The Eagles’ preseason opener in Baltimore should tell us a little about the roster, and maybe a bit about Sean Mannion’s offense, even if Nick Sirianni keeps the quarterback plan tucked away as usual. Sirianni hasn’t said whether Jalen Hurts or any other starters will play Saturday night against the Ravens, but there will still be plenty of names worth tracking if the game opens up the way preseason games often do.
One of the most interesting is Cole Payton. The fifth-round rookie could be in line for the second half, and he brings the kind of edge teams like to see in August.
He’ll challenge tight windows and isn’t afraid to fire the ball in, even if that aggression has come with some rough moments. In one practice, he threw three interceptions, but he didn’t look rattled by it.
Carson Steele is another player who fits the preseason stage perfectly. The fullback/running back has a steep climb to the roster, but this is exactly the kind of setting where he can try to force his way into the conversation.
Steele put it plainly: “This is kind of wear I can show my talents,” he said. “We haven’t really had tackling.
We’ve had thud practices, but this is where you showcase yourself and go from there … being an undrafted guy, coming into a new team, you really have to showcase your talents and express yourself going into these preseason games.
“I’m a big weight-room type guy, love that stuff, so I feel this is when I can show myself when the pads come on and we actually get physical contact.”
The Eagles should also give Eli Stowers a good look. The second-round tight end started camp slowly, but he’s put together a pair of steadier practices and looks set for extended playing time.
Up front and at receiver, Willie Lampkin and Darius Cooper have been two of camp’s bright spots. Lampkin, the interior offensive lineman, is definitely going to play, and Cooper probably will too, though the sense around him is that he may already have done enough to lock up a job.
Lampkin, who spent his rookie season on injured reserve, said, “Just blessed to have opportunity finally this year.,” said Lampkin, who spent his rookie season in injured reserve. “Just taking full advantage learning a lot from the older guys and it's just been great to compete with these guys in camp.”
On defense, the safety battle remains one of the most interesting fights on the roster. Marcus Epps and Michael Carter are still going head-to-head for the spot next to Drew Mukuba, and Carter’s move from the slot to safety has been one of camp’s bigger storylines.
Vic Fangio called it “It's a good competition between Marcus and Mike,” said defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. “Mike's had a very good camp, as has Marcus.
I'd say that's a real good competition right now.”
Byron Young is another player to watch, especially because he’s trying to carve out a role after the Raiders moved on from him too soon. The 2023 third-round pick, 70th overall, has shown plenty of burst and quickness throughout camp and could even start for other teams.
With the Eagles, he’s fourth on the defensive tackle depth chart, and he knows exactly what kind of opportunity he’s working with. “I know the situation I’m in with two of the highest-paid defensive linemen in the NFL (Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter), and really three of them, because Moro (Ojomo) is just as good as them, in my opinion,” he said.
“I understand that those guys are going to get a lot of reps when the game comes, but when my time comes, I hold myself to the same standard.”
The cornerback group has its own competition worth watching, with Mac McWilliams and Jakorian Bennett both trying to climb the depth chart. At minimum, they appear to be fighting for roster spots; at best, one of them could emerge as the top backup behind the starters.
McWilliams has looked far more settled than he did as a rookie, when he seemed unsure of himself, and he showed that progress with an interception Thursday in low red-zone, seven-on-seven. Bennett, acquired in an August trade, never really found his footing after arriving, but he has made several solid pass breakups in camp.
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Barkley stayed on the field, and the team has not said anything publicly about a diagnosis or suggested the issue is serious. Still, any time a key back gets looked at by trainers in camp, it becomes part of the monitoring process, especially with the season ramping up and the Eagles trying to keep their key pieces on track. [Read more 🡒]