Eagles’ Jordan Mailata says “next man up” starts in the meeting room, and young linemen and defenders are answering

With Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, and Lane Johnson unavailable for stretches, Philadelphia has leaned on second-year and late-round additions, turning roster churn into developmental reps.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

Philadelphia’s offensive and defensive depth has been tested early and often, and Jordan Mailata framed the Eagles’ response as a daily habit: preparing in meetings and staying ready when the job changes. Speaking after practice, the left tackle said “the next man up” begins when players “attack the meeting room” and take official notes from the start.

That mindset, Mailata argued, has opened doors in a room that has been reshaped by injuries and transactions. Guard Landon Dickerson was placed on injured reserve just after Week 1, Lane Johnson retired before participating in the team’s Week 4 matchup versus the Rams, and Cam Jurgens was traded to the Ravens before Week 5.

With Dickerson and Jurgens out, second-year interior linemen Drew Kendall and Willie Lampkin entered the starting lineup. And when Johnson retired, rookie third-round pick Markel Bell became the starter at right tackle, moving the focus from established names to early-career contributors.

The center rotation carried that same theme. Kendall, a fifth-round pick in 2025, had started three games at center before suffering a knee injury against the Rams, according to the Eagles’ account. That situation created an opportunity for second-year center Jake Majors, who was signed from the practice squad and started against the Jaguars and Panthers.

On defense, the same “ready when called” message showed up during the Eagles’ Sunday game against the Panthers. Rookie outside linebacker Keyshawn James-Newby was elevated from the practice squad for the matchup after Jalyx Hunt was ruled out and A.J. Epenesa was listed as doubtful, while defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said plan-and-adjustment realities expanded James-Newby’s workload when Nolan Smith suffered a concussion early in the second quarter.

James-Newby’s NFL debut came in a role that grew quickly, and Fangio credited both James-Newby and Arnold Ebiketie for handling the shifting plan. The Eagles reported that James-Newby became the primary left outside linebacker after Smith went down, and that he was expected to play “a little bit” before being asked to do close to a full-game workload.

Special teams also offered opportunities for late-round rookies. The Eagles said seventh-round safety Cole Wisnewiski was elevated for the Panthers game and logged 17 special teams snaps, recording his first career tackle in his NFL debut.

Why It Matters

The Eagles are using the current injury and roster churn to accelerate development for late-round draft picks and second-year players.
Philadelphia’s ability to plug newcomers into starting roles affects game-to-game continuity, especially when multiple starters are unavailable at once.
The “next man up” theme, as described by Mailata and others, is tied to preparation consistency, not just reactive roster management.
Contributions are showing up on both sides of the ball and on special teams, which can widen coaching options as the season progresses.

Sources

Key Facts

Jordan Mailata linked the Eagles’ “next man up” culture to preparation habits, including taking official notes in meetings.
Multiple offensive-line absences shaped the lineup, including Landon Dickerson going to injured reserve after Week 1, Lane Johnson retiring before Week 4, and Cam Jurgens being traded before Week 5.
Drew Kendall and Willie Lampkin entered the starting lineup during the stretches when Dickerson and Jurgens were unavailable.
Markel Bell became the Eagles’ starting right tackle after Lane Johnson retired, and the team also described opportunity created by Kendall’s knee injury against the Rams.
On defense versus the Panthers, Keyshawn James-Newby was elevated from the practice squad and became the primary left outside linebacker after Nolan Smith left early in the second quarter.
The Eagles said seventh-round rookie Cole Wisnewiski contributed 17 special teams snaps and recorded his first career tackle in his NFL debut.