The Eagles don’t need the scoreboard to tell them what matters against the Bengals tonight. What they need is another look at a few rookies trying to turn summer reps into real roster momentum.
One of the biggest names to watch is Makai Lemon, who was spotted going through a walkthrough for players set to take part in Friday’s game. The Eagles’ 2026 first-round pick has missed plenty of time this offseason because of injury, and this could be a chance to get him into game action for the first time in a while. How he looks, if he plays, will be one of the night’s key storylines.
Eli Stowers won’t be part of that picture. The rookie tight end is out with a hamstring injury, which takes one more young player off the field for a night that was already going to be a major evaluation spot.
The secondary has been one of the more interesting areas of camp, largely because of two rookie safeties who have flashed early: Kapena Gushiken and Maximus Pulley. They’ve both drawn attention for the way they’ve moved around the Eagles’ defense, and they’ve done it at a position that still looks unsettled. With safety shaping up as one of the most vulnerable spots on the roster, another strong outing could go a long way for both players.
Up front, there’s another pair of first-year defenders worth tracking. Uar Bernard and Joshua Weru arrived at camp with plenty of raw ability and very little football background, and both have already shown flashes during the first two weeks of preseason action.
The challenge now is obvious: the defensive line room is crowded, and making the roster will be a tough climb. Still, both are expected to keep fighting for it tonight.
In Other News...
Eagles Bubble Battles Make This Preseason Finale Matter A Lot
The preseason finale against the Bengals arrives with a very real purpose for Philadelphia, since it is the last chance for a crowded roster to make an impression before the club has to trim from 90 players to 53 by Sunday evening. For a group that has spent August sorting out depth across the board, this one is less about the scoreboard and more about who can handle the pressure of one more extended look when jobs, practice-squad chances and future opportunities are all on the line.
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 🡒]
Marcus Epps Is Fighting For More Than Just An Eagles Return
Marcus Epps has gone from a Super Bowl starter to a familiar face back in the Eagles building, and his path since then has been anything but straightforward. He left Philadelphia for the Raiders, then saw his 2024 season cut short by a torn ACL before finding his way back to the Eagles on the practice squad, getting into 12 games and ultimately earning a one-year deal with the team.
Now the conversation around Epps is bigger than a return visit. He is battling for a starting job in Philadelphias defense while also leaning into the veteran leadership role he has talked about throughout his recovery, which gives this camp a different edge for both player and team. For Epps, it is not just about proving he belongs again, but about showing he can still shape what the Eagles secondary looks like moving forward. [Read more 🡒]