The Eagles closed the preseason with a 30-13 loss to the Bengals on Friday night, and now the real deadline arrives fast. Their next game at the Linc is the season opener against the Commanders on Sunday, Sept. 13, and the roster has to be trimmed to 53 players by 6 p.m. on Sunday.
With the preseason in the books, a few players helped themselves, while others left more questions than answers.
Carson Steele kept showing why he’s been one of the most entertaining offensive pieces on the roster this summer. He didn’t hurdle anybody this time, but he still popped as a receiver out of the backfield and finished with 24 rushing yards, 52 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Dameon Pierce also flashed in a way that fit his style. He missed time in camp with an injury, but when he got loose against Cincinnati, he ran with real force.
At one point in the first quarter, he dragged a few Bengals defenders for a 16-yard gain and ended up with 44 yards on four carries.
Andy Dalton put together a cleaner outing than Tanner McKee, even without really attacking downfield. Dalton completed 12 of 19 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown, good for a 95.1 passer rating.
McKee, meanwhile, didn’t do much to strengthen his case in the backup quarterback battle. He finished 12 of 22 for 55 yards and an interception, with a 41.1 passer rating.
The defense had a few names that stood out, starting with Smael Mondon Jr. The linebacker got the start and made a sharp play in the first quarter, reading a screen and turning it into a 6-yard tackle for loss.
He’s behind the starters and Jeremiah Trotter Jr., but he looks like he’s made the roster. Deontae Lawson also turned in another solid showing, adding work on defense and special teams and forcing a fumble in the fourth quarter, though it didn’t count.
In other years, that kind of performance might have made the decision easy, but the Eagles are loaded at linebacker.
Andre’ Sam made noise early in coverage and later came up with fumble recoveries on defense and special teams, while also forcing a fumble on defense. His night ended with an injury late in the third quarter.
Kapena Gushiken, the UDFA Vic Fangio nicknamed “Gush,” kept flashing on special teams, where he looked like a heat-seeking missile. He also got snaps at safety and nickel corner, though he did give up a touchdown in the third quarter.
On the edge, Keyshawn James-Newby made the most of his preseason debut after missing a lot of camp with an ankle injury. The seventh-round pick chased down Josh Johnson for a sack, added another pressure, was credited with a forced fumble that the Eagles recovered and also drew a holding penalty.
Jake Elliott gave the Eagles a bright spot in the kicking game by drilling field goals from 45 and 56 yards. That mattered, especially with Elliott having gone just 5 for 15 from 50-plus over the last two seasons.
There were also some encouraging signs for players who didn’t even need to suit up. Darius Cooper, who was fighting for a roster spot last year as a UDFA from Tarleton State, looks like he has this team made after a strong camp. Willie Lampkin was absent with a stinger, so his night may have been tied to injury, but it’s also possible he already secured his place after a strong summer.
Not everyone helped their case. Makai Lemon got into his first NFL preseason game and had a rough one, catching 3 of 5 targets for 3 yards and dropping a pass that turned into an interception in the second quarter.
He also muffed a bouncing punt in the second half but kept possession. He had trouble creating separation, which isn’t really his calling card anyway.
Cameron Williams, the 2025 sixth-round pick, allowed a couple quick pressures while working at right tackle. E.J.
Jenkins had a bad drop in the first quarter after Tanner McKee hit him in the hands, and Ambry Thomas had another tough preseason, giving up chunk plays and drawing a DPI on fourth down to extend a Bengals drive.
Mac McWilliams also came out on the wrong side of a few plays. The second-year cornerback allowed too many completions in a game that followed an uneven camp, and one of those catches moved the chains before the tackle. He’s clearly on the bubble.
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Eagles Rookies Are Suddenly Playing For More Than Preseason Reps
The preseason has a way of turning evaluation into urgency, and a handful of Eagles rookies are finding that out quickly as the team gets ready for its next game. Makai Lemon, the 2026 first-round pick, could still see the field even after dealing with recent injuries, while rookie tight end Eli Stowers is currently out with a hamstring issue. For a roster that always seems to have a few open questions at the margins, these August reps are starting to matter for more than just getting work in.
Philadelphia is also watching the younger defenders closely, especially safeties Kapena Gushiken and Maximus Pulley, along with defensive linemen Uar Bernard and Joshua Weru, who are playing their first football this summer. Those kinds of players often make their case in small moments, and the Eagles will use this preseason game to see who can handle the speed, the assignments and the pressure that come with a real roster push. The first cut-down decisions are still ahead, but for these rookies, the audition has already become something bigger. [Read more 🡒]
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That is why the spotlight falls on a long list of Eagles worth tracking, from quarterbacks and receivers to tight ends, linemen, linebackers and defensive backs. Some are trying to lock down a spot in Philadelphia, others are simply trying to put enough good film out there to stay in the conversation somewhere else, and the final tune-up could end up carrying more weight than a typical exhibition ever does. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Fans Keep Hearing One Backup QB Idea That Makes No Sense
Training camp always sharpens the spotlight on the Eagles quarterback room, and this summer the backup job has become a talking point of its own. Tanner McKee is currently ahead of Andy Dalton in that race, which has opened the door for outside speculation about whether Philadelphia should chase a bigger name if the right opportunity came along.
Some media voices have floated trades for J.J. McCarthy or Anthony Richardson, but former Eagles defender Ike Reese pushed back on the idea and said McKee should stay in place as the No. 2. It is the kind of rumor that makes noise because of the positions involved, yet the fit is easy to question when both McCarthy and Richardson have had issues with completion percentage and interceptions. [Read more 🡒]