1. When and where
The Eagles (0-1) will host the Carolina Panthers (1-0) at Lincoln Financial Field in both teams' second preseason game. The game will be televised on 6ABC, and the radio broadcast can be heard on 94WIP. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.
2. Connections
Eagles defensive coordinator Billy Davis served as the Panthers’ outside linebackers coach from 1995 to 1998. Davis served under Dom Capers and in his second year saw two of his linebackers make the Pro Bowl in Kevin Greene and Lamar Lathon.
Three Eagles have previously played for the Panthers: guard Evan Mathis and linebackers Everette Brown and Jason Phillips, who is out for the season after tearing his ACL during training camp.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Philadelphia sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Carolina has a pair of coaches who formerly served on the Eagles’ staff: Head coach Ron Rivera coached five years with the Birds as the linebackers coach. In his final three seasons on staff, the Eagles made the NFC Championship game.
The Panthers’ defensive coordinator is Sean McDermott, who in Philadelphia is famous for being Jim Johnson’s successor as defensive coordinator in 2009 and lasted only two seasons. He spent a total of 12 years on the Eagles’ coaching staff.
Linebackers Jason Williams and Ryan Rau both played for the Eagles last season. Williams appeared in two games, while Rau, signed as an undrafted free agent, saw action in four games after being promoted from the practice squad.
3. Preseason series
Thursday’s meeting will be the third time -- and third at the Linc -- the Eagles and Panthers have squared off during the preseason. The Eagles have won both meetings, the last coming in 2008, 24-13.
News
Kevin Kolb and Donovan McNabb were the quarterbacks and then-punter Sav Rocca threw an interception while Tony Hunt ran for 79 yards on five carries and a score.
None of those players are still with the Eagles, and only Kolb and Rocca are still in the NFL.
4. New guy, familiar coach
The Eagles’ newest addition to the roster has familiarity with the head coach.
With Jeremy Maclin and Arrelious Benn out for the season with torn ACLs, the Eagles on Monday traded for wide receiver Jeff Maehl from the Houston Texans.
Maehl played for Oregon from 2007 to 2010, spending his last two seasons with Chip Kelly as the head coach -- Kelly was the offensive coordinator his freshman and sophomore seasons. During his senior season, the 24-year-old enjoyed his best collegiate season, catching 77 balls for 1,076 yards and six touchdowns.
Will his relationship with Kelly help him on the field for the Eagles? Maehl will wear No. 88, previously worn this year by B.J. Cunningham. The most famous No. 88 in team history? Tight end Keith Jackson.
5. Quote of the week
“I just had some comments and that was it. I wasn’t trying to be a jerk about the situation or tell anybody what needs to happen."
-- Cary Williams, discussing a comment he made about the Eagles' defense not being feared.
In case you missed it, here are a few other stories from earlier this week:
Billy Davis: Eagles' secondary 'not there'
Training camp nutshell: Peters out vs. Panthers?
Maehl always thought about reunion with Kelly