FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The Eagles came up short in a 24-21 preseason loss to the New England Patriots on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium, but there was plenty in the game that worked in Philadelphia’s favor.
A handful of young players made real noise, a few depth pieces helped their cases, and one quarterback battle may have tilted hard in one direction. Here are the biggest takeaways from a night that produced seven winners and three losers.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. keeps flashing
Trotter is in a tricky spot. He looks like a starting-caliber linebacker, but he’s buried in one of the league’s deepest linebacker groups and may not see much action unless injuries hit or Vic Fangio leans on three-linebacker looks more often.
Still, he made the most of his chance against New England. In the first quarter, he shot through the A-gap and got to Tommy DeVito for a sack, another reminder that he deserves more run than he’s likely to get.
Will Shipley looks like a problem for tacklers
Shipley ran through contact all night, finishing with 56 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Patriots had trouble getting him on the ground, and that physical style showed up again after he also punished defenders during joint practices.
He looks more explosive than he did a year ago, and he’s playing with a much nastier edge. At this point, he looks like a lock.
The backup offensive line did its job
Willie Lampkin, Drew Kendall, Jake Majors, Markel Bell and Fred Johnson all helped create the lanes for Shipley’s best runs. As a group, they held up well.
Darius Cooper bounces back
After a quiet stretch earlier in the week, Cooper popped again against the Patriots. He caught 3 passes for 44 yards and made one of the game’s better effort plays when he ran through Chad Muma’s tackle attempt and gained 25 yards down the right sideline with 5:35 left in the first quarter.
He also did a nice job finding space against New England’s cornerbacks.
Ty Robinson keeps stacking strong outings
Robinson landed on the winners list for the second straight week. After getting a sack against the Ravens last week, he followed it up with 2 sacks, 2 tackles for a loss and 3 quarterback hits against the Patriots.
He keeps showing up with a relentless motor and is making the most of every chance he gets.
Carson Steele makes a case
Steele was one of the surprise names to stand out. In the second half, he jumped over Brandon Crossley for a 14-yard reception, then added a 20-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter.
Making the 53-man roster still looks like a long shot, but a night like this helps his chances of landing on the practice squad.
Joshua Weru keeps turning heads
Weru, the Kenyan native who had never played American football before this season, came flying off the edge and beat Dametrious Crownover for a sack in the third quarter.
That kind of play will get attention fast, and the Eagles may have to keep him on the 53 so another team doesn’t scoop him up.
The quarterback competition did Andy Dalton no favors
Dalton had a rough night. He nearly threw two interceptions in the second quarter, both on poorly placed passes, and also sailed one over rookie tight end Eli Stowers on a throw that could have gone for a big gain.
For a 38-year-old heading into his 16th season, that’s not nearly good enough. Dalton finished 3 of 10 for 44 yards, and his performance may have closed the door on the backup job battle.
Tanner McKee was better, but not clean enough
McKee went 16 of 22 for 173 yards and 2 touchdowns, which was clearly better than Dalton’s line. But he wasn’t sharp throughout camp, and he had his own shaky moments against the Patriots.
He has more upside than Dalton, though, and that was enough to keep him out of the worst of it.
Philadelphia could try to move Dalton if another team wants the veteran presence. If that happens, a seventh-round pick would be a solid return for the same asset the Eagles gave up to get him from the Carolina Panthers in March.
The cornerback depth got exposed late
Kyle Williams beat Ambry Thomas for a 69-yard touchdown down the right sideline in the second quarter. Thomas probably won’t be on the 53-man roster, but the Eagles’ deeper corner group didn’t exactly cover itself in glory either.
Kelee Ringo was flagged for illegal contact in the second quarter and dropped an interception, while Mac McWilliams left with an injury. Shaun Wade forced a fumble in the fourth quarter, though he also drew a pass interference penalty on the final drive before an offsetting call erased it.
Then, with 57 seconds left, Nick DeGennaro beat Isaiah Bolden for a 37-yard touchdown that won the game for New England.
In Other News...
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
Carson Steele gave the Eagles something to think about in a preseason showing against the Patriots, flashing the kind of all-purpose skill set that can make a crowded backfield suddenly feel a little less settled. He found the end zone, moved the chains as both a runner and receiver, and showed enough versatility to stand out in a game where roster hopefuls are trying to make every touch count.
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
With roster cuts and the opener approaching, the Eagles are still sorting through the kind of depth move that can shape the bottom of the depth chart and the back end of the passing game. A suggestion from Philly Voice has added another wrinkle, with the idea of sending backup quarterback Andy Dalton to the Patriots in exchange for wide receiver Mack Hollins, a familiar name for Philadelphia fans who remember his earlier stint with the team.
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 🡒]