Eagles' new offense gets a passing grade after Week 1, but there's still work to be done

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Eagles hired new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion in part to bring explosive plays back to Philadelphia’s offense. After Sunday’s 24-22 season-opening victory over Washington, give Mannion and the Eagles a passing grade — but definitely not a perfect one.

Jalen Hurts had three completions of 30 or more yards, and the Eagles had a pair of runs for more than 20 yards to help them improve to 6-0 in openers under head coach Nick Sirianni and Hurts.

“I thought we were able to be explosive,” Sirianni said.

Hurts’ first-quarter throw down the right sideline to Dontayvion Wicks went for 64 yards and set up the first of tight end Dallas Goedert’s two scores, a 17-yard reception over the middle. Later, Hurts found DeVonta Smith down the right sideline for 31 yards and again hit Goedert down the seam, a perfectly placed ball in the back of the end zone for a 43-yard score.

On the ground, Saquon Barkley broke off a 42-yard run and Hurts himself scrambled for a first down on a 22-yard scamper.

“I’m proud we’ve laid a brick for a win in this Week 1,” Hurts said. “We’re also hungry to improve.”

As happy as the Eagles were to hit on some big plays on offense, improvement was a consistent message afterward.

Aside from the big plays, the offense was fairly stagnant.

Barkley was limited to 41 yards on his other 14 carries; Smith, the Eagles’ No. 1 target after disgruntled star wide receiver A.J. Brown was traded to New England this offseason, had 22 yards on his other two catches; and Hurts, sacked three times and under pressure for much of the game, completed just 56% (14 of 25) of his passes.

“Collectively, we’ve got a lot to build on,” Hurts said. “Obviously, a lot to correct. And I’m excited to get back into the process of becoming the team we’re supposed to become.”

Philadelphia’s defense, expected to be the team’s strength, had a solid game. The Eagles limited Commanders QB Jayden Daniels to 164 yards passing and held two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Terry McLaurin to just two catches for 14 yards. When the Eagles needed a stop, they denied Washington’s 2-point conversion attempt with 1:01 remaining that would’ve tied the game, with Moro Ojomo stuffing John Bates after an inside shovel pass from Daniels.

Linebacker Zack Baun had a game-high 12 tackles, tackle Jalen Carter blocked an extra point and Jordan Davis made eight stops from his interior defensive line position.

Surprisingly, the pass protection. A talented and experienced offensive line, anchored by six-time Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson, had a rough day trying to protect Hurts and freeing up holes for Barkley.

Special teams. In addition to Carter’s blocked PAT, Philadelphia got a strong performance from punter Braden Mann. He booted seven punts for an average of 51.6 yards, two of which went more than 60 yards.

Rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon, whom the team selected in the first round to help offset the loss of Brown, followed up a subpar performance in Philadelphia’s final preseason game by making three catches for minus-5 yards in his NFL debut.

None.

5 — Mannion is the fifth different offensive coordinator for Hurts in the last five seasons.

Philadelphia heads to Tennessee on Sunday to play the Titans, who are looking to avoid an 0-2 start after a 23-10 home loss to the Jets in Week 1.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (13) catches a pass for a touchdown in front of Washington Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil (0) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) is grabbed by Washington Commanders cornerback Amik Robertson (2) as he scramble during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (88) iuns for a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts talks to the media following an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni talks to the media following an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump Jr.'s new wife, Bettina, is confirming that her May wedding weekend celebration was partially funded by a man with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a post on her Instagram page Monday morning signed by the couple, Bettina Trump wrote that the man, Umar Kremlev, was a “dear friend,” who “very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us AFTER our wedding.”

“It was an extraordinarily generous wedding gift from a friend, and something for which we were and remain incredibly grateful,” it went on.

ProPublica, a nonprofit investigative website, reported earlier Monday that the wedding between Trump Jr. and socialite Bettina Anderson in the Bahamas was heavily funded by Kremlev, a Russian oligarch who heads the International Boxing Association. ProPublica reported that Kremlev “footed the bill for hundreds of thousands of dollars of wedding expenses,” including paying to rent out one of two private islands where the three-day party was held and a fireworks show.

In the post, Bettina Trump said that she and the president's son were married in a private ceremony “surrounded ONLY by our family,”

“The weekend that followed had actually been planned well in advance as a fun weekend with friends. It was never intended to be our wedding weekend. When our original wedding plans changed, we simply decided to get married before it and arrived at an already planned weekend as newlyweds,” it went on. “It’s unfortunate that something so personal and happy can be recast as something political or sinister simply because of who someone is or where they come from. Friendship doesn’t require a political motive. Generosity doesn’t automatically come with an agenda. And sometimes a wedding gift is simply a wedding gift."

That gift comes as Russia remains at war following its invasion of Ukraine and as the president has failed to broker a promised peace deal between the nations.

Kremlev was recently honored with the Order of Friendship by Putin, according to the International Boxing Association, and accompanied Putin to China as part of a Russian delegation, according to the Chinese state media cited by the outlet.

Trump Jr. has previously been scrutinized over his Russian ties. During the 2016 campaign, his meeting with Russian attorney Natalia Veselnitskaya in Trump Tower was the subject of intense scrutiny by federal and congressional investigators probing whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to meddle in the election.

The meeting had been billed as an opportunity to discuss potentially incriminating information about the president's then-Democrat opponent, Hillary Rodham Clinton, as part of the Russian government’s efforts to help Trump Jr.'s father win the White House.

Donald Trump Jr. and his wife Bettina Anderson look at each other while waiting for President Donald Trump to speak at Deerfield Residence, the residence of the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Edward S. Walsh, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Dublin. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)