Sports

How a pair of Eagles backups might have been exposed in the best way

Inside the Iggles · Jul 20, 2026 20:00 · 3 min read

How a pair of Eagles backups might have been exposed in the best way — Philadelphia Eagles tight end Eli Stowers | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Two Philadelphia Eagles players land on a hypothetical list from ESPN that highlights how great their talents are entering the 2026 season.

Depth will always be essential in the NFL, as different packages demand strength in numbers, and injuries can come in waves. Week by week and play by play, adjustments must be made, and backups must answer the call. And for the Philadelphia Eagles, two players who are primed for important roles in 2026 were recently recognized as talents worthy of making the NFL All-Backup team.

Bill Barnwell of ESPN put together his 53-man roster, compiling a group he feels could potentially contend with other starting teams in the league. With one or two players selected from each NFL franchise, a pair of Eagles landed on his squad with tight end Eli Stowers and defensive back Michael Carter.

"A second-round rookie, Stowers offers athleticism as a "move" tight end to supplement an underwhelming group of wide receivers. He caught 62 passes for 769 yards in his final year at Vanderbilt, winning the Mackey Award in the process. He's not going to be an every-down tight end in Philadelphia's offense (or for Team Backup), but Stowers could be a valuable playmaker before taking over for Dallas Goedert as the Eagles' starter in 2027."

"Carter emerged as a solid slot cornerback for the Jets under Robert Saleh and earned a three-year, $30.8 million contract extension before the 2024 season. But he fell out of favor with Aaron Glenn and was traded to the Eagles last season. He took a pay cut to stay in Philly, where he might compete to take over at safety for the departed Reed Blankenship. He'll stick in the slot for us, though."

These Eagles bring versatility, rare skill sets into the equation

When it comes to tight end depth, the Eagles suddenly find themselves stocked at the position. After General Manager Howie Roseman opted for Stowers in the second round of this year's draft, Philadelphia now has the eventual replacement for current starter Dallas Goedert in the fold. In addition, as Barnwell noted, the "move" tight end is a versatile playmaker who offers wideout traits, a dynamic pass-catching threat capable of bouncing around to different spots within a respective offense.

The Vandy rookie getting the nod on this all-backup squad speaks to his immediate upside as a plug-and-play talent, a unique and valuable weapon from day one for Philadelphia - even in a backup capacity.

Barnwell's second selection from Philadelphia for his All-Backup team is another interesting one, as Carter also has a rare skill set, one which defensive coordinator Vic Fangio clearly covets. Barnwell elects to place him in the slot for his All-Backup lineup, one of three spots where he could potentially see time moving forward for Philadelphia.

The veteran defensive back will also be in the mix for key snaps at safety under Fangio, and he's also shown the ability to hold down the fort on both the boundary and in the slot. Carter's versatility is a coach's best friend, especially in a league where trusted backups are as good as gold.