News and notes as the Eagles embark on historic matchup vs. Packers

This is the “debut” moment the Eagles have waited for since signing running back Saquon Barkley in free agency, and it is no surprise that Barkley is in the middle of a lot of attention this week as the Eagles prepare for Green Bay on Friday night.

“I’m super excited about it, about doing something that no other NFL player has done, and that’s play in South America,” Barkley said. “We put a lot of work in camp and obviously we didn’t show a lot of what we’re planning to do. I think we’ve got a great game plan and I’m excited about going out there and executing what we want to do.

“We have so much talent here. It’s not about me. It’s about all the players we have. We have so much confidence in each other and that’s the way it has to be. That’s what football is all about. There are always going to be jitters; that’s just the way it is for me. But when it starts, it’s just football, something I’ve been doing since I was a kid. We want it all to come together, but we also know that it’s a long season and you’re going to have your moments.”

The tone from Head Coach Nick Sirianni: ‘I’m so excited’

Head Coach Nick Sirianni sets the emotional tone for the Eagles and his emotional tone for Friday night’s game in Brazil is going to be one that is focused, very intense, and passionate.

Being in this position – Friday night football, an international stage, against the Green Bay Packers – all of that is a huge deal to Sirianni.

“We are up here in the team meeting today and the words that came out of my mouth, “Hey, we have got to be ready Friday night.” Wow, what an unbelievable thing to say – we have a game Friday night. That gives me goosebumps to think about that,” Sirianni said earlier in the week. “Friday Night Football – those were my favorite players growing up, because my dad (Fran) was a coach, the high school players that played on Friday night – John Briggs, it was my brother Jay Sirianni, Mike Sirianni, Pete Connelly. Those were my favorite players growing up. ‘Friday Night Football.’ I was able to say that to these guys. The excitement should be so high on every level, not just for Saquon, just for all of us. This is why we fell in love with this game.

“And I’m so excited to be able to go to Brazil to play in front of very passionate fans. Obviously super bummed we don’t get to play in front of our passionate fans. I love our fans, the home-field advantage that we have. But, excited. This is my first international trip and excited and know how much they care about sports in Brazil, so I’m excited about that. It’s Friday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers.

“You take me back to when those guys were my favorite players and if you said to me, ‘Hey, Friday night, September whatever, 2024, you’re going to be the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles,’ – and I’m 10 years old – ‘and you’re playing the Green Bay Packers,” I mean, I would’ve been pretty pumped about that and I’m still pumped about that.”