The Eagles head into Saturday’s preseason opener against the Ravens with a few roster spots already starting to take shape, and training camp has given several players a real boost.
Some of the biggest momentum belongs to the quarterback battle behind Jalen Hurts. Dalton has a slight edge over Tanner McKee for the QB2 job, even if he hasn’t exactly blown the doors off camp.
Cole Payton’s rough summer has helped Dalton’s case, and Dalton isn’t a trade candidate right now. McKee has looked better in recent practices, but Dalton still holds that narrow lead.
The Eagles still shouldn’t move McKee just because Payton has struggled, and if McKee ends up losing the job, keeping him around would make sense.
At running back, Pierce has helped himself enough to stay in the mix for the RB3 role. He hasn’t been spectacular, but with Will Shipley’s performance this summer, Pierce has positioned himself better than he was when camp opened. If he can show he can catch the football in preseason games, he has a real chance to stick.
One of the clearest camp winners has been Cooper. He’s made play after play, working over the middle and becoming a dependable red zone target for Jalen Hurts.
His role looks set to grow, and he could even be the WR3 by Week 1. At this point, it would be shocking if Cooper were not on the roster.
Moore has also been turning heads. He’s been getting open, making plays and, more recently, showing improvement on the deep ball. Based on how he’s performed, he deserves a roster spot over Hollywood Brown at this rate, and he’s one of the most interesting players to watch in the preseason.
Up front, Kendall has become an important depth piece. He’s now the No. 3 guard and the top option if Landon Dickerson or Tyler Steen were to go down in a game.
He’s also the second-team center, after a strong camp at both spots. The Eagles needed someone to claim that role, and Kendall did it.
Lampkin has also put himself on the map. At 5-11 and 290 pounds, the former wrestler has shown off serious strength at guard and held up against the first-team defense. He looks like a classic redshirt-and-develop prospect, and this preseason matters a lot for his chances.
On defense, Campbell has drawn attention after getting a shout out from Vic Fangio. He’s been around the football throughout camp and has helped show the Eagles’ linebacker depth. He’ll have a chance in preseason to make a case for a fifth off-ball linebacker spot.
Ringo appears to have the final cornerback job wrapped up because of what he does on special teams. He hasn’t needed a flashy camp to stand out, and the Eagles have enough evidence from the last three years to keep him around. Only one cornerback is even beginning to challenge him, and that player is still a long shot.
McWilliams, though, is starting to enter the conversation. The 2025 fifth-round pick has improved in recent practices and could be building a case to stay, with special teams likely his best path. He has talent, but preseason will help answer whether he can beat out Ringo.
At safety, Carter has become a real contender to start. He’s right there with Marcus Epps for the job opposite Andrew Mukuba, and he’s earned that position by making plays all camp long. His progress may even keep the Eagles from needing to add another starting safety.
Sam is also in the mix, getting the first look as the other safety on the second-team defense. He hasn’t produced many splash plays, but he’s been on the field, knows the defense and has two years with the team. That could make this his best chance to make the roster.
Pulley has forced his way into consideration as well. The UDFA from Wofford has popped during the developmental period of camp and has earned more looks with the second team.
And then there’s Elliott, who has missed just one field goal all summer. The Eagles didn’t need to bring in competition for one of the best kickers in franchise history, and he’ll be the kicker come Week 1.
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Former Eagles RB Faces Heartbreaking Race Against Time With Daughter
A former NFL running back got a heartbreaking reprieve this week when Gloucester County Superior Court Judge Renard Scott granted him early release from prison so he could spend time with his critically ill daughter. The ruling came after the judge approved a motion to withdraw the players guilty plea, clearing the way for him to leave despite prosecutors seeking a stay.
The former Eagles back had been serving an 18-month federal sentence tied to COVID-related fraud, along with a concurrent state sentence for gun possession, when his case took a deeply personal turn. His 8-year-old daughter Mila is now in palliative care with an aggressive kidney cancer diagnosis, a situation that has shifted the focus far from the legal case and onto a family racing against time. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Have A Receiver Decision They Cant Ignore
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Makai Lemons injuries have kept him from getting the kind of run he would need to settle the WR3 discussion, and the competition behind him has not produced an obvious answer. For a team trying to protect itself against more injuries and keep enough trusted bodies on hand, the next move at receiver may need to come from outside the building, even as the Eagles weigh how to preserve depth elsewhere with players like Byron Young, Michael Carter, Nolan Smith and Brandon Graham still mattering in that bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]
Former Eagles Running Back Granted Release Amid Heartbreaking Family Crisis
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He had been serving an 18-month federal sentence tied to COVID-related fraud, along with a concurrent state sentence for gun possession, before the court allowed him to leave. The case also took a procedural turn after a motion to withdraw his guilty plea followed a recent appeals court ruling involving New Jerseys assault weapons ban, adding another layer to an already difficult situation that now centers on his daughters condition. [Read more 🡒]