bring his playoff experience to the team this time around. He said he knows what it takes to make a long postseason run, even though he didn’t lift the Lombardi Trophy three years ago.
His teammates appreciate his presence, too. Epps may not garner much attention off the field with his subdued personality, but Blankenship didn’t shy away from giving him his flowers.
“It’s not just me, Cooper, or Zack back there,” Blankenship said. “It’s Epps, too. He knows what he’s doing. We’re very comfortable with him back there.”
But even so, Sunday’s game at Lincoln Financial Field presents the potential for the Eagles to move up a spot and into the No. 2 seed in the NFC if they win and Detroit is able to pull off a road win at Chicago.
Will the Eagles’ backups do their part? Or will Washington end a miserable season on a high note? Here’s what our writers think:
And, really, is there anything near as interesting as the Eagles’ backup quarterback on Sunday? Sure, there are some young players whose progress and development will be on display, but this wacky season deserves nothing more than a phony quarterback controversy to start the postseason run.
In all seriousness, Tanner McKee and whichever amalgamation of offensive players take the field for the Eagles’ first series Sunday still have a very real chance at winning the game and putting the fate of the playoff seeding in the hands of the Bears.
We can expect to see a similar McKee that we saw in Week 18 last season. He’s a capable passer who can operate the offense at a pretty high level. And Washington’s defense is really bad.
The Commanders, meanwhile, are expected to start third-stringer Josh Johnson at quarterback. His cross-field throw into the waiting hands of Cooper DeJean in Week 16 is all you really need to know about the Commanders’ offense with Johnson playing quarterback. Jacory Croskey-Merritt got free for a 72-yard touchdown last Thursday, but otherwise he had 10 carries for 33 yards.
The Eagles don’t typically stack the box, but if their backups are able to stop the run with success, it may be tough for Johnson to beat them with his arm. The Eagles will have some capable players on the field on defense. Imagine how long Josh Uche has been waiting to rush the quarterback in a game?
Games like this are really hard to predict. Who plays? And for how long? But the Eagles have the advantage at quarterback, and they’re the team with more football to play beyond Week 18. I’ll take that combination in this one.
Will there actually be a quarterback controversy? McKee will probably play well enough that the sports radio callers will engage in the absurdity. Happy New Year.
The million-dollar question this week: Can the Eagles backups beat the Commanders?
McKee will certainly give them a chance. Whenever he has been called upon, both in the preseason and the regular season, the 2023 sixth-rounder out of Stanford has risen to the occasion. In his last start, he led the Eagles to a 2024 Week 18 victory against the New York Giants.
But McKee isn’t throwing the ball to himself, blocking for himself, nor trying to stop the Johnson-led Commanders offense. Is this Eagles team as deep as they were last season at every other position?
That’s up for debate. The players adding secondary depth were more experienced in Week 18 of last year, with players such as Avonte Maddox and Isaiah Rodgers starting at safety and cornerback, respectively. Kelee Ringo and Jakorian Bennett are likely to get the nod at cornerback, while Sydney Brown will likely start at safety.
On the offensive line, Drew Kendall could earn his first start at center. Last year, it was sixth-year veteran Nick Gates in that role.
Still, the Eagles can’t rest all of the starters. Perhaps a few such as Jihaad Campbell see some playing time on Sunday.
The Commanders aren’t exactly operating at full strength. Center Tyler Biadasz went on injured reserve this week and left tackle Laremy Tunsil isn’t expected to play, either.
While the Eagles will be motivated to win, the banged-up Commanders have more experience playing together this season. Plus, they may still have a bad taste in their mouths given the scrum that occurred late in the Week 16 game at Northwest Stadium.
The Eagles were going through their ball security drills at practice Thursday when running backs coach Jemal Singleton chimed in.
Many starters will get the day off Sunday in the season finale vs. the Washington Commanders. So Singleton wanted to offer a reminder: For some Eagles who will take the field Sunday, their last time getting hit was a while ago. His eyes quickly darted to Tanner McKee, the backup quarterback said.
“It’s actually been a while since I’ve gotten hit,” McKee said Thursday afternoon.
Sure, Jalen Hurts’ backup has hit the field a few times in mop-up duty this season. He handed to Tank Bigsby twice and kneeled twice during the final drive two weeks ago vs. Washington. He led a 17-play drive to the goal line in a blowout over Las Vegas a week earlier. And he handed once to Bigsby before kneeling three times to close out a Week 8 win over the Giants.
This week is different. McKee will get the reins vs. the Commanders as the Eagles give Hurts and some other regulars a week off from game action to get ready for the playoffs. McKee and any other backup will routinely tell you about preparation being the same every week. Backups prepare to start because their number could be called at any time. But McKee said there is a slight difference.
“You’re just more involved with making the calls on the field instead of watching somebody else make the calls,” he said. “So you’re back there and you’re doing your footwork. ‘This is what I would do; these are my reads if I were in.’ But now you’re actually in. It is just kind of getting those physical reps.”
And he will prepare to be hit, too. McKee hasn’t gone into a game as a starter since the preseason. Prior to that it was Week 18 last year, when he completed 27 of 41 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-13 win over the Giants. McKee will again face a divisional foe, but the big difference this time is the game has some stakes. The Eagles were locked into the No. 2 seed last season. This time, McKee could help lead the Eagles to a win with a chance to move into the second spot in the NFC if Detroit beats Chicago.
“I’m definitely excited for that,” McKee said. “It’s obviously fun when something is on the line.”
Philadelphia Eagles Tanner McKee throws the football during practice at the NovaCare Complex in Philadelphia
In that regard, McKee hasn’t played a meaningful game since he was at Stanford in 2022. And while this game does have some possible stakes for the Eagles, it definitely has stakes for McKee, who is still a 25-year-old quarterback trying to put good play on tape. Next season is the final year of his contract, and while there are surely some Eagles fans that want him to be a starter here — and will make their voices heard on radio stations heading into the playoffs if he plays well Sunday — McKee is, in a sense, auditioning for his next job. The Eagles could choose to bring him back as a reliable backup option in 2026, or they could try to flip him for draft capital this offseason.
McKee, who had a good training camp with the Eagles, said he wasn’t thinking ahead about that part of it, but is viewing Sunday as just another opportunity to go do his job and perform. He feels more prepared to do that now than he did at this time last year just because of all the practice time he’s gotten since.
“Obviously with more reps you get more confidence, you have that good chemistry with the guys around you,” McKee said. “I feel like I have a good feel, can play fast. As a quarterback it’s really big to be able to play and just react to the game instead of trying to think, ‘What’s my job? What’s my footwork? What’s everybody else doing?’ You can just play and react and so I feel like I’ve gotten to that point and I feel comfortable doing that.”
A year after his last start, he’ll get a chance to show just how comfortable on Sunday.
Rookie right tackle Cameron Williams was added to the active roster after being activated from injured reserve Thursday. Williams’ 21-day practice window was set to expire this week and the Eagles opted to activated him rather than end his season.
Williams, 22, could see his first NFL action Sunday.
Safety Marcus Epps reported concussion symptoms to the medical staff after practice. He has a concussion and is in the concussion protocol.
Jihaad Campbell (back/shoulder) was upgraded to a full participant after appearing on the estimated injury report after Wednesday’s walk-through as limited.
DALLAS — Being relegated to a supportive teammate is tough for Kelly Oubre Jr.
The 76ers small forward was having a great season before spraining the lateral collateral ligament in his left knee against the Detroit Pistons on Nov. 14. Thursday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks marked the 20th game he has missed since.
“Just not being able to play basketball,” Oubre said of the most frustrating part of his injury. “Not being able to be with the guys on the court in battle. I’m with them every day, off the court. And I can help and say things that I see.
“But just being in that motion with the guys is everything that I want. And, you know, just kind of losing that groove a little bit.”
The 6-foot-8, 200-pounder is expected to give the Sixers a lift once he returns. Before his injury, he averaged 16.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 12 games. In addition to excelling when the ball was moving, he did a solid job of guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter player.
“I think Kelly’s playing arguably his best basketball of his career this year,” coach Nick Nurse said, “so getting that back, the energy, and leadership defensively that he always shows — always plays hard, man. I think that’s definitely needed. He’s got a little bit more size, too.”
Oubre participated in a live four-on-four scrimmage on Wednesday in Texas. That comes after he partook in a live three-on-three scrimmage on Monday in Memphis.
“I’m doing a lot of running,” Oubre said. “But I’m also doing a lot of playing now and individual skill work. But, obviously, getting to that five-on-five and that actual live bump where I’m moving around and constantly guarding full court, that’s the next step for me.
“But other than that, I’m just going off pain management. No pain, you know, but, obviously, I have to get stronger in certain areas and get my wind up again.”
Sixers Kelly Oubre Jr. has averaged 16.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in his 12 games played this season.
Nurse said Tuesday that the Sixers hoped Oubre would play during this road trip. His only chance to do that would be Saturday, when the Sixers conclude the five-game trip against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. But his availability might depend on whether Oubre can get in a five-on-five scrimmage on Friday and how his body responds.
“I’m getting there,” Oubre said of getting closer to returning. “Every day, we have to take advantage of, I’m getting there.”
But how close does Oubre think he is to returning?
“I don’t know,” he said. “I’m just going off what the trainers and the docs say. So for me, I don’t feel any pain, any shortness after workouts, and things like that, which is a good sign. So I take that as a positive and just continue to build from there and get stronger.
“But I’m leaving it to the docs and the trainers.”
When he does return, Oubre doesn’t think he’ll have a problem with reintegrating.
He has yet to play in a game this season with Paul George, who was sidelined for the first 12 games because of left knee injury management. Oubre has only played six games with Joel Embiid.
But Oubre has played with Embiid the past two seasons and with George last season.
“I played with everybody already,” he said. “They know what I bring, and they know how I play. So, it’s just about finding that footing and that rhythm together again. But I don’t think it’s going to be difficult at all. I try to adapt to whatever my situation is on the court. And everybody, we flow off of each other, and I’m just going to be another piece to the puzzle.”
