Eagles' Tyler Steen having 'unbelievable' training camp as RG

The Eagles entered training camp hoping their position battles would be decided by one player at each spot running away with their jobs.

At least one did.

While there are still some serious questions on the defensive side of the ball, Tyler Steen has clearly wrapped up the right guard position. This summer, Steen has taken every first-team reps at right guard in all 15 practices and got the afternoon off in the Eagles’ second preseason game with the rest of the starters on offense.

After losing his job to Mekhi Becton in 2024, that right guard spot belongs to Steen in 2025.

“Tyler is having an unbelievable camp,” Lane Johnson said. “He’s physically stronger than he’s ever been. He has tremendous feet. And he’s going against Jalen Carter and Moro (Ojomo) every day so two really dynamic players, as you know, and he’s holding his own, communicating the lines. 

“Since he’s got here, it’s all been learning and development but he’s really taken the next step and has really had a great camp so far. So I’m excited for Steen.”

Steen, 25, was a third-round pick in 2023 and spent the last two years developing while playing his role as a backup. He began training camp last year as the first-team right guard but when he suffered an ankle sprain on Day 3, the Eagles eagerly inserted Becton into the lineup and he never left. (Becton signed with the Chargers in free agency.)

But this summer, Steen has been healthy enough to stay on the field and has experienced the benefit of all those first-team reps.

“It’s been extremely beneficial because it just allows you to get real comfortable with the guys you’re playing next to, just kind of how we should communicate things, how guys play things,” Steen said. “If something happens last second, you know how they’re going to react to it. 

“And then just staying in that same spot gives you that confidence because you see yourself improving each and every single day because you’re doing the same things and you’re also building on things. I think it’s extremely beneficial.”

When the Eagles drafted Steen back in 2023, they made it clear they viewed him as a guard, despite the fact that Steen played tackle at Vanderbilt and then Alabama.

Now that he’s on the verge of being a full-time starter at guard, Steen admits the transition from tackle to guard didn’t happen very quickly.

“It took a minute, to be honest,” Steen said. “At first, it just wasn’t extremely comfortable to be there.”

Things started to click for Steen at guard during last season, his second in the NFL. He explained that as he began to have more success, his confidence grew. And then his stance felt better, he began moving really well and his hands felt coordinated with his feet.

While Steen was a backup in 2024, he played well when called upon. He even started and played the entire NFC Championship Game (at left guard) to punch the Eagles’ ticket to Super Bowl LIX.

Even though Steen has taken every first-team rep this summer, even though he’s being complimented by the best offensive tackle in football, he isn’t ready to take a victory lap just yet.

“I wouldn’t say I’m proud of anything. I don’t think I’ve really accomplished anything yet,” Steen said. “I mean, I’m happy that I’ve been able to continue to grow, continue to get better. And I can see myself getting better and I’m happy for that but I wouldn’t say I’m necessarily proud of anything.”

When asked how he has gotten better, Steen immediately answered that his hands have improved. Steen has always had quick feet but his hands have gotten better, along with his overall strength.

Nick Sirianni still hasn’t named Steen the starter; that’s just his style. But anyone paying attention this summer knows that it’s Steen’s job going into the 2025 season.

What would it mean to be the starter on Sept. 4, when the Eagles host the Cowboys in the season opener?

“That would be obviously pretty incredible,” Steen said. “That’s the goal. Everybody wants to be a starter, regardless of whether it’s opening day, last day of the season, Super Bowl, whatever it is. It would be an honor to start on this team and that’s the goal that everybody is striving for. We come to camp and everybody is competing to do that.”