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Eagles Name Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith as Team Captains for 2026 Season
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- Eagles Name Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith as Team Captains for 2026 Season
The Philadelphia Eagles season will begin on September 13 as they are set to host their NFC East rivals the Washington Commanders in Week 1.
The Eagles offense will look different to begin this year with wide receiver A.J. Brown no longer with the group, having departed for the New England Patriots.
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That leaves quarterback Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith taking over as the primary wide receiver and Saquon Barkley remaining the team's featured running back.
They are in good hands with those three leading the charge. Last year, Barkley rushed for 1,140 yards and seven touchdowns on 280 attempts, surpassing 1,000 yards for a second straight season in green and white.
Smith also thrived last year, earning his third career 1,000-yard season, and his opportunities should only increase this season with Brown out of the equation.
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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26)© Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
With both players coming off strong seasons, the Eagles announced their official team captains for the 2026 NFL season.
Hurts automatically earned a spot as the signal caller, and the Eagles teammates voted for the other six.
That list included both Barkley and Smith, with Zack Baun, Lane Johnson, Jordan Davis and Jordan Mailata rounding out the group. "Introducing your 2026 Eagles captains," the Eagles wrote on X.
This marks Smith's first time being named captain since the 2023 season, as he was not selected over the past two years. Barkley has been a captain since last year, his second with the team, after not being voted in during his first season in Philadelphia in 2024.
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With a Week 1 home game against the Commanders and a revamped offensive identity, the Eagles will look to their newly named captains to set the tone for what they hope is a successful season.
Related: Eagles Add Player in NFL Free Agency One Day After Cowboys Decision
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Sep 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
