Eli Stowers sounded like a wily vet, not a rookie, when discussing his slow start to Eagles training camp.
When asked what the “biggest adjustment” has been since camp began last week, the rookie tight end didn’t dance around the question.
“Biggest adjustment, I’d say, is probably the mental challenge,” Stowers said following Wednesday’s practice. “I think that the offense and the way that the defenses do their schemes at this level, it’s a little more complex than it was in college. And so I think it’s a mental challenge, but that’s just about putting the time in and learning it and trying to get better with it.”
It’s early, but the first six days of camp haven’t been easy for the Eagles’ 2026 second-round pick (54th overall). For a player lauded for his athleticism and catch radius during the pre-draft process, Stowers hasn’t stood out in practices open to the media. This is a troubling sign for a player expected by some to be Dallas Goedert’s replacement one day.
Nevertheless, the Eagles refuse to hit the panic button. Speaking about Stowers on Monday, Nick Sirianni focused on the 23-year-old’s pros, rather than his cons.
Read more Photos: Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp Practice
“I think Eli has a really good feel for the zone of where to sit in zones and how to get open versus different types of zone coverage,” Sirianni said. “We know that his athletic ability will [help him] shake free on third down when it is man coverage because he’s quick, he’s fast, he’s explosive. But what I’ve been impressed with him is just his ability to kind of read defenses and find the areas of the zone where he needs to sit and be at the right spot at the right time.”
Time will tell with Stowers. He certainly has a strong college résumé — logging 62 catches, 769 receiving yards and four touchdowns at Vanderbilt last season — though multiple scouts billed him as more of a developmental project than a Day 1 starter.
But even he acknowledges he needs to put on a better showing at camp.
“At the end of the day, this is a game where there’s going to be ups and downs and you’ve just got to learn how to bounce back from adversity,” Stowers said. “No one who has ever played this game has ever been perfect. And the ones who are great are the ones that can bounce back from the adversity and go make the next play.”
Whether a 2026 draft choice, a veteran addition, or a rookie free-agent hopeful, we’re telling you more about each player’s potential role this season. We rolled out two players per day in a mostly unscientific order that balanced offense and defense, bigger names with mysteries, and locks with longer shots to be chosen for the 53-man roster.
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- QB Andy Dalton, DB Kapena Gushiken
- LB Arnold Ekibetie, OL Jaedan Roberts
- WR Elijah Moore, RB Dameon Pierce
- T Markel Bell, EDGE Joshua Weru
- G Michael Jordan, LS Rocco Underwood
- TE Eli Stowers, S Maximus Pulley
- LB Jonathan Greenard, T John Ojukwu
- TE Stone Smartt, LB Deontae Lawson
- TE Johnny Mundt, DE Ta’Quon Graham
- S Cole Wisniewski, RB Elijah Mitchell
- WR Makai Lemon, CB Shaun Wade
- CB Jonathan Jones, WR Samori Touré
- DE A.J. Epenesa, G Micah Morris
- QB Cole Payton, S Tucker Large
- S J.T. Gray, TE Dae’Quan Wright
- WR Hollywood Brown, DT Zion Wilson
- CB Riq Woolen, WR Erik Ezukanma
- DT Uar Bernard, FB Carson Steele
- WR Dontayvion Wicks, OLB Jose Ramirez
- EDGE Keyshawn James-Newby