The second week of the preseason is where roster bubbles start to wobble, and for the Eagles, a few players have a real chance to change their standing fast. One good showing can turn a shaky summer into a path back toward the 53-man roster. Another quiet night can make the climb a lot steeper.
One of the clearest examples is defensive tackle Ty Robinson. Last year’s fourth-round pick out of Nebraska hasn’t yet turned the traits that made him a second-team All-Big Ten selection as a senior into consistent NFL production.
He put up seven sacks and 12 TFLs in college, but the pro game has been slower to come together. Still, he’s strung together several strong practices and caught the eye of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
“He came to life,” Fangio told reporters when talking about the defensive tackle's recent performance. “He's been on life support since he's been here, but he came to life and hopefully that will continue.”
Robinson logged 47 snaps at defensive tackle in last week’s loss to the Ravens, tied with Zion Wilson for the most in that position group and tied for third-most on the defense overall. He and Wilson are competing for one of the backup defensive tackle jobs, and Robinson has a chance to keep pushing himself into the conversation if he brings more of that energy Saturday against the Patriots.
At wide receiver, Darius Cooper had looked like a player who might be safely on the right side of the bubble. He flashed throughout camp, made notable catches, ran crisp routes and seemed to earn Jalen Hurts’ trust. Then came last week, when the second-year undrafted free agent was on the field for 29 snaps, the most of any Eagles receiver, as the team took a longer look at him.
That number was more than three times the total for both Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore, who each played seven snaps. Brown appears to have a firmer grip on his spot than it first seemed, while Moore may have a slight edge at this point in the summer.
Cooper finished with two catches for 21 yards, but a key third-down drop in the 24-7 loss to Baltimore left a mark. If he wants to lock down the WR5 role, he’ll need to keep stacking solid practices and cleaner game reps.
Cornerback Kelee Ringo has also stayed in the mix. The fifth-round pick out of UCF last year has been steady in camp and earned praise from Fangio, who said the second-year corner has “matured”.
McWilliams got a heavy workload last week after Jakorian Bennett was injured, and he has already picked up some first-team reps in practice. He’ll keep battling for a place in a crowded cornerback room that includes Bennett, newly signed Isaiah Bolden, Tariq Castro-Fields, Ambry Thomas and Shawn Wade all chasing one of the final spots.
At quarterback, rookie Payton Thorne offered the one real spark in last week’s loss to Baltimore. The offense struggled overall, but the fifth-round pick out of North Dakota State went 4-for-9 for 37 yards and a touchdown while adding 45 rushing yards. His two best plays came on a 17-yard scramble that kept a drive alive, followed by a six-yard touchdown pass to Erik Ezukanma late in the final quarter.
The Eagles already have a sense of what Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee can do, even if both turned in poor performances in the backup quarterback battle last week. Still, there’s a case for giving Payton a little more runway on Saturday, maybe even a series or two earlier with a better supporting cast, just to get a fuller evaluation.
Carrying four quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster would be difficult to picture, though Howie Roseman did acknowledge the possibility. That keeps Payton’s long-term development in the spotlight, especially with McKee entering the final year of his rookie deal.
Safety Trenton Gushiken has also made some noise. After earning first-team reps earlier in the week, he made the most of them and carried that momentum into last Saturday. The undrafted free agent, who started at the JUCO level before moving on to Washington State and then Ole Miss, showed good instincts and finished with five tackles, including an impressive solo stop against Adam Randall, who is listed at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds compared to Gushiken’s 5-foot-9, 198.
He’ll have more competition now that this year’s seventh-round pick Cole Wisniewski has returned from a hamstring injury. While much of the attention is on the second safety battle between Marcus Epps and Michael Carter II, Gushiken may have a path to jump the rest of the depth options, including J.T. Gray, Maximus Pulley and Andre Sam, for a reserve safety spot.
In Other News...
Scary Injury Briefly Stopped The Patriots Game And Drew An Update
The opening kickoff of the Eagles preseason game against the Patriots turned unnerving almost immediately when rookie running back JaQuinden Jackson went down after taking a knee to the head. The injury briefly stopped the game and led to Jackson being removed from the field by ambulance, turning an otherwise routine exhibition into a tense sideline scene before most fans had settled in.
Philadelphia later provided a reassuring initial update, saying Jackson had strength and movement in all extremities and was headed to a local hospital for further evaluation. For a team trying to sort out its backfield and get through August healthy, the focus quickly shifted from the snap of the game to Jacksons condition and what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Carson Steele Just Forced A Tough Eagles Backfield Decision
Carson Steele gave the Eagles something to think about in a preseason showing against the Patriots, flashing the kind of all-purpose skill set that can make a crowded backfield suddenly feel a little less settled. He found the end zone, moved the chains as both a runner and receiver, and showed enough versatility to stand out in a game where roster hopefuls are trying to make every touch count.
For a Philadelphia team that already has plenty of bodies competing for snaps in the backfield, Steeles value may be tied to more than just carries. His ability to contribute on offense and special teams gives him a real case to keep pressing for a spot, but with final decisions still ahead, his performance has at least made the conversation more interesting than it was before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Roster Debate Now Hinges On One More Veteran WR Move
With roster cuts and the opener approaching, the Eagles are still sorting through the kind of depth move that can shape the bottom of the depth chart and the back end of the passing game. A suggestion from Philly Voice has added another wrinkle, with the idea of sending backup quarterback Andy Dalton to the Patriots in exchange for wide receiver Mack Hollins, a familiar name for Philadelphia fans who remember his earlier stint with the team.
Hollins spent last season with New England and turned in a productive year there, which is part of why the idea has traction as Philadelphia weighs whether to add one more veteran receiver. For now, it remains only a proposal, and it is unclear whether the Eagles will actually pursue it before the season begins. [Read more 🡒]