PHILADELPHIA — As impressive as the Eagles defense has been, it might be easy to forget how thin they’ve been on the edge. With Brandon Graham lost for the season and Bryce Huff on injured reserve, the Birds have been down to a three-man rotation at defensive end, relying on Josh Sweat, Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt. But the team activated Huff’s practice window on Wednesday, meaning he could return as soon as Sunday against the Washington Commanders. Huff, whom the Eagles signed to a three-year, $51.1 million contract in the offseason, struggled early, particularly against the run. But the former Jet had started showing flashes of life as a pass rusher, with 2.5 sacks before suffering a wrist injury that required surgery Sweat leads the team with eight sacks, and a surging Nolan Smith has 5.5. But with Jalen Carter leading a formidable interior and a strong linebacking corps, the Eagles have been able to generate pressure as a group even without spectacular depth from its edge rushers. Regardless of when Huff is activated or how much he’s able to give once he returns, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio isn’t concerned about going with a three-man rotation at end. “We definitely can,” Fangio said. “It can be done. I’ve seen it done personally. There is no reason why you can’t.” • • • The Birds can clinch the NFC East title with a win in Washington. But that would just be one step toward where the team wants to go. “It’s awesome, obviously,” linebacker Zack Baun said. “It’s a reward for the work you put in along the way. It’s just a milestone on the way. I was just playing special teams and was a rookie when we won (the NFC South) in New Orleans, but obviously very special. You get a hat and a T-shirt, and then you move on from it.” The Eagles last won the division in 2022, en route to the Super Bowl. They had home-field advantage in the postseason, and they’re in the mix for another top seed this year. “I’ve only been in the playoffs once, and I had to travel twice … and it was loud and hectic,” running back Saquon Barkley said of his days with the Giants. “It’s not a myth about home-field advantage, and it’s not a myth about the vibe that you have playing at home. So, you definitely want to secure that.” *** Quarterback Jalen Hurts quieted many of his critics with a big passing performance against the Steelers, displaying the versatility of an offense that can dominate through the air as well as on the ground. The QB and his receivers, particularly A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, were on the same page from the start. “I thought our guys did a really good job, just playing with great fundamentals,” offensive coordinator Kellen Moore said. “I thought our receivers did a great job with route discipline, coming of the ball. “Jalen did an excellent job working through his progressions, getting the ball out of his hands. The protection was excellent. “I thought our guys did a really good job early in that game finding that rhythm and playing at a high level.” When the Eagles beat Washington five weeks ago, the Commanders were without newly acquired cornerback Marshon Lattimore, a four-time Pro-Bowl selection, who was injured. Hurts & Co. will now have to deal with him. “We’ve played against him in the past with our games against the Saints,” head coach Nick Sirianni said. “He’s a really good player, which would allow him to do different things … because of how good he’s played as a pro. So, we’ll have to be ready for him. This is a good defense we’re going against.”