Nearly all of the opponents for Villanova’s 12 nonconference men’s basketball games were already known prior to the school officially releasing its out-of-conference schedule Wednesday morning, but a few new foes were revealed, as were all of the dates.
The 2026-27 season starts with a trip to Rome, where the men’s and women’s teams will face Notre Dame. Other marquee contests include games vs. defending national champion Michigan and Wisconsin at the Xfinity Mobile Arena, and road games at Kansas and Pittsburgh.
The Wildcats, who went 24-9 last season and have a roster that could get some preseason top 25 votes, play their two Big 5 pool games Nov. 10 at home vs. La Salle and Dec. 1 at Temple before the Dec. 5 Big 5 Classic at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Villanova’s game vs. Notre Dame in Rome on Nov. 1 kicks off the college basketball season and will be nationally televised on FOX.
“I went back and looked at the last 10 national champions and looked at how they schedule and where their rank of schedule was,” Willard said. “I think it’s really important to test yourself on the road, most importantly. … Especially with the tournament going to 76 teams, I think teams should get rewarded by scheduling hard.”
The entire 2026-27 schedule will be revealed in September when the Big East announces its schedule.
The NCAA Division I Council last year approved an increase from 31 regular-season games to 32 games. Villanova plays 20 Big East games and has typically had 11 nonconference games. The increase to 32 means one extra non-Big East game on the calendar.
Villanova’s full nonconference schedule is below (times will be announced at a later date, the school said):
Nov. 1 vs. Notre Dame (Rome)
Nov. 6 vs. Holy Cross
Nov. 10 vs. La Salle
Nov. 14 vs. Rider
Nov. 17 at Pittsburgh
Nov. 21 vs. Michigan (Xfinity Mobile Arena)
Nov. 24 vs. Coppin State
Nov. 27 at Kansas
Dec. 1 at Temple
Dec. 5 Big 5 Classic
Dec. 9 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
Dec. 12 vs. Wisconsin (Xfinity Mobile Arena)
The Wildcats also will play three exhibition games: Oct. 11 at Rutgers; Oct. 17 vs. George Mason; and Oct. 22 vs. Virginia.
Last year at this time — one year ago Wednesday, to be exact — Marcus Epps was staring a sort of career mortality in the face.
That’s life in the NFL for a 29-year-old safety who works his way back from ACL surgery and signs a one-year contract only to be cut at the end of training camp. The New England Patriots didn’t have a spot for him. They had a Super Bowl-contending roster, to be sure, but Epps was only two years removed from parlaying his starting safety job on an Eagles team that went to the Super Bowl into a two-year, $12 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Working his way back from the ACL tear that ended his 2024 season — his second year with the Raiders — in Week 3 presented Epps with “dark days” that challenged him physically and mentally. He relied on his loved ones and trained at the gym he owns in Costa Mesa, Calif., unsure what his future held.
The Eagles, who initially claimed Epps in November of 2019 after Minnesota waived Epps just months after selecting him in the sixth round, offered Epps a second chance for the second time. They signed him to their practice squad two days after the Patriots cut him, needing to add some reinforcements at a position that lacked quality depth. He later was called on to start down the stretch after rookie Andrew Mukuba suffered a season-ending injury.
The Eagles brought Epps back on a one-year deal and put him in a competition with a converted nickel corner, Michael Carter II, for the safety spot next to Mukuba whenever the Eagles are in nickel or dime packages (All-Pro nickel Cooper DeJean will play safety in the base package). Epps hasn’t yet been named the winner of that competition, but all signs point to him getting the nod come Sept. 13 when the Eagles open their season at home vs. the Washington Commanders.
“It feels good to just be back healthy, have a clear mind, kind of be out of that dark place that I was in,” Epps said Monday. “I’m just grateful. I don’t take any day for granted, and I’m truly blessed to be here, right where I want to be. I’m just trying to keep my head down and grinding every day.”
Safety Marcus Epps works out during training camp last month.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Being a starter again would “mean everything” to Epps.
“I worked real hard to get back to where I’m at, man, and there were a lot of dark days,” he said. “But I still got work to do. I haven’t arrived by any means. It’s a long season, and we’re still here just in camp. That’s where my focus is, on camp, finishing out camp the right way and just continuing to get better.”
Safety remains the thinnest position on the roster as far as NFL talent and experience goes. Besides Mukuba, who has 11 games under his belt, Epps, and Carter, who hasn’t played the position, the rest of the team’s safeties have combined for three defensive snaps in the NFL, all from Andre Sam, who has been a mainstay on the practice squad the past few seasons.
It’s possible Howie Roseman makes a move to acquire a starting-caliber safety that bumps Epps down the depth chart between now and the start of the season. It’s possible, too, that the Eagles decide to only keep three safeties — Carter, Epps, and Mukuba — on the initial 53-man roster due Sunday night. With DeJean logging at least a chunk of snaps, they may decide they don’t need to roster more than three.
That stuff is out of Epps’ control. He has taken the vast majority of the first-team reps, though Carter has been sprinkled in at times throughout camp.
“I feel good both physically and mentally, just trying to stay grounded and keep my head down and keep on working,” Epps said. “I still got a lot of things I got to work on and clean up, so that’s where my focus is, to continue to get better.”
With Reed Blankenship gone, pre-snap communication from the back line to the rest of the defense will be a shared responsibility between Mukuba and DeJean in base, and Mukuba and Epps, assuming he’s the starter, in the sub packages. That comes naturally, Epps said, and he’s watched the 23-year-old Mukuba make strides, too, both in his communicating and overall play at safety this summer.
At 30, Epps is among the oldest defensive players in the locker room. Only cornerback Jonathan Jones, 32, is older. It’s a different gig than when Epps was first with the Eagles seven years ago.
“It’s cool being the older guy, being able to be somebody that the younger guys can lean on, continue to pass down knowledge and pass down game to these guys,” Epps said. “It’s an important role in every locker room and I don’t take it for granted.”
Josh Shapiro spent his formative years in Montgomery County as a rabid Philadelphia sports fan, but as an undersized point guard at Akiba Hebrew Academy, the path to signing autographs for Philadelphia fans as a sports star wasn’t all that probable.
As the governor of Pennsylvania, though? Shapiro found himself catching miniature footballs and jerseys from fans and tossing them back into the stands after applying his signature Tuesday night as the Eagles warmed up at Lincoln Financial Field ahead of their open practice.
“I was joking with some of the kids, I think I was decreasing the value of their Jalen Hurts jersey,” Shapiro joked.
“Look, it’s humbling. It’s an honor to be with all these folks and to be with fellow Birds fans, who are not only out here to watch our team but also support an incredible cause. The amount of money they’re raising, about $800,000 tonight for the Eagles Autism Foundation, it’s an amazing thing Jeffrey [Lurie] has done for this city and the example he’s set for the entire country.”
Shapiro, after finishing with autographs and pictures, made his way to the sideline, where he chatted with Eagles general manager Howie Roseman, who he later called “the best GM in all of sports, although Mike Gansey is giving him a hell of a run for his money landing LeBron.” The longtime Eagles fan is optimistic that Roseman has put together a team that can compete for another Super Bowl. Shapiro attended each of the last two Eagles Super Bowl appearances.
“I think there’s a lot of hope, there’s a lot of optimism, a lot of excitement after, obviously, a down year last year,” Shapiro said. “It didn’t end how we wanted. Folks are pumped up. I think there’s something unique about this city that 50,000 people came out to watch a practice. They’re fired up and so am I.”
Tuesday was the team’s annual open practice at Lincoln Financial Field. The stadium itself has been a topic of conversation since Lurie made public statements earlier this year about his team’s future home, indicating all options were on the table when it comes to the type of stadium and even where it’s located.
Gov. Josh Shapiro (left) talks with Eagles GM Howie Roseman during an open Eagles practice at Lincoln Financial Field on Tuesday. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
“I appreciate the way [team president] Don [Smolenski] and Jeffrey and the entire franchise are thinking really critically about what they want for the future of a home for the Philadelphia Eagles,” Shapiro said Tuesday. “Here’s what I can tell you for sure: It’s going to be in the city of Philadelphia, and we’ll work with the Eagles once they determine what it is they’re interested in doing, but I appreciate the thoughtful and deliberate approach that they’ve taken to this process.”
The Eagles are at Lincoln Financial Field until 2032 under their current lease agreement. But the team has begun what Lurie called “exploratory research” on a new or renovated stadium. Last year, the organization sent out surveys to season-ticket holders to seek input on the prospects of a stadium renovation or a new building. It is similar to what the Eagles did before they moved from Veterans Stadium to Lincoln Financial Field in 2003.
Lurie said the goal is to have a more “definitive approach” to the team’s stadium plans in a year or two.
“They’re going to think about what they want as a home for the next 30, 40, 50 years, and then we’ll have a conversation when they’re ready to have that,” Shapiro said.
Shapiro won’t be in his current office when the lease expires. He’s up for reelection in November, and while polls show him with a 16-point lead, he’s term-limited and can’t be governor beyond the next four-year term. It remains possible, too, that he considers a run for president in 2028.
A month into 2026 training camp, five months after signing with his new team, and more than four years after being drafted by Seattle, Eagles cornerback Riq Woolen still feels nervous before some of his practice reps.
Why?
“It’s like I’m a rookie again,” Woolen said. He spent his first four NFL seasons with the Seahawks, but after losing some of his playing time last season during what would become a Super Bowl run, it was time to find a new team.
Woolen was one of the better man-coverage corners last season, but he struggled in zone, and the open market wasn’t that kind to him in terms of finding a long-term deal. He landed with the Eagles on a one-year deal worth $12 million guaranteed and had to move nearly 3,000 miles away, mesh with new teammates, and learn a new scheme. Hence the feeling like a rookie all over again.
“I feel like every day I continue to get better and feel like I fit in,” Woolen said Monday.
Moments like his plays during Thursday’s joint practice session in New England help the fitting-in part. First, Woolen jumped an A.J. Brown out route near the goal line and picked off Drake Maye for a 100-yard pick-six. Later, he again had tight coverage on Brown and forced the ball free into the air, allowing Jalyx Hunt to make a diving interception.
Eagles cornerback Riq Woolen was a standout in joint practices with the Patriots last week. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
That Woolen’s big day came on the heels of one of his worst days of camp Wednesday was a good sign for him and the Eagles. Woolen may feel like a rookie now, but he is wise enough at 27 to know that a short memory is crucial to playing cornerback in the NFL. The younger version of himself didn’t know how to handle it, he said Monday.
“That’s just part of the game and it’s part of being a DB as well,” Woolen said. “One thing may [not] go your way, but you got to be able to rebound and be able to keep playing plays and keep making plays because that’s what the coaches and team expect.”
Woolen, who is unusually tall for a corner at 6-foot-4, was on the radar of the Eagles last season when it became clear that he could be made available before the trade deadline. He had one of the best seasons in recent years in man coverage — according to Next Gen Stats, his 27.6% completion rate allowed in man coverage was the lowest by any defender to face 20-plus targets in man since at least 2018. But the Seahawks, according to Sharp Analytics, deployed man coverages on 15.2% of their defensive snaps, sixth-fewest in the NFL. The Eagles, meanwhile, used man coverage on 24.5% of their snaps last season.
That should favor Woolen, and maybe defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will dial that number up a little more to fit Woolen’s strengths. But Woolen will need to improve his off-ball play if he wants to earn a long-term contract in the spring.
Woolen, who has 12 interceptions in his first four NFL seasons, had arguably the best offseason program of any Eagles player. He blanketed DeVonta Smith on multiple occasions during OTAs. Then, on the last day of minicamp in June, he “sacked” Jalen Hurts on a corner blitz and then picked off Hurts on the next play, on an errant throw toward Dallas Goedert. But Woolen’s play during training camp has been inconsistent, highlighting what could be an issue for a team that doesn’t have much in the way of reliable depth behind him.
The Eagles had a bit of a revolving door across from Quinyon Mitchell last season before Adoree’ Jackson claimed the role. They entered the offseason seeking an upgrade, knowing Cooper DeJean would remain at nickel and even play some safety after struggling a bit on the outside. Woolen has the potential to provide the Eagles with a major upgrade, but he still has to prove he can be reliable working in zones and not take plays off.
“At times he can get a little lazy or sloppy with his technique and have a bad down or two, but he’s still showing everything that I think he can do,” Fangio said earlier this month. “He’s just got to get in such great shape and calloused to football that those don’t happen.”
Eagles cornerback Riq Woolen speaks with reporters during training camp last month.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Woolen also will need to shed his reputation, too. He was called for three taunting penalties last season, including one in the NFC championship game late in the third quarter that extended a Los Angeles Rams drive that ended with a touchdown.
Woolen agreed when asked Monday if there were misconceptions about him in free agency.
“I can’t be likable to everybody, but I know that people who really do know me, I know there’s a reason why they like me and that’s because I’m being myself,” he said. “As long as I’m here being where my feet are at, I feel like my personality will outshine a lot of things.
“I still feel like I have a lot more to prove to these guys, even the fans and everybody here. People only know me where I come from, and what they’ve heard from where I came from. People don’t really know me as a person. The more and more I make plays, the more and more I talk to you guys, talk to people around here, they’ll be able to understand me and get to know me and the type of player I am.”
The real games are only a few weeks away, but Woolen will get his first taste of his new home field and fan base Tuesday, when the Eagles have their annual open practice at Lincoln Financial Field.
“It’s another opportunity to show people how I play ball and express who I am,” he said.
It’s just about last call for roster hopefuls as Eagles training camp enters its final week.
The team plays its last preseason game Friday night at home vs. Cincinnati, and the initial 53-man roster is due Sunday by 6 p.m.
Only a few practices and one last audition separate those vying for a spot from knowing their fates.
A second preseason game — this one a 24-21 Eagles loss in New England — brought a few changes to our latest 53-man roster projection. Who’s in, and who’s out?
Eagles quarterbacks (from left to right): Andy Dalton, Cole Payton and Tanner McKee prepare for Saturday’s preseason game against the New England Patriots. We don’t expect all three to be on the Eagles roster by next week.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
We’re sticking with the idea that one of the two quarterbacks hunting for the No. 2 job eventually will be traded, but for the first time this summer, Tanner McKee is in and Andy Dalton is out.
McKee outperformed Dalton Saturday night in New England, and while the Eagles certainly value Dalton’s experience and his practice film much more than two shaky, shortened preseason starts, it’s hard to argue that the 38-year-old looks more viable to back up Hurts than McKee does right now.
That being said, it actually might be Dalton who has more trade value than McKee. Will the Eagles end up flipping Dalton for the same price they paid for him (a seventh-round pick)? Maybe. This time of year, a team looking for a backup may be more likely to want Dalton as an experienced starter who may even mentor a young quarterback than they are to need McKee.
Cole Payton hasn’t wowed, and it remains possible the Eagles keep both Dalton and McKee and cut Payton, their fifth-round pick. But for now, Payton gets the roster spot and doesn’t get exposed to waivers.
Eagles running back Will Shipley carried the ball 11 times for 56 yards against the Patriots. We expect him to make the team’s initial roster.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Running backs (3): Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley
Cut: Dameon Pierce, Carson Steele, Ja’Quinden Jackson
No changes here, despite Carson Steele going full Saquon Barkley and hurdling defenders on more than one occasion Saturday night. Steele played like a guy pushing for a roster spot, but the Eagles don’t have the luxury of keeping four running backs with the way their roster is shaped.
Eagles wide receiver Elijah Moore is on the roster bubble.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Wide receivers (6): DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, Makai Lemon, Darius Cooper, Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore
Cut: Danny Gray, Britain Covey, Quez Watkins, Erik Ezukanma, Samori Toure, Brandon Hayes
Could Elijah Moore get cut and come back on the practice squad with the promise to be elevated on game day? It’s possible. He’s a vested veteran and doesn’t need to pass through waivers (though he’d be free to sign with any team). But Moore has done enough to make the roster and should be rewarded for having a better camp than Hollywood Brown, the guy the Eagles gave $5 million guaranteed.
Perhaps the Eagles use one of the two as a trade chip in the final week of camp, but they may want some extra insurance at the position considering Makai Lemon’s first NFL training camp has been marred by a hamstring injury.
The Eagles selected tight end Eli Stowers in the second round of April’s NFL draft.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Tight ends (3): Dallas Goedert, Johnny Mundt, Eli Stowers
Cut: Cameron Latu, Grant Calcaterra, Stone Smartt, E.J. Jenkins
Cameron Latu is the roster casualty of the Eagles keeping Moore. Latu would need to pass through waivers, but he’s done so before, and the Eagles shouldn’t have trouble getting him through to the practice squad and elevating him for Week 1.
Eli Stowers has had a rocky camp, but the second-round pick isn’t going anywhere. His need for more seasoning, though, makes it pretty important to have a strong fourth option in the building. That could work in Latu’s favor come Sunday evening.
Offensive lineman Tyler Steen, left, is pretty much a lock to return, but Micah Morris’ fate could be determined in the coming week.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Offensive line (10): Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, Lane Johnson, Fred Johnson, Markel Bell, Drew Kendall, Willie Lampkin, Micah Morris
Cut: Jake Majors, Michael Jordan, John Ojukwu, Myles Hinton, Cameron Williams, Zeke Correll
Willie Lampkin’s spot on the 53-man roster might be a lock at this point. The center/guard had another strong performance Saturday. Micah Morris, meanwhile, has shown some athletic traits that should keep the sixth-round pick on the initial roster.
Jake Majors played the entire game Saturday (63 snaps) and had some good moments. Like Lampkin and Drew Kendall, he has the ability to play center and guard. But Morris beats out the 2025 undrafted free agent who landed on the Eagles’ practice squad after training camp last year.
Eagles defensive tackle Ty Robinson had a pair of sacks in Saturday’s preseason game against the Patriots.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Defensive tackles (6): Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Byron Young, Ty Robinson, Uar Bernard
Cut: Gabe Hall, Zion Wilson, David Blay
No changes here other than Ty Robinson pulling himself off life support (Vic Fangio’s words) and pretty much locking up his roster spot.
The 2025 fourth-round pick had two sacks Saturday and has had a strong last two weeks after working with the developmental group at the beginning of camp.
Uar Bernard played in his second football game Saturday and notched his first tackle. He’s improved throughout his first football camp, and it remains a risk for the Eagles to expose him to waivers even though he won’t play meaningful snaps this season.
Eagles linebacker Joshua Weru got his first sack against New England Patriots quarterback Behren Morton Saturday night.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Edge rushers (6): Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, Arnold Ebiketie, A.J. Epenesa, Joshua Weru
Cut: Tarron Jackson, Keyshawn James-Newby, Jose Ramirez
The decision on Joshua Weru will be a fascinating one for Howie Roseman next weekend. The former rugby player one-upped his padded football debut last weekend, when he had a quarterback hit, with his first sack during Saturday’s game. He’s a flashy athlete, and there may be enough on tape out there for one of the 31 other NFL teams to make him their own project and sign him to their 53-man roster if the Eagles decide to cut him.
Fangio expressed some concern Jonathan Greenard might not be ready to return from his pectoral injury for Week 1, though that’s still three weeks away.
Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. could be a starter on several NFL teams. Will that make him attractive in a potential trade?Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Cut: Chance Campbell, Deontae Lawson, Brandon George
The Eagles have an abundance of talent here. It’s probably a toss-up between off-ball linebacker and interior defensive line in terms of which position group is their best.
The top four are locks, though Fangio likes Chance Campbell a lot. Still, as we’ve written before during this exercise, the need for a fifth linebacker given this roster construction makes it hard to keep the former Titan.
Could Roseman pull off a trade to make room for him? Smael Mondon Jr. has looked capable, and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. could start on some teams.
Another spot with no changes, though there was more pause before typing Mac McWilliams over Kelee Ringo than last week. Ringo had a decent showing on the road trip to New England, while McWilliams hasn’t had the best couple of weeks.
Ringo’s value on special teams has been well-documented, but is it worth a roster spot? We’ll see.
We have Eagles safety Cole Wisniewski (bottom) making the roster, but that could change this week.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Safeties (4): Drew Mukuba, Marcus Epps, Michael Carter II, Cole Wisniewski
Cut: Kapena Gushiken, Andre Sam, J.T. Gray, Max Pulley
The fourth spot here still feels like a bit of a dart throw. Cole Wisniewski returned to the practice field and saw his first game action. He had a nice tackle on special teams, which he’ll need to make a big part of his game if he’s on the roster.
Kapena Gushiken and Max Pulley have had nice camps, Andre’ Sam has been around the team for the last few seasons, and J.T. Gray is an elite special teamer. You can make a worthy argument for any of them to get the fourth spot.
But it’s possible the Eagles go light here and go with three safeties, especially with Cooper DeJean playing on the back end in the base package. That route probably would be good news for Ringo.
Philadelphia Eagles place kicker Jake Elliott (right) and punter Braden Mann (left) are locks.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Special teams (3): Jake Elliott (kicker), Braden Mann (punter), Rocco Underwood (long snapper)
These are the only three specialists on the roster. It’s possible the Eagles punt — excuse the pun — on a bubble decision and cut Rocco Underwood. The team only kept Jake Elliott and Braden Mann on the initial 53-man roster last season before bringing Charley Hughlett back to the active roster a day later during a series of roster moves after initial cuts were made around the league.
Two days of joint practices with the New England Patriots offered the Eagles the best barometer they will get during this training camp to see where they stand.
Don’t expect to see many regulars when the teams collide again Saturday night for preseason game No. 2. The Eagles rested most of their starters in their preseason opener in Baltimore and likely will do the same again.
Still, roster spots and places on the depth chart are up for grabs. With that in mind, here are the players and positions we’ll be watching closely on Saturday night:
Who gets the start, Andy Dalton or Tanner McKee? The competition for the No. 2 spot behind Jalen Hurts is ongoing, Nick Sirianni says, but Dalton appears to be the leader for the time being, and the Eagles said as much by starting him in their first preseason game.
That being said, Dalton wasn’t very impressive playing alongside his fellow backups trying to execute a toned-down version of Sean Mannion’s playbook. Neither was McKee.
Will Andy Dalton get a second straight preseason start for the Eagles?David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Can the offense — and the quarterbacks — show a little more life on Saturday?
The Eagles don’t want to put too much of their offense on film, but they do want to make one of their backup candidates attractive for a potential trade.
Rookie quarterback Cole Payton should again be the closer. He made some plays with his legs in his pro debut, but he has been turnover-prone during training camp, and while the Eagles like the excitement his athleticism offers, a more sound performance in the pocket and with his arm will be desired. That’s assuming the third-string offensive line can protect him.
It’s not as sexy as a quarterback battle, but the competition for the final spots on the offensive line is a good one.
It’s probably fair to assume eight spots are locked up by Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, Lane Johnson, Markel Bell, Fred Johnson, and Drew Kendall. But the most likely scenario is the Eagles keep 10 players here, and the final two spots are seemingly still available.
Willie Lampkin has come on strong in camp and performed well in his first preseason game. The undersized interior lineman played both center and guard and had some noticeable plays. Rookie guard Micah Morris, a sixth-round pick, may currently have the No. 10 spot and played 34 snaps (77%) in the first game. As did Jake Majors, who was on the practice squad last year and, like Lampkin, can play both center and guard.
Tyler Steen (left) and Micah Morris practice during a training camp drill.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Others are in the mix, too. The Eagles have been repping veteran tackle John Ojukwu at guard, but he’s unlikely to play after missing practices with a pectoral injury. Veteran guard Michael Jordan has NFL starting experience that the Eagles could value on their 53-man roster.
Myles Hinton, meanwhile, has struggled in his transition from tackle to guard in his second NFL training camp. He had a rough joint practice session Wednesday and was beaten badly in most of his one-on-one reps.
Cooper played 29 snaps in the first preseason game, eight more than the next wide receiver on the list (Quez Watkins). It was fair to expect a little less run from the second-year camp standout, who has taken advantage of the absences of DeVonta Smith and Makai Lemon during team drills.
But Cooper has come back to earth a little bit. He made a few plays in the 24-7 loss to the Ravens, catching two passes for 21 yards, but he also had a drop on what would have been a first-down conversion.
Wide receiver Darius Cooper can make a persuasive bid for a roster spot on Saturday. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Did the Eagles reveal with their usage that Elijah Moore (7 snaps) is above Cooper on the depth chart? It’s probably a little unfair and unwise to read that deeply into it, but Moore made a big play on a deep ball from Hurts during the joint session Wednesday, while Cooper was a little less visible.
Cooper’s job seems safe for now, but a strong showing Saturday can’t hurt.
Mac McWilliams and Kelee Ringo
Speaking of players who have been up and down of late, McWilliams played most of the game in Baltimore, logging 65 snaps (81%). Pro Football Focus had him allowing four catches on four targets for 37 yards and a 105.2 passer rating against. He also had two penalties.
It seems like the competition for the depth spots at corner is still ongoing. The first four spots on the depth chart are set with Quinyon Mitchell and Riq Woolen on the outside, Cooper DeJean at nickel, and Jonathan Jones as the primary backup. But Jones has missed time with a shoulder injury, and behind him the Eagles are looking for more consistency.
Cornerback Mac McWilliams (left) could use a better showing on Saturday that what he displayed in Baltimore. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
McWilliams has gotten first-team reps recently, and he seems to be ahead of Ringo, but Vic Fangio seemed to sort of challenge Ringo earlier this week when he said he had a sense that Ringo “could be coming.”
“He’s been everybody’s piñata doll for a while,” Fangio quipped.
The Ringo experience was on full display in Baltimore. He was beat for a touchdown and also had an interception. Ringo has been a primary special teamer and a good one, but he may need the Eagles to willingly keep six cornerbacks in order to make the team. And with Michael Carter II, a safety, in line to play backup nickel and be on the field in dime packages, it’s a bit unnecessary to keep a sixth corner unless that player gives you reason to.
Elsewhere in the corner competition, Jakorian Bennett’s knee injury in Baltimore may make it tough for him to get back in the mix. But time will tell.
Uar Bernard and Joshua Weru
The “exchange students,” as Fangio calls them, will suit up for their second padded football game of their lives. They had some moments in Baltimore, especially Weru, who had a quarterback hit and looked the part of a speedy edge rusher.
Weru played 30 snaps (38%) while Bernard played 15 (19%).
Joshua Weru (46) has had some eye-opening moments for a guy whose football experience is limited. Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
Both have taken strides in their first NFL training camp, but as Fangio says, “they’ve got a long way to go.”
Still, the Eagles will be faced with some difficult decisions on their roster statuses when it’s time to cut down to 53 on Aug. 30.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — If it were up to Vic Fangio, the Eagles would have a lot more than two joint practices on their summer calendar. Though if Fangio were made king, two-a-days would come back, players would dress for preseason games, and there’d certainly be a lot more contact in practice.
The NFL is a different game from when Fangio first started coaching it 40 years ago, but count this week in New England as the defensive coordinator’s favorite of the preseason. The Eagles and Patriots met for the first of two joint practices Wednesday. They’ll have another Thursday, before meeting for a preseason contest Saturday night.
“It’s great to go against a new team, new schemes, new players,” Fangio said before practice. “You learn things. You’re going to get unscouted looks and plays and you see how people react.”
Fangio wasn’t available for questions after the first practice session, but he surely learned a lot about the things his defense needs to work on, and the things he might worry about before the real games begin next month.
Against a team that went to the Super Bowl last season and added A.J. Brown, Fangio’s defense had some ups and downs on Wednesday. The run defense was solid, but the secondary struggled. Brown, Romeo Doubs, Kayshon Boutte, and DeMario Douglas found the ball in their hands often. Eagles corner Riq Woolen struggled, and while his M.O. has been a cover corner who is inconsistent in zone coverage, he was a step behind multiple times when the Eagles were in man.
Quinyon Mitchell might have gotten the best of Brown on the first rep of one-on-one work prior to team drills, but Mitchell didn’t have his best day of camp, and Brown later beat him on a quick slant on a third-and-4 play during a competitive period.
There were some bright spots. Zack Baun and Jalyx Hunt had sacks on consecutive plays, and Jihaad Campbell later got to Drake Maye on a blitz for a “sack” that negated a long completion to Brown over Woolen on the sideline (quotation marks on “sack” because there is no live tackling during practices, especially not on the quarterback).
Fangio was looking forward to Wednesday and Thursday because the first-team defense has only gone up against Eagles teammates so far in camp. The Eagles’ new offense under Sean Mannion is more condensed, while the Patriots under Josh McDaniels spread the formation. The Patriots also deploy a fullback, which Baun appreciated.
“I liked today’s practice, in the run game in particular, because they have a fullback,” Baun said. “We haven’t seen a fullback all camp. If we see a fullback-like body in the backfield, it’s a tight end and it’s not often. It’s cool to go against a fullback. It’s something you always see a couple times a year and you have to be prepared for it.”
They’ll see it again Thursday.
Jonathan Greenard warmed up before the Ravens preseason game but his return to contact is uncertain. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Will Jonathan Greenard be ready for Week 1?
Perhaps Maye would have had a harder time finding open receivers if the Eagles’ pass rush got home more frequently. They’re still missing the player at the top of the edge rusher depth chart, and Jonathan Greenard’s return date from a pectoral injury remains unclear.
“I don’t know when Greenard will be back,” Fangio said. “It’s going to take some time to heal.”
Asked later if there was some concern Greenard, the major offseason acquisition, would not be ready to go when the Eagles open the season on Sept. 13, Fangio said, “Yeah.”
Fangio said he’s “very happy” with Hunt and Nolan Smith Jr., and said Arnold Ebiketie is “coming along,” but he’s still looking for the back end of the rotation to solidify itself. A.J. Epenesa seems to be on track to win a roster spot, but without Greenard at the top, the quality of the position group as a whole suffers.
The Eagles offset that some with one of the best interior defensive line units in the league, but they’ll need to win on the edges, too, and Greenard being healthy will be a big part of that.
Vic Fangio does not shy away from offering a revealing quote or wry observation. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Vic-isms
Fangio is typically strong when it comes to one-liners and funny sayings, and he didn’t disappoint Wednesday morning.
On defensive tackle Ty Robinson, last year’s fourth-round pick who had a slow start to camp, Fangio offered up this one: “He came to life. He’s been on life support since he’s been here, but he came to life, and hopefully that will continue.”
On Kelee Ringo, who had a nice interception Saturday but also gave up a touchdown, Fangio said: “He’s been everybody’s piñata doll for a while. I kind of sense he could be coming. I think these two days for him are big.”
As usual with Ringo, Wednesday’s practice offered a mixed bag.
And on the subject of Joshua Weru and Uar Bernard, the two International Pathway players playing football for the first time, Fangio said: “Those are our two exchange students. They’re doing fine, but they’ve got a long way to go.”
Jihaad Campbell was the only Eagles starter who played on Saturday against the Ravens. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Playing time explanations
Why did Jihaad Campbell dress and play in Saturday’s preseason opener in Baltimore while most of the starters rested?
Fangio said Campbell, whose playing time decreased last season when Nakobe Dean returned, still needs more reps in the defense.
Then why did Andrew Mukuba get the night off? Fangio said Mukuba’s lack of reps last season were injury-related and not the same as Campbell’s, and also said “every case is different.”
There’s a starting battle going on at safety, but one of the participants, Marcus Epps, didn’t play Saturday.
Fangio explained that he wanted Michael Carter II, a converted nickel, to get more reps playing a new position, one that Epps has been playing for his whole NFL career.
“This is new territory for Mike, and we need to get him a bunch of reps there to really get him prepared and totally evaluated,” Fangio said.
The Eagles made five trades last August, acquiring four players who eventually landed on the team’s initial 53-man roster.
It was an active month for Howie Roseman, even more so than usual. The longtime general manager has made a habit of August acquisitions. Over the last five years, Roseman has added backup quarterbacks, a starting safety, a third wide receiver, a depth corner, and others, never shying away from upgrading the roster early, in the middle of, or late in training camp.
This August is more than halfway gone, and Roseman hasn’t yet made a trade. That could change soon, of course. The Eagles could be in need of an upgrade in a certain spot, or they may aim to acquire some draft capital.
Where might the GM be looking to make a move?
Here are some possibilities:
Quarterback
Let’s start with the obvious one.
Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee are auditioning for the backup quarterback job behind Jalen Hurts. But they’re likely also auditioning for other teams. It seems unlikely the Eagles would keep both and either cut rookie fifth-round pick Cole Payton — which would expose him to waivers — or use four roster spots on the quarterback position.
So, which of the two quarterbacks vying for the No. 2 job will go? Whichever one can fetch the best asset in return, is the obvious answer.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (right) walks to the field with quarterback Tanner McKee (left) and quarterback Andy Dalton (center) before the preseason game against the Ravens on Saturday. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Both Dalton and McKee are entering the final year of their contracts. A few weeks from now, teams could be hurting for quarterback help and might find one of them useful. The Eagles were one of those teams looking for help last season. Sixth-round pick Kyle McCord had a rough camp and the Eagles didn’t think he was ready to be the third quarterback, so they traded fifth- and seventh-round picks to Minnesota for Sam Howell and a sixth-rounder.
Dalton, the Bengals’ starter from 2011-19, has played a lot of football and recently helped mentor young quarterback Bryce Young in Carolina. McKee, meanwhile, has been a solid backup and had a stellar starting debut at the end of the 2024 season, though his 2025 start in Week 18 wasn’t as strong.
The Eagles parted with a 2027 seventh-round pick to acquire Dalton this offseason. They used a sixth-round pick on McKee in 2023. If they’re able to get a Day 3 pick for either player, it’s a pretty good result as far as asset management goes for a player who won’t play much and isn’t under contract next season.
The back end of the defense remains the thinnest position on the roster. It’s the only spot where an undrafted free agent rookie might make the team. But defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has at least publicly expressed confidence in what the Eagles have.
Perhaps it’s less of a concern since Cooper DeJean, an All-Pro nickel, will play safety when the Eagles are in their base defense. But that still leaves something like 75% of the defensive snaps to Marcus Epps, the current leader in the race to start next to second-year safety Andrew Mukuba. Epps, 30, has been a solid player in the NFL, but he also was available at the end of camp last season for the Eagles to add to their practice squad.
Behind Epps is Michael Carter II, a converted nickel who may also be the top option at backup nickel if DeJean goes down. An undrafted free agent like Max Pulley or Kapena Gushiken might make the team as the fourth safety, though seventh-round pick Cole Wisniewski returned to the practice field Monday after missing most of camp with a hamstring injury and veteran J.T. Gray, a special teams ace, is in the mix.
Michael Carter II (35) is among those in the mix at safety. Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
The Eagles don’t have a lot of proven talent at safety. Mukuba is coming off a season-ending fibula fracture and has just 11 games of NFL experience under his belt. He’s the lone constant back there right now.
Fangio’s defense might be the best in the NFL with or without Roseman addressing the safety spot, but the thought of what could happen if the defensive backfield is hit with an injury or two might force Roseman to make a move.
Atlanta’s Jessie Bates III, for example, a veteran on an expiring contract, could be available.
The Eagles travel up to Massachusetts this week to see old friend A.J. Brown and the New England Patriots for two joint practices and then a preseason game.
It’ll provide a look at what they do and don’t have at wide receiver with Brown no longer with the team.
DeVonta Smith returned to practice on Monday after missing time with a hamstring injury, and rookie first-round pick Makai Lemon, who also has a hamstring injury, looks like he’s nearing a return to the practice field. If both players are in uniform with the first-team offense Wednesday morning, the unit certainly will look a lot different than it has in recent practices.
The Eagles aren’t lacking for top-end talent with Brown gone. Smith is more than capable of being a top-of-the-depth-chart receiver in the NFL. But behind him are players who are either unproven or aging.
Hollywood Brown has not made a visible impact in training camp. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Is Dontayvion Wicks ready to take the next step? Can Lemon provide an immediate impact in the slot? Is Darius Cooper more than the “dirty work” receiver Nick Sirianni described him as? Does Hollywood Brown just hate training camp and have more left in the tank? Is Elijah Moore’s NFL career nearing its end, or is there more? How much can you rely on Johnny Wilson after a season-ending knee injury last camp?
The Eagles have reasons to like the position group. A trio of Smith, Wicks, and Lemon on the field has potential, and the Eagles probably are better at spots 3 through 6 on the depth chart than they were a year ago. But they don’t have the physical presence and one-on-one catching talent that A.J. Brown had.
This position is an interesting one as far as trades go. Roseman actually could go either way. There’s a world where he gets to the end of August and realizes Hurts needs more top-end help. But there’s also a scenario that has him trading a player like Hollywood Brown, who Roseman signed to a one-year deal worth $5 million guaranteed, and flipping a receiver for a late-round draft pick because he’s comfortable rolling the dice with what the Eagles have.
Honorable mentions
Cornerback: The Eagles have arguably the best group of corners in the NFL with Quinyon Mitchell and Riq Woolen manning the outside and DeJean at nickel. But could they use better depth? Veteran Jonathan Jones, who’s in line to be the primary backup at outside corner, is out with a shoulder injury. Second-year corner Mac McWilliams has inside-out versatility, like Jones, but is he ready to be relied upon? Kelee Ringo is great on special teams but through three years hasn’t shown the coverage chops to play corner. Jakorian Bennett also hasn’t been consistent. The Eagles have a few other unproven players they like in Ambry Thomas and Tariq Castro-Fields, but Roseman could be in the market for some insurance.
Edge rusher: Jonathan Greenard’s pectoral injury has the major offseason acquisition sidelined, and while the Eagles are hopeful he’ll be ready for Week 1, his absence highlights what could be a weakness. Jalyx Hunt has emerged as a talented pass rusher, but Nolan Smith Jr. is coming off a season that was marred by injury and inconsistency, and behind him the Eagles have two veterans on one-year deals in Arnold Ebiketie and A.J. Epenesa. International Pathway Player Joshua Weru may push to make the team during his first-ever football training camp, but edge rusher is an important position to complement an interior line group that might be the best in the NFL. A healthy Greenard should make a move unnecessary, but, like cornerback, you rarely consider the value of the insurance policy until it’s time to use it.
For the first time since training camp kicked off late last month, the Eagles got some work against a real opponent Saturday, when they traveled down to Baltimore for what ended up being a 24-7 preseason defeat to the Ravens.
What was learned? Not a whole lot, really. The Eagles, as expected, rested almost all of their projected starters. They ran a pretty bland offense and didn’t peel back the curtain to what the new scheme under Sean Mannion might fully look like.
More will be revealed this week, when the Eagles head north for two joint practices against the New England Patriots on Wednesday and Thursday before preseason game No. 2 on Saturday.
Still, Saturday’s action combined with some recent practice observations were enough to stir some movement in our latest 53-man roster projection. (Here are links to our previous iterations from a month before training camp started, and two weeks ago.)
Quarterbacks (3): Jalen Hurts, Andy Dalton, Cole Payton
Traded: Tanner McKee
Status quo here. Dalton got the start on Saturday, which seemed to reveal that the Eagles consider him QB2 over McKee for now, even despite Nick Sirianni again saying after the game that nothing has been decided. Neither quarterback looked very good, though the play-calling and scheme were pretty vanilla and they were playing behind backup linemen and throwing to backup receivers. The end goal here hasn’t changed. The Eagles likely will be looking for a trade partner for a quarterback-needy team between now and roster cut-down day, which is Aug. 30. We’ll leave McKee as the one who eventually is traded, though it could be Dalton.
Running backs (3): Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley
Cut: Dameon Pierce, Carson Steele, Ja’Quinden Jackson
Same three here from our previous two projections. Pierce popped a little in the early days of camp but has been dealing with a hamstring injury. Shipley had a few solid runs on Saturday, a little bright spot in what was a lousy night for the offense.
Wide receivers (5): DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, Makai Lemon, Darius Cooper, Hollywood Brown
Cut: Elijah Moore, Johnny Wilson, Danny Gray, Britain Covey, Quez Watkins, Erik Ezukanma, Samori Toure
Our first position group with some movement. We’re keeping five players instead of six this time because needs for spots at two positions on defense came up (more on those later). The order of the top five players also has changed. Cooper has moved into the “lock” category with the three guys listed ahead of him, while Brown’s struggles in camp make it fair to wonder if the Eagles would consider cutting him and dealing with the cost of releasing a player who signed a $5 million guaranteed deal. That seems hard to fathom for now. Moore has played well enough to warrant giving him a roster spot, but one could argue keeping Brown and Moore is a bit redundant.
Tight ends (4): Dallas Goedert, Johnny Mundt, Eli Stowers, Cameron Latu
Cut: Grant Calcaterra, Stone Smartt, E.J. Jenkins
Another unchanged position group. Goedert and Mundt will be on the field often, while Stowers, a rookie second-round pick, might need some more seasoning. Latu’s status as a blocker and special teamer should have him on the right side of the cuts.
Offensive line (10): Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, Lane Johnson, Fred Johnson, Markel Bell, Drew Kendall, Willie Lampkin, Micah Morris
Cut: Myles Hinton, Michael Jordan, John Ojukwu, Jake Majors, Cameron Williams, Hollin Pierce
Two new names make the cut with the final two spots in this group. The first eight players listed are locks. Lampkin has come on strong over the last week or so and was a bright spot Saturday. Lampkin and Morris, a sixth-round pick, are in the field over Jordan and Hinton for now. The No. 9 and No. 10 spots certainly are still up for grabs. It’s also possible the Eagles keep only nine on the initial 53 and try to get some guys through to the practice squad. Kendall and Lampkin can play both center and guard.
Defensive tackles (6): Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Byron Young, Ty Robinson, Uar Bernard
Cut: Gabe Hall, Zion Wilson, David Blay
We left Robinson off of our initial iterations of this exercise, but he had his best week of camp and had a sack Saturday (though he did have some mishaps, too). Bernard remains the wild card. For now, we’ll guess the Eagles decide it’s too risky to expose him to waivers and keep him on the roster after camp breaks. Robinson offers some insurance at a position where the Eagles are rostering a player who likely won’t play.
Ty Robinson sacks Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley during the first quarter of a preseason game.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Edge rushers (6): Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, Arnold Ebiketie, A.J. Epenesa, Joshua Weru
Cut: Tarron Jackson, Keyshawn James-Newby, Jose Ramirez
This may be considered an overreaction. Weru, an International Pathway Player like Bernard, played his first-ever padded football game Saturday and had a quarterback hit. Sure, he was unblocked off the edge, but you saw the athleticism the Eagles loved when they signed the former rugby player from Kenya. Weru has a lot of developing to do, but he has clocked a 4.45-second 40-yard dash, a 41 1/2-inch vertical leap, and a broad jump of 11-2. If he flashes in more preseason action, will another team claim him if the Eagles waive him?
Much has been made about Bernard. The Eagles drafted him in the seventh round and signed Weru as an undrafted free agent. But they might have two players worth protecting come Aug. 30. We’ll see. Ahead of Weru, those five spots should be considered locks. Barring injury, don’t expect much movement here. It’s the top five guys, and then maybe Weru.
Cut: Chance Campbell, Deontae Lawson, Brandon George
There’s some buzz around Chance Campbell. Vic Fangio seems to like him. The 2022 sixth-round pick came off injury and was a well-liked member of the practice squad last year. He’s also having a good camp. But unless the Eagles want to cut Mondon, their own fifth-round draft pick from last season, it seems superfluous to keep five off-ball linebackers just for the heck of it. Mondon seems to be developing and is a solid special teamer. Trotter, meanwhile, probably starts on some NFL teams. There doesn’t seem to be a need to keep five players here.
We are going one fewer here than last time for a few reasons. Needs along the defensive line forced the hand a little, and there’s also some positional versatility in the defensive backfield that makes it unnecessary to roster six corners if there are other positions worth stretching. Michael Carter II, who is in a competition to start at safety, can be the backup nickel. DeJean will play safety in base. Jones, who is out right now with a shoulder injury, and McWilliams offer inside-out abilities. Ringo is the roster casualty here. He had a nice interception on Saturday, but also got beat for a touchdown.
Kelee Ringo intercepts a pass in the end zone to stop a Ravens drive late during a preseason game.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Safeties (4): Drew Mukuba, Marcus Epps, Michael Carter II, J.T. Gray
Cut: Cole Wisniewski, Andre’ Sam, Max Pulley, Kapena Gushiken
This position is getting pretty interesting. Wisniewski, a seventh-round pick, has been sidelined by a hamstring injury, and it’s hard to give him a roster spot right now. The new UDFAs, Gushiken and Pulley, have had their moments. Sam has been around the building on the practice squad for a few years. But we’ll give the fourth spot to Gray for now. The 30-year-old is an elite special teamer.
Special teams (3): Jake Elliott (kicker), Braden Mann (punter), Rocco Underwood (long snapper)
These are the only three specialists on the roster. Underwood has had a few snapping issues so far in camp, but the Eagles haven’t brought anyone else in. They could cut him on Aug. 30 and then find another snapper before Week 1.
BALTIMORE — The Eagles haven’t publicly said who the No. 2 quarterback is, and they still aren’t after one preseason game. It’s early, Nick Sirianni has said, and both Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee have taken reps with the second-team offense during the 11 training camp practices, though Dalton seemingly has at times taken more than McKee.
Nothing reveals the standing of a depth chart quite the way a game does, though.
The Eagles made their pecking order public when Andy Dalton trotted onto the M&T Bank Stadium field at 7:07 p.m. with Saturday’s starters. (The Eagles rested all of their projected starters on offense.)
But his lone quarter of action — three series without the offense gaining a first down — did little to show his status as the No. 2 is above scrutiny.
With the necessary caveats that Saturday night was the first preseason game, and few regulars dressed, and the game itself was entirely meaningless, the Sean Mannion era got underway with Dalton at quarterback, two penalties on four attempted plays, and an eventual punt after netting three yards.
Dalton’s next two drives ended in three-and-outs. There appeared to be some miscommunication between the 38-year-old veteran and second-year receiver Darius Cooper during the second series, and the third ended when Cooper dropped a third-and-5 timing throw from Dalton. The pass may have been thrown a little bit too hard, but it was a catch Cooper surely wanted back.
Andy Dalton got the start on Saturday but did little to set himself apart in the QB2 competition. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
That was Dalton’s last snap of the game. He finished the night having completed three of his six passes for 20 yards. His quarterback rating was 57.6, and the offense netted 27 yards on nine plays with Dalton as the quarterback.
McKee was next up, and the Eagles gave their 2025 backup quarterback some extended run. The offense performed only mildly better.
We saw elements of the new-look offense under Mannion from the beginning of the game. The Eagles utilized more motion, and their quarterbacks took more snaps from under center. Their running backs ran more outside zone runs.
But it was a rough night for the offense overall. Of course, the Eagles aren’t going to be putting anything they want to keep close to the vest on film, but they failed to move the football with their vanilla stuff.
“We have a lot of mistakes that we put on film,” McKee said. “I’m included in that as well. As long as we don’t make those same mistakes, I think it’s going to be a positive. With a new offense, with so many things that are new, mistakes are obviously going to happen. That many is unacceptable, but we’re going to learn from it and be better.”
McKee got himself into a manageable third down on his first set of downs. He rolled left after faking a handoff and found Britain Covey in space to pick up four yards on a second-and-7 play. But the ensuing third-and-3 throw was too high for Grant Calcaterra on the sideline.
The running game got going on the next drive. Will Shipley started the drive with an 8-yard run before McKee connected with Cooper on a slant for 13 yards. It was the Eagles’ first first down of the day, and it came on their 14th play from scrimmage. A few Shipley runs moved the Eagles into Ravens territory midway through the second quarter, but a Jake Majors holding penalty pushed the Eagles back to their end of the field. The Eagles eventually punted after McKee couldn’t connect with Danny Gray on a third-and-12 throw.
Ravens cornerback Keyon Martin sacks Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee forcing a punt during the third quarter on Saturday. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
After a brief, two-play drive before halftime, McKee returned for the third quarter and was sacked on third-and-7 on the Eagles’ first drive of the second half. The subsequent drive ended when McKee fired too high for Cooper on the right sideline.
McKee, who broke out and became the bona fide No. 2 last year during camp, exited after the third quarter with the Eagles trailing, 17-0, and behind in the first down department, 26-2 (it got to 30-2). He finished the night 6-for-10 for 35 yards with a 66.7 rating before giving way to rookie fifth-round pick Cole Payton. Payton quickly went three-and-out in his first series as a pro but led the team’s only scoring drive in garbage time, culminating in a 6-yard touchdown pass to Erik Ezukanma and the 24-7 final score.
What did it all mean? Perhaps not much, though if you were looking to be inspired by the new-look offense, which had two pretty experienced quarterbacks operating it for the first three quarters, you probably had a rough Saturday night.
On a night where the Eagles played a football game for the first time in eight months, their intriguing backup quarterback race was a bit of a snoozer.
The players were told a few days ago, they said, how the order would go Saturday night, but Dalton said the coaching staff said things could change week to week.
“I think it’s still a competition,” Dalton said. “It’s going back and forth the whole time, so I don’t know where this whole thing is going to go.”
Time is not yet of the essence. The Eagles return to the practice field Monday before heading up to New England for two joint practices vs. the Patriots and another preseason game there next Saturday.
It still remains hard to believe the Eagles keep both Dalton and McKee, which would have to happen either by cutting Payton or by keeping four quarterbacks. There is plenty of tape out there on both of them, but the film Saturday likely wasn’t going to make any team want to jump at the opportunity to part with draft capital to acquire one of them — a result Howie Roseman probably is hoping for before camp breaks.
There’s still time before then.
“I’ll let the coaches decide that,” McKee said. “My job is to go out and play when they call my number. How that’s going, I’m going to put in the work, do the extra stuff, do everything I can to have my case of why I believe I should be the backup, but ultimately the decision falls on the coaches.”
