The official snap counts are in from the Philadelphia Eagles’ Week 8 loss to the Washington Commanders, and honestly, we need to talk about Makai Lemon. The Eagles’ 2026 first-round pick saw a team-high nine targets against the Commanders, hauling in six receptions for 57 yards. That’s real involvement for the rookie, and it’s definitely good to see.
Snap Counts Tell a Story, But Maybe Not the Whole One
When you look at the offensive line, Jordan Mailata is basically an iron man, playing 100% of the Eagles’ offensive snaps all season. That starting offensive line unit has been out there for every single snap in their last three games, too. You’d think that kind of continuity would be a massive boost, right? But the source says it “doesn’t really seem to be helping,” and after a loss, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
At wide receiver, Darius Cooper actually led the team in snaps for the second week straight. He was second in targets with six, but only snagged two catches for 19 yards. Makai Lemon, though, was just one snap behind Cooper for the second game in a row. His nine targets for six catches and 57 yards show he’s getting opportunities. For the season, Lemon has 17 targets, 13 catches, 124 yards (averaging 9.5 per catch), and one touchdown. That’s progress, for sure. But some of the hype out there might be a bit much. He’s taking steps in the right direction, no doubt, but calling him a “flat out stud” right now based on those numbers feels a bit overboard. There was even a moment, a perfect throw between defenders on 3rd down that he *had* to catch for an impactful play. He made it, high level of difficulty and a great route, but those are the plays he *needs* to make to prove he’s the real deal.
Running Backs, Tight Ends, and Trade Bait
Things are a bit rough elsewhere. Elijah Mitchell stepped up as the top running back because Saquon Barkley’s workload was limited with hamstring and back injuries. Mitchell had two fewer carries than Barkley but managed four more yards. His six targets resulted in a brutal four catches for just three yards. Ouch.
At tight end, the Commanders’ defense is giving up the second-most fantasy points to tight ends this season. So, naturally, Dallas Goedert only saw four targets, for four catches and 30 yards. Yeah, “Sure.” is the only reaction there. Then you’ve got Johnny Mundt, whose snap count percentage has been dropping week after week since Week 5: 32.3%, then 29.7%, 24.2%, and now just 18.8%. It’s getting to the point where you’d think they should just cut him and bring in someone like Zach Ertz. And what about Eli Stowers? Three receptions for 53 yards sounds nice until you realize it was the “fakest three receptions for 53 yards stat line that you’ll ever see.” That’s rough.
But the real chatter should be around Hollywood Brown. He only had two targets, but made two catches for 17 yards. He’s an “awesome player!” and honestly, the Eagles should be getting calls. With the NFL trade deadline looming, wouldn’t it be smart for another team to make a big offer for Brown? The Eagles might not want to let him go, but if the price is right, you have to consider it. Meanwhile, Elijah Moore has seen zero targets in four of his six games this season. He’s just “doing cardio out there.”
The Eagles have some serious questions to answer as the season progresses. What do they do with Hollywood Brown before the deadline? Can Makai Lemon keep taking those steps and truly become the stud they drafted him to be? We’ll be watching to see how they respond.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleeding Green Nation.
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