The Philadelphia Eagles returned to practice Thursday at the NovaCare Complex following their bye week, preparing for their Week 10 Monday Night Football matchup against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Head coach Nick Sirianni met with reporters for the first time since the break, discussing both the team’s first half of the season and several roster changes made before the November 4 NFL trade deadline.
The Eagles entered the bye with momentum after a dominant Week 8 win over the New York Giants. The offense was efficient and balanced, featuring 150 rushing yards from Saquon Barkley, more than 100 from Tank Bigsby, and four touchdown passes from Jalen Hurts. Sirianni said that performance gave him added confidence heading into the next matchup, particularly against former Dallas Cowboys linebacker and current Green Bay edge rusher Micah Parsons. “Micah Parsons is a phenomenal football player who can hurt you in many ways,” Sirianni said. “He causes a lot of disruption — not just in the passing game, but in the run game, too.”
Assessing his team’s performance through eight weeks, Sirianni said the Eagles had performed well fundamentally, with improvements in tackling, catching, ball security, and forcing turnovers. “We’re doing a good job fundamentally across the team as far as tackling and catching, taking care of the football and coming after the football,” he explained.
At the same time, the Eagles’ front office made multiple moves to strengthen the defense before the trade deadline. Executive Vice President and General Manager Howie Roseman completed three trades to address areas of need. Philadelphia acquired inside cornerback Michael Carter II from the New York Jets, outside cornerback Jaire Alexander from the Baltimore Ravens, and outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips from the Miami Dolphins.
Sirianni said each player has familiarity with someone on the coaching staff, which he viewed as a positive factor for their transition. “Looking forward to being able to coach those guys,” he said. “Talented guys that have played a bunch of good football in the NFL, each bringing a different thing and bringing depth to our positions.” He added that he was already “really, really excited about our roster as it was,” but grateful to Roseman for adding more talent and depth.
The timing of the Monday night game provided the new players with an extra day to adapt. Sirianni explained that the Eagles have a structured orientation process for all new additions, covering expectations across departments. “We kind of have an orientation for that just to catch them up on everything, every department,” he said. “It’s not like this is our first time doing that. You do that even when you bring a new practice squad guy in.” Sirianni and his assistant, Cole Peterson, personally meet with each player to explain team standards, practice structure, and cultural principles, so everyone aligns with how the Eagles operate.
While the Eagles adjusted their roster, the Packers faced a setback with the loss of tight end Tucker Kraft, who tore his right ACL in Week 9. Kraft led Green Bay in receiving yards with 489 and touchdowns with six, and was second in receptions with 32. His injury, confirmed earlier in the week, significantly affected the Packers’ offensive depth chart.
These roster developments have also influenced betting markets for Monday’s matchup. Across major sportsbooks including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, and PointsBet, the Packers remain 2.5-point favorites at home, with totals between 44.5 and 45. Moneylines hover around Packers -135 to -142 and Eagles +110 to +120. The line opened at Packers -2.5 and has remained steady, reflecting balanced betting on both sides. Totals have fluctuated slightly within the same range, with analysts at Covers and other outlets identifying a lean toward the under.
In futures markets, Philadelphia remains among the top Super Bowl contenders, with odds ranging from +800 to +950 across sportsbooks. Jalen Hurts’s MVP odds stay within the mid-teens range. Expert analyses show split sentiment among bettors—a few favoring the rested Eagles after their bye, others leaning toward the home-field advantage of the Packers—resulting in minimal movement since open.
Among the new acquisitions, Jaelan Phillips was described by Sirianni as “an explosive player, able to get to the quarterback, violent in the run game, and able to create a lot of disruption.” He said Fangio’s familiarity with Phillips from their time in Miami will shorten the adjustment period. Sirianni added that the team had followed Phillips since college, practiced against him earlier in his career, and played against him in 2023. “Really, really good player,” he said, emphasizing that he also liked the person Phillips is off the field.
Regarding Jaire Alexander, Sirianni said the team “obviously think[s] highly of the player we have now on the field, that’s why we went and got him.” He stated that the next step would be evaluating Alexander in practice to determine his game readiness. On Michael Carter II, Sirianni sees his reliability and versatility in the nickel corner position, completing a defensive unit that now has significantly greater depth.
The Eagles also welcomed the return of veteran defensive end Brandon Graham, who came out of retirement earlier in the season. “It’s been great having him back in the building on a consistent basis,” Sirianni said. “The energy he brings, the smile he has on his face every day.”
Sirianni also praised right tackle Lane Johnson, calling him “one of the best players in the NFL, maybe one of the best players of all time at his position.” He said Johnson’s consistency makes him a key piece of the team’s success and a leader on the offensive line.
As Philadelphia prepares for its meeting with Green Bay, Sirianni expressed appreciation for his working relationship with Roseman, as both share an aggressive, forward-focused approach to roster building. He also said he has respect for Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and the talent on Green Bay’s roster, but kept the focus on Philadelphia’s preparation and execution.
