FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The Eagles’ starters may be parked for Saturday night’s preseason game against the Patriots, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be plenty to track at Gillette Stadium.
After two competitive joint practices in New England, the second preseason game becomes a proving ground for backups, bubble players and rookies trying to carve out a role. The quarterback battle behind the starter remains unsettled, several young linemen are fighting to stay in the picture, and a few newcomers are trying to turn camp flashes into something more lasting.
At quarterback, Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee still haven’t created much separation in the race for the backup job. Neither helped his case in Baltimore last week, when the offense sputtered for most of the night.
Dalton started and went 3 for 6, while McKee followed with a 6 for 10 line. Rookie Cole Payton, though, gave the group its clearest spark.
The fifth-round pick from North Dakota State threw for 37 yards and a touchdown and added 45 rushing yards, helping the Eagles avoid a shutout. He’ll keep getting chances the rest of the preseason.
There’s also room to watch the skill players trying to secure bigger roles. Will Shipley had 7 carries for 22 yards in the preseason opener and turned in a strong Day 1 in the joint work with New England. He sits behind Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby, but he looks like a roster lock and still has a path to a meaningful offensive role.
Darius Cooper remains one of the most interesting camp stories, even if the buzz around him has cooled some. He’s still been the standout of training camp overall, but the Eagles have been cautious with his first-team reps. Last week, he was targeted five times and caught only two passes for 21 yards, including a rare drop.
Hollywood Brown is likely to be light on snaps, but he’s been trending up lately and showed well in the joint practices. He was already expected to make the roster because of his track record and guaranteed money in his contract, but a strong finish would only strengthen that hold.
At tight end, Eli Stowers needs a spark. The Vanderbilt second-rounder caught three passes for 12 yards last week and didn’t flash much big-play ability in the opener.
His camp has been uneven, though he’s been more active over the last week or so. Cameron Latu, meanwhile, keeps making himself hard to ignore.
The tight end-fullback-special teams piece had a standout rep on Day 2 of joint practices, catching the ball and trying to run through Patriots defenders. He’s one of those useful, rugged players teams hate to lose.
Up front, Willie Lampkin continues to build a case. Jordan Davis called the 5-foot-11 lineman a “bowling ball of knives,” and that feels about right for the way he’s played.
Lampkin impressed at guard and center in the preseason opener and wasn’t shy about mixing it up in practice this week. Markel Bell has also been one of camp’s more eye-catching performers.
The 6-foot-9 tackle has won respect from Lane Johnson and turned in a solid Week 1 preseason showing. Cameron Williams, though, has had a quieter summer while buried on the third team, and both he and Myles Hinton need stronger finishes if they want to force the issue.
On the defensive line, Ty Robinson is starting to wake up. Vic Fangio said this week that Robinson “came to life” in the preseason opener after having been “on life support” since arriving as a rookie last year. Robinson had a sack in that game and has looked better over the past couple of weeks after an uneven start to camp.
The Eagles’ newer additions and developmental bets are worth a look, too. Uar Bernard, the seventh-round pick from Nigeria, played in his first football game last week and showed enough to keep the team interested, even with a missed tackle at the goal line.
Bernard said he wanted to learn from that mistake. Joshua Weru, the UDFA from Kenya, hit the quarterback in his first game and has flashed more than Bernard this camp, making him a legitimate roster challenger.
Zion Wilson, signed in June, is a longer shot, but the former walk-on offensive lineman turned defensive lineman is trying to stack good tape after the NCAA denied his waiver for Virginia in 2026.
At linebacker, Brandon George got thrown right into the mix after signing last Saturday, then playing against the Ravens later that night. He logged 14 snaps and made 3 tackles, and he was noticeable again in joint practices. Chance Campbell, who missed the preseason opener with a groin injury, remains a name Fangio likes and will try to get back on the field after spending last year on the practice squad.
The secondary also has a few players with work to do. Mac McWilliams had a rough preseason opener after a strong camp and missed a practice earlier this week with a groin injury, though he should be available Saturday.
Cole Wisniewski is back after missing a lot of camp and the first preseason game with a hamstring injury, and he’s already back to full participation. He even picked up a first-team rep in his first practice back.
Andre’ Sam, a former UDFA from LSU, handled physical work against the Patriots this week and is still hanging around as a longshot with a chance. Maximus Pulley, the UDFA from Wofford, has quietly put together an impressive rookie camp and could be in the mix if he keeps standing out in these final two preseason games.
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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
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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
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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 🡒]