How Jalen Hurts and Eagles quickly indoctrinate newcomers

The Eagles have three new faces in the building this week but they're very used to bringing in newcomers.

By Dave Zangaro • Published November 9, 2025

The Eagles welcomed in three more new faces this week as they got back to work after the NFL’s trade deadline.

They’ve had plenty of practice at this.

Jaelan Phillips, Jaire Alexander and Michael Carter are the three newcomers this week. But GM Howie Roseman is constantly churning the roster, so the Eagles have their indoctrination process down to a science.

"Lead by example is the first thing,” franchise quarterback Jalen Hurts said. "Obviously, you show them that your presence is there and you show them how you work. I think that’s the most important thing for a locker room in general, is to live it.

"A lot of things can be said, but what you do speaks so loud, I can’t hear what you say. I think as a team, just going out there and living it and displaying the type of culture that you want others to see and want to be reciprocated.”

This week at practice, there were 11 Eagles on the practice field (not including the practice squad) who were not with the team at the start of training camp:

LS Cal Adomitis
CB Jaire Alexander
CB Jakorian Bennett #
RB Tank Bigsby 
CB Michael Carter II
WR Xavier Gipson
DE Brandon Graham
QB Sam Howell
OT Fred Johnson
OL Willie Lampkin #
OLB Jaelan Phillips

# - Still on IR; not on 53-man roster

* - Player was previously with Eagles

The Eagles have an orientation process when they bring in a new player to help them catch up and every department in the building has a role. As the head coach, Nick Sirianni makes sure to spend some time with the new players and then his assistant, Cole Peterson, also spends time with those players to relay the standards of how the Eagles practice.

"We've had a lot of practice at that,” Sirianni said, "but I think the most important thing that we want to stress is a little bit (about) how we practice, what the culture is, our team rules, stuff like that.”

The coaching staff has its role but the players have to help too.

"Our coaches have a plan, but then the rest of the time is spent with your teammates,” Sirianni said. "It's not like we have a written plan for our guys, but it's those guys showing them the core values that we live by day-by-day and how their actions are and carrying those things out. That's really important, which is why I'm so thankful we've got great guys on this football team to be able to do that.”

That’s just the work/football side of it.

But the Eagles under Sirianni also preach connection. Sirianni has said a million times that the best teams aren’t just the most talented ones; they are the talented teams that are most connected. So it’s about more than making sure a new player knows how to practice. It’s about welcoming them into the locker room too.

"I tell them whatever you need from me and as a person, always come holler at me, come talk to me,” Nolan Smith said. "And about the City of Philly. I’ve been up here for about three years. Food spots, everything from that aspect and tell them to go get a cheesesteak.”

After his first practice as an Eagle, Phillips was already saying that he heard about all the great food in the city. He only has to walk a few feet to Smith’s locker to get some suggestions.

And it’s an even closer walk if he wants to chop it up with Jordan Davis.

Davis is one of the friendliest players in the locker room and he makes sure that new players feel at home.

"Be yourself, get to know these guys,” Davis said. "I want them to understand that I’m an open book. Whatever you see, you get. I’m sure all of y’all know, I’m going to just be as real as it gets. The opportunity that we have just to get time, get to know each other. Any time that you put in, that’s going to be translated onto the field. I believe that.”

https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/jalen-hurts-welcome-newcomers-jaelan-phillips-michael-carter-jaire-alexander/694457/