The Eagles’ preseason opener against the Ravens won’t just be about the names everyone already knows. Once the projected starters head for the sideline, the real evaluation starts - and a handful of buried roster hopefuls suddenly get their chance to matter.
One of the more interesting names to track is Quez Watkins. Eagles fans know him well, but the veteran receiver and former Eagles draft pick has put together a productive camp.
The speed is still there, and he’s been giving defensive backs a tough time. Watkins is not expected to make the Eagles, but he does have a path to the practice squad, and a big catch in the opener would only help that case.
Up front, Gottlieb Ojukwu is worth a close look. He has done enough at tackle this summer to earn an extended audition at guard, which is where the Eagles used him in Thursday’s practice.
Ojukwu came in as an undrafted free agent, spent the last three years with the Titans, and joined the Eagles this offseason on a futures deal. If the team keeps five tackles, he looks like the front-runner for that final spot.
The guard work is about more than just filling a line spot - it’s the Eagles testing his versatility because they like what they’ve seen.
Another name that has quietly climbed the list is Kenyon Weru. Uar Bernard has been the International Pathway Program player drawing attention, but Weru has been better.
He has improved every day of camp, won one-on-one battles, and may even be protected on the 53-man roster so another team can’t claim him. Vic Fangio says Weru still has a long way to go, the same as Bernard, but the first chance to see him against outside competition should be a good one.
The defensive line battle also has a clear preseason subplot. Byron Hall made the initial 53-man roster last year and has another shot to do it again.
He’s fighting Ty Robinson for the final defensive tackle job, and he’s done enough this summer to stay in the mix. Hall could get into the game earlier than expected because he’s a bubble player who needs snaps, and at the very least he remains a practice-squad possibility.
At linebacker, Campbell has forced his way into the conversation. When Vic Fangio tells writers not to leave Campbell off the 53-man roster projection, that’s a sign worth paying attention to.
Campbell has been strong throughout camp, showing an ability to find the football and put himself in position to make plays. He should get plenty of preseason reps, especially with the Eagles potentially keeping five off-ball linebackers because of him.
How he handles those snaps could go a long way toward shaping his roster chances.
The secondary has a few sleepers too. Eli Castro-Fields has been on the Eagles practice squad for more than a year, and he’s flashed the coverage skills he showed at Penn State.
The former sixth-round pick of the 49ers has bounced around, but he has also shown how physical he can be with receivers and how well he can hold up in coverage. He probably isn’t making the team, but he’s the kind of player who can pop in August.
Then there’s Jamar Pulley, the undrafted rookie who has made plays throughout camp and found ways to get to the football in the secondary. That ball-hawking style was part of his game at Wofford, and it gives him a real dark-horse shot at the 53-man roster. The No. 4 safety job is open, and a strong preseason would help his case in a hurry.
Finally, keep an eye on Steele in the backfield. With Dameon Pierce sidelined by a hamstring and not expected to play, Steele should get a long look at running back in this one.
The Eagles also want a fullback in this offense, and Steele is battling tight end Cameron Latu for that role. The former Chiefs running back is the more traditional fullback of the two, which may fit what the Eagles are after.
If he can block effectively and catch a few passes, he has a legitimate chance to stick.
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