It’s mid-June, and football is back in the air.

The Eagles held a mandatory minicamp Tuesday through Thursday at Lincoln Financial Field. Most teams held their minicamps during the same time frame.

Will the Eagles’ defense and Saquon Barkley help the Birds reach another Super Bowl? Those are two of the biggest early questions.

In this week’s edition of Inside the Huddle, I’ll take a look at both questions and a few football facts. I’ll also reflect on a former lineman who played under the Golden Dome.

Getting better ... In a recent Times News Lehighton Facebook poll, readers were asked if the Eagles’ defense improved during the offseason.

Seventy-seven percent believed the Birds will be better in 2025, while 23% said they won’t.

What do you think?

Who’s gone, who’s here ... Last season, the Eagles allowed the fewest yards per game in the NFL at 278.4. They ranked second in total points allowed (303) and points per game allowed (17.8). Philadelphia’s defense also recorded 41 sacks and 13 interceptions.

Among the most notable offseason departures were defensive tackle Milton Williams, edge rusher Josh Sweat, cornerback Darius Slay and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Defensive backs Isaiah Rodgers and Avonte Maddox also left.

To address those losses, the Eagles signed edge rushers Joshua Uche and Azeez Ojulari, along with veteran cornerback Adoree’ Jackson.

Ojulari is expected to be a major contributor. He had eight sacks as a rookie with the Giants in 2021 and added six more last season. Though injuries have limited him in recent years, the Eagles believe he can be a disruptive force off the edge.

Uche is a bit of a wild card. He notched 11.5 sacks with New England in 2022, but has totaled just seven over the past two seasons. Nolan Smith, who returns after leading the team with 6.5 sacks last season, figures to be a steady presence in the rotation.

Ojulari and Uche both figure to be projects for new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who’s known for maximizing defensive talent. Rookie defensive tackle Cam Robinson, listed at 288 pounds, is slightly undersized by Eagles standards but is praised for his quickness and ability to stop the run.

Fangio will also look to first-round pick Jihaad Campbell to make an impact. Campbell, who had shoulder surgery in March, is expected to be ready for training camp. With Nakobe Dean still recovering from a torn patellar tendon, rookie Jeremiah Trotter Jr. could get early reps as he begins forging his own path after his father’s standout career.

Linebacker Zack Baun’s strong 2024 campaign flew under the radar. The former Saint had 93 tackles and was a steady contributor.

Philadelphia also traded Bryce Huff to the 49ers for a conditional 2025 fifth-round pick, which could become a fourth-rounder. The Eagles will absorb $4.94 million in dead cap space this year, and $16 million in 2026.

Keeping it fresh ... The Eagles’ secondary will again feature a youthful look.

Cornerbacks Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell both made big impacts last season, giving the team enough confidence to let Slay walk and to trade Gardner-Johnson. Kelee Ringo, entering his third year, could challenge for DeJean’s spot if the latter transitions to safety — a possibility already discussed this spring. Reed Blankenship is expected to start at one of the safety spots.

Philadelphia is also counting on second-round pick Andrew Mukuba to challenge for a starting job or contribute as a nickel back. Mukuba, a versatile defensive back, may also get reps at safety.

Jackson, Sydney Brown, Eli Ricks and fifth-round pick Mac McWilliams round out what should be one of the deepest secondaries in the league.

Will the Eagles’ defense be better? With Fangio at the helm and several promising additions, it certainly has the potential.

A Saquon so long? ... Shock waves went through the Eagles’ fan base recently when Barkley appeared to contemplate retirement on Chris Long’s podcast. A few days later, he clarified the comment on ESPN’s First Take, saying he had no plans to retire.

Had Barkley walked away, it would have left a massive void.

In March, the Eagles extended Barkley with a two-year, $41.2 million deal, adding to the three-year, $37.5 million contract he originally signed. Barkley can also earn up to $15 million in incentives.

The Eagles expect him to remain productive into his early 30s, an age when most running backs begin to decline.

Last season, Barkley rushed for more than 2,000 yards across all competitions and, perhaps more importantly, stayed healthy. He looked bigger and faster than he did during his 2018 rookie campaign, when he rushed for 1,307 yards. Injuries marred the next two seasons, limiting him to just 15 combined games between 2020 and 2021.

He rebounded in 2022 with 1,312 rushing yards. In his final year with the Giants, he ran for 962 yards.

Avery Williams, primarily a return specialist, may also get looks in the backfield along with the newly signed A.J. Dillon.

Swing left, swing right ... Barkley’s value as a pass catcher has fluctuated. He caught 91 passes as a rookie in 2018, then dipped to 52 the following season. He didn’t surpass 50 receptions again until 2022 (57), and had 41 catches last year, though he logged a career-high 345 carries.

The Eagles added Dillon to help ease Barkley’s workload. The former Packers running back signed a one-year deal after missing 2024 with a neck injury. He rushed for 2,478 yards over his first four NFL seasons, and caught 84 passes in his final three years in Green Bay.

Dillon appears to be an upgrade over Will Shipley.

That was then ... If Barkley had retired, he would have joined a short list of elite running backs who left the game early, often due to injuries or other pursuits:

Cleveland’s Jim Brown retired after nine seasons to pursue an acting career.

Chicago’s Gale Sayers, one of the game’s most electric players, retired after seven injury-riddled seasons.

Detroit’s Barry Sanders walked away after 10 seasons due to front office frustrations.

Billy Sims, also of Detroit, left after five seasons due to injury.

Houston’s Earl Campbell, a punishing runner, retired after eight grueling seasons.

Had Sayers stayed healthy, he may have been the best of them all. His highlights are still a must-watch.

Notre Dame notes ... The Fighting Irish recently announced their first-ever regular-season meeting with Arkansas. The game will be played Sept. 27 at noon in Fayetteville.

Notre Dame also opens the season against Miami on Aug. 31 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

The Irish remain in the hunt for five-star recruit Joey O’Brien, a standout from La Salle College High School in suburban Philadelphia. O’Brien, a versatile athlete who can play wide receiver, corner or safety, was expected to commit to Notre Dame before Penn State, Oregon and Clemson entered the mix.

Scrapbook ... Each column, I’ll briefly reminisce about a former local standout from the area.

In 2001, Marian Catholic offensive lineman Jamie Ryan committed to Notre Dame. At 6-foot-5 and 280 pounds, Ryan was regarded as one of the top linemen in Pennsylvania and helped lead the Colts to a District 11 Class 2A title.

As a junior, Ryan posted 110 tackles and 11 sacks. Unfortunately, a blood clot limited him to four games his senior year. His Notre Dame career was ultimately cut short due to a back injury.

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