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  • Eagles grades vs. Patriots: Running backs have strong performance, QB2 role still undecided in 24-21 loss

    Eagles grades vs. Patriots: Running backs have strong performance, QB2 role still undecided in 24-21 loss

    FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Instant grades on the Eagles’ performance in their 24-21 loss to the Patriots:

    Quarterback: C+

    Jalen Hurts and the starting offense got the night off after getting plenty of work in two joint practices with the Patriots. Andy Dalton made his second straight start ahead of Tanner McKee. He was once again erratic as a passer. Dalton completed just 3 of 10 passes for 44 yards. He had a couple misfires in which he overthrew Eagles receivers on the first drive. Dalton had a strong throw to convert an early fourth down. But he failed to recognize an unblocked blitz in the second quarter and never looked in sync. He hasn’t done enough to win the No. 2 job.

    McKee took over before the half. He was more effective than Dalton, but far from great. McKee was most productive when he got the ball out quickly or to running back Carson Steele. He struggled at times when he went beyond his first reads from the pocket. But he was decisive on schemed-up layups off play-action and misdirection.

    Eagles offense shows growth in preseason game No. 2, backup QB race heats up in 24-21 loss at Patriots

    In all, McKee completed 16 of 22 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. He held the ball too long and took a sack before the half. He also got pressured out of the pocket on third down in the fourth quarter and threw wide of his safety valve.

    Rookie Cole Payton didn’t play until the Eagles’ last-gasp possession. He stepped back into a game-ending strip sack.

    Eagles running back Will Shipley celebrates a touchdown with center Jake Majors during the second quarter on Saturday night.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Running back: A-

    Tank Bigsby was one of several healthy Eagles who didn’t dress after playing in the preseason opener. That meant Will Shipley got the nod in the backfield. He picked up where he left off in a strong joint practice performance. Shipley rushed for 56 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. He ran with vision and motored 18 yards off the right on his first carry. Shipley kept his legs churning on a later 9-yard rush and on his 5-yard touchdown.

    Steele looked nimble with the ball in his hands after short throws from McKee. He hurdled a defender on a 14-yard catch and run in the second quarter. Steele had the Eagles’ longest reception, for 28 yards, in the third quarter. And he scored a go-ahead 20-yard receiving touchdown in the fourth quarter. Steele finished with six catches for 84 yards. It was tougher sledding on the ground. He averaged just 2.8 yards a carry.

    Receiver / Tight end — C-

    Makai Lemon was still out with a hamstring injury. The Eagles are hoping their top draft pick will be healthy enough for the preseason finale on Friday. Hollywood Brown, like Bigsby, got the night off after playing a week ago. Elijah Moore was sidelined with a neck injury he suffered on Wednesday. Darius Cooper looked better than he did against the Ravens. He had a 25-yard pickup with yards after the catch on a short crosser in the first quarter. Cooper also converted a short fourth down with a 13-yard catch in the soft spot of a zone.

    Eli Stowers has yet to pop. It’s still early for the rookie tight end. But it’s clear that he has a way to go as a blocker and a receiver. He had no chance vs. a Patriots edge on an early one-on-one block attempt. But Stowers helped clear out a lane for Shipley on his 5-yard score. He was covered on two targets through the air.

    Eagles wide receiver Britain Covey scored on a screen pass before the first half ended.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Receiver Britain Covey scored a 14-yard touchdown just before the half when he navigated into the end zone after a screen pass. Quez Watkins couldn’t reel in a Dalton pass that was catchable. Cameron Latu had some nice moments as blocking tight end. He also had a 14-yard grab. Tight end Stone Smartt caught five passes for 37 yards. Receiver Erik Ezukanma committed a personal foul with a crackback block in the fourth quarter.

    Offensive line: B-

    Willie Lampkin started at center. He had several impressive moments when he climbed to the second level and bottled up linebackers. Drew Kendall started at left guard. He appeared to hold up as a run blocker, as well, particularly on Shipley’s touchdown. The interior pass protection was also solid when Lampkin and Kendall were in the lineup. They were pulled in the second quarter and are roster locks.

    Rookie Markel Bell continued to show promise at right tackle. He helped create a hole on Shipley’s 18-yard tote. The 6-foot-9 Bell still has to work on getting out of his crouch, but he moves well for his size. He got upended at one point, but stayed in the game. Fred Johnson was Bell’s counterpart at left tackle. He didn’t allow any obvious pressure to Dalton’s blindside. It’s unclear if Bell or Johnson has done enough to be the clear swing tackle.

    Jake Majors started at right guard and later played some center. He helped lead the way on Shipley’s 18-yarder. But he struggled with a block that led to a tackle for loss on a run play in the first quarter.

    The second unit O-line was up and down. Tackles Myles Hinton and Cameron Williams and guards Micah Morris and Michael Jordan kept McKee relatively clean in the pocket. They had more issues in opening holes on the ground for Steele. Williams was the guilty party that allowed the game-ending strip sack of Payton.

    Defensive line: B

    Ty Robinson notched his second and third sacks of the preseason. He split the center and the left guard and gobbled up Patriots quarterback Tommy DeVito on the first and stunted outside and closed quickly for the second. Robinson is no longer “on life support.” He’ll make the final roster. Defensive tackle Gabe Hall drew a third-down holding penalty after running a twist on the Patriots’ opening series. He had several run stops.

    Eagles defensive tackle Ty Robinson, whose game was ‘on life support,’ quiets doubters with another strong showing

    Arnold Ebiketie and A.J. Epenesa started at outside linebacker. Epenesa was effective in setting the edge against the run. They each played just a few series. Jose Ramirez batted a pass incomplete on a naked bootleg in which he was unblocked. Joshua Weru registered a sack with a strong outside rush in the third quarter. In run defense, he got pushed around some when setting the edge.

    Rookie Uar Bernard still has a lot to learn. But it’s not like the defensive tackle has looked alien out there. Tarron Jackson teamed up with another Eagles defender for a run tackle for loss in the third quarter. Zion Wilson drew a holding penalty on the first play from scrimmage. He had an early run stop for no gain.

    Linebacker: C+

    Jeremiah Trotter Jr. was in the backfield at the snap and DeVito had no chance to avoid a sack early on. He an additional four tackles before he was taken out in the second quarter. Smael Mondon took a bad angle on an early screen pass. He blitzed once and nearly got home.

    Chance Campbell was on the field after Trotter left. He defeated a lead block to make a run stop near the line in the second quarter. He tallied seven tackles. Deontae Lawson showed occasional good instincts against the run. He got cut down on a 20-yard rush up the middle late in the third quarter.

    Patriots wide receiver Nick DeGennaro scores a 37-yard touchdown past Eagles cornerback Isaiah Bolden late in Saturday’s preseason game.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Cornerback: D+

    Mac McWilliams started on the outside opposite Kelee Ringo. He gave up a number of early catches and whiffed on a tackle attempt in the second quarter. Ringo should have had an interception on the first DeVito pass thrown in his direction. He didn’t give up much else.

    Ambry Thomas had brutal back-to-back plays in the second quarter when he slid off a receiver and then got toasted on a go route by Patriots receiver Kyle Williams for a 69-yard touchdown.

    Shaun Wade got beat for a 24-yard reception in the second quarter. He punched the ball out for a fumble in the fourth quarter and led the Eagles with 10 stops. Kapena Gushiken came up and made a few strong run tackles from the slot. Isaiah Bolden, who was just signed to the roster a few days ago, got burned on the Patriots’ game-winning 37-yard touchdown. There was no safety help

    Safety: C+

    Michael Carter II started at safety and played just one series. His versatility has assured him a spot on the team. Rookie Cole Wisniewski played in his first NFL game after missing a few weeks of camp. He looked solid upon first glance and had four tackles. Wisniewski and Andre Sam didn’t get beat in the post. Sam made a number of plays near the box. He’s had a solid summer and could sneak onto the 53, or at least the practice squad.

    Maximus Pulley has been one of the more promising undrafted rookies. He didn’t stand out, good or bad, at safety. He’s also a nice special teams performer.

    Special teams: B

    Ja’Quinden Jackson suffered a serious injury on the opening kickoff of the game. The Eagles running back required medical attention from both teams and eventually had to be placed on a stretcher and taken away in an ambulance to a local hospital. The team later said he had strength and movement in all his extremities.

    Kicker Jake Elliott connected on all three extra points. The Eagles’ kickoff coverage was sound. Punter Braden Mann averaged 42 net yards on four boots. Covey muffed his first punt return, but was able to avoid a fumble. He bounced back with a 21-yard return on his next try. In all, Covey averaged 9.5 yards on four returns.

    Nick Sirianni shown before the Eagles-Patriots preseason game.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Coaching: C

    Nick Sirianni, to no surprise, opted to not dress his starters on both sides of the ball. Patriots coach Mike Vrabel did the same. The Eagles looked more cohesive and prepared than they did a week ago, although it’s difficult to place much stock in the preseason. They still lost another game. Aside from Jackson, there weren’t any apparent significant injuries.

    Offensive coordinator Sean Mannion called plays from the booth a week after doing so from the sideline. He favored the ground game with Shipley and the O-line having early production. The dropback pass game left much to be desired, however. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s group was relatively sharp. The front seven was physical and got push and penetration. There were some sloppy moments throughout the game, as was to be expected.

  • Eagles defensive tackle Ty Robinson, whose game was ‘on life support,’ quiets doubters with another strong showing

    Eagles defensive tackle Ty Robinson, whose game was ‘on life support,’ quiets doubters with another strong showing

    FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Three days ago, Vic Fangio blasted Ty Robinson with a backhanded compliment when asked about the defensive tackle’s strong first preseason game.

    “Yeah, he came to life,” Fangio said. “He’s been on life support since he’s been here, but he came to life and hopefully that will continue.”

    After Saturday, it’s clear Robinson is alive and well.

    The 25-year-old put on a show in the Eagles’ 24-21 preseason loss vs. the Patriots at Gillette Stadium, logging two sacks, four tackles, and three quarterback hits. Through two preseason games, Robinson now has three sacks, four quarterback hits, and three tackles for loss.

    Eagles defensive tackle Ty Robinson sacks Patriots quarterback Tommy DeVito during the second quarter on Saturday. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    So, did Robinson hear what Fangio said?

    ”I did,” Robinson said. “And you know what, I’ll take that as a compliment. He’s not wrong. Last year I had to find myself. I was on a scout team just understanding how the NFL worked and going up against a pretty good offensive line, so getting to work against those guys and just get better. It’s obviously showing that it’s helped.”

    Fangio’s analysis wasn’t wrong. The 2025 Eagles fourth-round pick (111th overall) was buried on the depth chart a year ago, logging just 34 defensive snaps and totaling five tackles and one QB hit.

    At the beginning of training camp, he took reps with the developmental group — a clear sign he was sliding down the depth chart. The ex-Nebraska standout looked like a candidate to miss the 53-man roster all together.

    Everything changed with a string of great practices and an excellent preseason showing.

    Early in the first quarter last Saturday, Robinson blew past Ravens guard Emery Jones Jr. to sack quarterback Tyler Huntley. In the days leading up to the Ravens game, Robinson showed his ferocity in another way when he had a brief skirmish with guard Tyler Steen after a one-on-one rep.

    Eagles grades vs. Patriots: Running backs have strong performance, QB2 role still undecided in 24-21 loss

    Against the Patriots, Robinson ran the same stunt twice to bring down quarterback Tommy DeVito two times in the second quarter.

    The Eagles still have a loaded defensive tackle group. Don’t expect Robinson to dethrone Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo or even Byron Young anytime soon.

    But for the first time since he turned pro, Robinson is showing promise — which surely pleases general manager Howie Roseman, who spent an early Day 3 pick on him last year.

  • Eagles offense shows growth in preseason game No. 2, backup QB race heats up in 24-21 loss at Patriots

    Eagles offense shows growth in preseason game No. 2, backup QB race heats up in 24-21 loss at Patriots

    FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — It would’ve been a heartbreaker for the Eagles, but alas, it’s the preseason.

    The Eagles gave up a four-point lead in the final minute of their second game of the exhibition slate against the New England Patriots. Patriots quarterback Behren Morton completed a 37-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Nick DeGennaro over the head of Eagles cornerback Isaiah Bolden to win, 24-21.

    Here’s our instant analysis from the Eagles’ second game of the preseason:

    Tanner McKee did a good job engineering the Eagles quick passing game on Saturday. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Tanner Time?

    Two games into the preseason, the momentum in the backup quarterback competition could be shifting.

    Andy Dalton started for a second straight week, seemingly an acknowledgment that he’s ahead of Tanner McKee in the competition for QB2. But again, Dalton failed to impress through three possessions.

    On 21 plays, Dalton went 3-for-10 for 44 yards. He was nearly intercepted twice by Patriots cornerback Kindle Vildor. The ball hit the ground on one of Vildor’s would-be picks, and on the same play, outside linebacker Gabe Jacas was flagged for roughing the passer.

    Eagles grades vs. Patriots: Running backs have strong performance, QB2 role still undecided in 24-21 loss

    On the ensuing play, Dalton had another close call when his pass for Quez Watkins over the middle of the field almost ended up in Vildor’s hands.

    Meanwhile, McKee improved upon his performance in the preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens. On 36 plays, he went 16-for-22 for 173 yards and two touchdowns, good for a 125.8 quarterback rating.

    He was nearly perfect on the Eagles’ scoring drive just before the end of the first half, completing three of four passing attempts for 44 yards and a touchdown. Each of his three completions — 16- and 14-yarders to Carson Steele and a 14-yard touchdown pass to Britain Covey — were short passes in which the receivers picked up ample yards after the catch.

    McKee almost made it a second touchdown pass in the third quarter. He attempted to find E.J. Jenkins in the left corner of the end zone on fourth-and-3 at the 9-yard line, but the 27-year-old tight end dropped the pass.

    He completed his second touchdown throw late in the fourth quarter to Steele, a 20-yard catch-and-run that put the Eagles up, 21-17. He helped bail the Eagles out from a pair of penalties on the drive — an Erik Ezukanma illegal crackback block and a false start — by completing two passes to Ezukanma for a total of 24 yards and the touchdown pass to Steele.

    Eagles defensive tackle Ty Robinson, whose game was ‘on life support,’ quiets doubters with another strong showing

    After the game, Nick Sirianni said that “everything is accounted for” in the competition for the QB2 gig, not limited to preseason performance. Dalton is taking fewer snaps in the preseason, Sirianni said, because he has more experience in similar systems to Sean Mannion’s.

    “I think both the guys are battling,” Sirianni said. “I’m really confident in both the guys. And we’ll see where that goes. Again, like I said, that’s still a competition.”

    Cole Payton, the rookie fifth-round quarterback out of North Dakota State, took over with less than a minute remaining in the game. He was strip-sacked on the third play of the drive, with the Patriots recovering the fumble to secure the win.

    Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. sacks Patriots quarterback Tommy DeVito in Saturday’s preseason game. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Back-to-back sacks

    Another week, another standout performance from a pair of young defensive players.

    Jeremiah Trotter Jr. may not be poised for a starting role behind Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell, neither of whom played on Saturday. But the 2024 fifth-round inside linebacker out of Clemson continues to make an impact in the preseason on minimal snaps.

    On the Patriots’ second possession of the night, Trotter gave Patriots quarterback Tommy DeVito fits. On third-and-3, DeVito fled the pocket with Smael Mondon and A.J. Epenesa in the backfield. Trotter ran from the defensive left hashes to the right side of the field outside of the numbers to tackle a scrambling DeVito, limiting a would-be double-digit-yard gain to just seven yards.

    Two plays later, Trotter blitzed the “A” gap unblocked and sacked DeVito seemingly in an instant for a loss of four yards.

    Eagles reserve running back Ja’Quinden Jackson immobilized, removed from field by ambulance in preseason game vs. Patriots

    “As far as my career, that was probably the fastest [sack],” Trotter said. “I was surprised how it split open like that. But I was able to get good timing on that blitz. So it worked out nice.”

    Defensive tackle Ty Robinson also reprised his strong preseason performance against the Ravens. Last week, he had one sack. On Saturday, he notched two on DeVito.

    Halfway through the second quarter, Robinson beat Patriots left guard Mekhi Butler on the first sack for a loss of nine yards. Later in the second, the 2025 fourth-round defensive tackle out of Nebraska had another sack, this time on a stunt with Jose Ramirez on the right side of the line.

    “That was Coach Vic [Fangio]’s play call,” Robinson said. “Jose’s an awesome person to run those types of games with. And he really did a great job coming in there and picking the guard for me to wrap around and that tackle stayed on him. So I told him I owed him one, especially since we ran two in a row. So I told him I’ve got him next time.”

    Will Shipley and the Eagles running game posted an encouraging effort in Foxborough. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Sail the Ship, Steele the show

    After Eagles running backs combined for just 31 yards on 11 carries (2.8 yards per carry) against the Ravens, the entire rushing unit fared better on Saturday.

    Will Shipley and the game’s starting offensive line — which included left tackle Fred Johnson, left guard Drew Kendall, center Willie Lampkin, right guard Jake Majors, and right tackle Markel Bell — dominated the Patriots defensive front.

    On the second Eagles possession of the game, the offense rode Shipley into the end zone. He had seven carries for 30 yards on the drive, including a 5-yard touchdown run up the middle behind the stellar blocking of Kendall and Lampkin that put the Eagles up, 7-0.

    Shipley finished the night with 11 carries for 56 yards (5.1 yards per carry).

    Steele, the 2024 undrafted free agent out of UCLA who spent the last two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, picked up where Shipley left off. He had some solid runs, but he was particularly eye-catching as a pass catcher.

    After the two-minute warning in the first half, Steele caught a check down three yards behind the line of scrimmage on first-and-10 from the Patriots’ 28. Steele scurried downfield, hurdling Patriots cornerback Brandon Crossley in the process.

    Late in the fourth quarter, Steele scored the go-ahead touchdown on another short pass from McKee. Steele turned two yards into 20 with his legs, bolting into the end zone and pulling the Eagles ahead, 21-17.

    Steele had 12 carries for 33 yards (2.8 yards per carry). He was also the Eagles’ leading receiver with six catches for 84 yards and a touchdown.

    “I had a blast,” Steele said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get the win, but we executed a lot more things. Definitely took our game up a level from last weekend. Just got to keep progressing from there.”

    Eagles running back Ja’Quinden Jackson is taken off the field in a stretcher after suffering an injury on the opening kickoff Saturday night. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Injury report

    Eagles depth running back Ja’Quinden Jackson was stretchered into an ambulance on the field after going down during the opening kickoff. The team announced later in the first quarter that he had strength and movement in all extremities and he was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.

    Mac McWilliams, the 2025 fifth-round cornerback out of Central Florida, visited the medical tent in the first half. He eventually headed indoors and did not return to action.

    Bell, the 2026 third-rounder out of Miami, also visited the medical tent in the first half. He remained on the bench but did not return to action.

  • Andrew Painter has best start of his career as Phillies cruise past the Cardinals: ‘The ceiling is so high for him’

    Andrew Painter has best start of his career as Phillies cruise past the Cardinals: ‘The ceiling is so high for him’

    A few short weeks ago, the Phillies struck out looking for a back end starting pitcher at the trade deadline.

    Three days prior, out of options for the fifth slot in their rotation, the team recalled top prospect Andrew Painter, who’d struggled through his first go-round in the majors.

    On Saturday against the Cardinals, Painter showed exactly why the Phillies and everyone else were so high on him in the first place, striking out eight in a one-run, seven-inning performance in the Phillies’ 12-3 win, the best start of his major league career.

    “The whole outing today, he looked like — he was a dog on the mound,” J.T. Realmuto said. “He wanted to get guys out. He wanted to attack the strike zone. He looked really confident out there.”

    Bryson Stott is having a hot August but got a day off on Saturday: ‘I’ve just got to keep everybody in the mix a little bit’

    Painter earned a big standing ovation from the Citizens Bank Park crowd after throwing the last of his 102 pitches.

    “The guy we saw today, the ceiling is so high for him,” Realmuto said. “If he has that demeanor and that much confidence on the mound, he can be whatever he wants in this game.”

    Painter gave up just one run in the sixth inning, an RBI single from Alec Burleson.

    Since his 2024 Tommy John surgery, Painter has been trying to rebuild his fastball, which was identified as his best weapon as a prospect. He threw 32% of his fastballs for either called strikes or whiffs on Saturday.

    “It doesn’t look as hittable,” interim manager Don Mattingly said. “ … I think one of the things they talked about is him working sideways when he was here. I don’t know. I look at it from a hitter standpoint, guys that are going sideways, they’re dragging the barrel. Pitchers, when they’re going sideways, they’re dragging the arm, and they’re also showing the ball early.”

    The Phillies worked with him on getting down the mound, and also on “letting go” and being more aggressive.

    After a blow-up first inning in his last start in Minnesota, Painter said he focused on using that first inning against St. Louis to attack and win the at-bats, instead of “falling into the trap” of using it to “feel stuff out.”

    Hayes: Wins matter most for Phillies and Eagles, not Zack Wheeler’s and Jhoan Duran’s ERAs or Jalen Hurts’ QBR

    He started Saturday’s game with a 1-2-3 inning, including two strikeouts. Painter didn’t walk a single batter and generated 20 whiffs total. He also made heavy use of his new changeup, something he worked on in his stint in triple A. He got six whiffs and averaged 92 mph on the pitch.

    Having that changeup in the mix, which he threw 28 times compared to 25 fastballs, could be helping his fastball tick back up where he and the Phillies want it.

    “It tends to widen out the fastball grip, probably a bit less forearm fatigue, but I think it’s harder, and it moves more too,” Painter said. “Being able to play those two pitches off of each other helps a lot.”

    Even deep into the seventh inning, Painter threw a 99.6 mph fastball on his 100th pitch.

    “There’s a lot of mechanical things that lead to a little bit more gas in the tank later in the games,” Painter said. “ … I know that’s probably my last at-bat. I didn’t want to walk off that mound with anything left in the tank.”

    Brandon Marsh (left) greets Kyle Schwarber after Schwarber’s solo home run in the eighth inning.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    But the Phillies didn’t even need a gem from Painter to pick up the win, thanks to their thriving offense. The Phillies have long been a team that relied on the long ball, but by the time Bryce Harper hit the Phillies’ first home run of the game in the sixth inning, they’d already scored eight runs thanks to their small-ball game.

    Alec Bohm, who hit the walk-off triple in Friday’s win, stayed hot in the first inning, knocking a single to left to score the Phillies’ first run after Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner walked and singled to get on base. Edmundo Sosa followed with a double to make it 3-0 in the first.

    In the third, Bohm, Sosa, and Luis Arraez loaded the bases with singles, then Bryan De La Cruz knocked in two more runs with a single. J.T. Realmuto added a sacrifice fly, and Derek Hill doubled to put the Phillies up by 7-0. Schwarber added another sacrifice fly in the sixth, followed by Harper’s three-run homer. Schwarber homered in the eighth off position player Pedro Páges to cap off the Phillies 12-3 win.

    Arraez was removed from the game with lower body cramps in the third inning. Hill was removed with neck stiffness in the sixth. Both will be evaluated.

  • Eagles reserve running back Ja’Quinden Jackson back with team after leaving field in ambulance

    Eagles reserve running back Ja’Quinden Jackson back with team after leaving field in ambulance

    FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Eagles running back Ja’Quinden Jackson was stretchered into an ambulance on the field after the opening kickoff of Saturday night’s preseason game against the New England Patriots.

    Jackson, 24, went down on his back during the play and appeared to go into a fencing position. Medical trainers placed Jackson onto a backboard, and then a stretcher, before he was wheeled into the back of an ambulance that drove onto the field.

    Later in the first quarter, the Eagles announced that Jackson has strength and movement in all of his extremities. He was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.

    Early Sunday morning, the Eagles said Jackson returned to Philadelphia with the rest of the team.

    “It’s always a tough thing to [see] and we’re always praying for him,” Eagles running back Carson Steele said after the game. “But he was supposed to be out there a lot tonight, too, as well. He’s a great athlete, great player. Just had to go out there and do it for him and do it for the rest of the team as well.”

    The Eagles signed Jackson on Aug. 10. The 2025 undrafted free agent out of Arkansas spent his rookie season on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad.

  • Bryson Stott is having a hot August but got a day off: ‘I’ve just got to keep everybody in the mix a little bit’

    Bryson Stott is having a hot August but got a day off: ‘I’ve just got to keep everybody in the mix a little bit’

    The Phillies haven’t faced a true left-handed starting pitcher since Aug. 15, a full week ago. After facing Quinn Mathews on Saturday, they’re not set to face another anytime soon.

    That’s why Bryson Stott, who’s hitting .317 with a .905 OPS in August, wasn’t in the starting lineup against the St. Louis Cardinals. Neither were Brandon Marsh or Justin Crawford. Derek Hill, Bryan De La Cruz, and Edmundo Sosa got the start in their place.

    “I’ve just got to keep everybody in the mix a little bit,” interim manager Don Mattingly said. “We hardly see any lefties right now, and these guys got to be ready to play. If I don’t ever put them in there, it’s tough. He doesn’t need a rest. He’s fine. It’s just trying to keep everyone in the mix.”

    Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly says he wants to keep other players fresh, especially against a run of right-handed starting pitchers.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Stott, despite being a lefty hitter, actually has hit lefties better than righties this year, hitting .301 with an .839 OPS against lefties vs. .251 and .727 against righties. Saturday was the first game he hasn’t started since the All-Star break.

    The Mariners are set to throw three righties when the Phillies roll into town. The Cardinals haven’t released their starting pitcher for Sunday, but Matthew Liberatore, the rotation’s only lefty, pitched on Aug. 19, so he almost certainly won’t take the mound for the series finale.

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    Tanner Banks injury update

    Reliever Tanner Banks has been on the injured list since July 9 with a left forearm strain, but he threw about 30 pitches in a live bullpen session before Saturday’s game.

    Mattingly said if Banks continues to feel good, he could go on a minor-league rehab assignment during the Phillies’ road trip.

    Before the injury, Banks was in the middle of by far the worst season of his major league career, with a 7.14 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP in 28 appearances, compared to a career 4.01 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. Per Statcast, his expected ERA is only 4.41, which would be his second-worst ERA, but it indicates he could be due for some positive regression.

    Phillies pitcher Tanner Banks has been on the injured list since July 9 but threw a live bullpen session on Saturday.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    When he returns, Mattingly said the Phillies are still considering all options for how to use him, including in a bulk role.

    “The last time he went down, we did think about bulk a little bit, obviously he’s throwing 30 pitches [Saturday],” Mattingly said. “I don’t think it would be all one-inning stints in the minor leagues. They’re going to try and get him one-plus, build him up, as long as he’s ready for that.”

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    Kyle Schwarber, first baseman?

    Kyle Schwarber took a few grounders pregame at first base, but Mattingly said there haven’t been any recent conversations about giving Schwarber another game at first. Schwarber has appeared in four games at first, most recently on Aug. 10.

    “He may be thinking that because he came out here today,” Mattingly said. “Usually when he comes out, he might be thinking that, but we haven’t really talked about it.”

    Pregame, Schwarber met with Brandon Graham and Joe Eitl, a heart and liver transplant recipient, who threw out the first pitch pregame with the Gift of Life Donor Program.

  • unCovering the Birds: Two Important Days

    unCovering the Birds: Two Important Days

    The Eagles’ first-stringers get little to no action in exhibition games, annual joint practices with other teams become one of the few opportunities for starters to get preseason reps of consequence. This year, the Eagles traveled to New England for two days of live workouts with the Patriots. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Boston Sports Journal’s Greg A. Bedard recap what they saw, and explain why, even after the joint practices, the Eagles still haven’t shown much of an identity.

    00:00 Eagles vs. Patriots joint practices: was there a winner?

    04:37 Bedard’s impressions of Eagles’ new offense

    09:42 What will offensive coordinator Sean Mannion be able to get out of quarterback Jalen Hurts?

    21:30 How has A.J. Brown looked for Patriots?

    29:50 Highlighting some key one-on-one battles

    36:03 Are joint practices worth it?

    43:14 Jeff’s mailbag

    unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the season. We’re always looking for mailbag questions! Hit Jeff up on his socials, or drop a question in the comments. Jeff could answer it in a future episode!

  • No matter his role, VJ Edgecombe can’t wait to play with his new Sixers teammates

    No matter his role, VJ Edgecombe can’t wait to play with his new Sixers teammates

    VJ Edgecombe weaved his way around the Alan Horwitz “Sixth Man” Center, interacted with the kids at his ProCamp, and stopped to say hello or grab a quick selfie with almost all those in attendance at his event on Saturday.

    A smile hardly left his face as he dunked on campers and participated in some knockout and dribbling drills. That upbeat personality and love for the game are what fans hope burn in the young 76ers guard for a long time.

    One of the concerns with the addition of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in this momentous offseason is how those moves may affect the trajectory of Edgecombe, who at 21, will be entering his second season but could see a significant shift in his role. To hear Edgecombe talk at the camp, that’s not really a worry for him. Any chatter that his development may stall or he might grow unhappy with a reduced role is just talk.

    “I mean, it don’t matter what happens, there’s always going to be someone that has something to say,” Edgecombe said. “But I just want to win. I’m going to still be aggressive, still be myself. If that comes with less shots or more shots, who knows. I don’t know how the course of the game is going to go. I’m just excited to play alongside my teammates. I think we have a chance to do something really special.”

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    Edgecombe averaged 16 points on 13.7 shot attempts last season. In the wake of James signing with the team, Edgecombe told ESPN he was just focusing on getting up as many shots as he could this summer, since there were going to be opportunities for open jumpers with the talent around him. He said he has to make defenses respect him (he shot 35.4% from three-point range) to help the offense function and make life easier for his new teammates.

    “It’s fine if they don’t respect me, I’ll just get a bunch of open shots,” Edgecombe said. “I’m just working. That’s the main thing for me. That comes with work. Whatever I want I got to work for it. I’m willing to do that.”

    After James signed, Edgecombe posted himself recreating one of James’ iconic memes, the one with the caption: “Smiling through it all, can’t believe this is my life.”

    That’s because Edgecombe was about to become teammates with his “favorite” player, one who will be twice his age once James turns 42 in December. The first time James FaceTimed with him, Edgecombe said he was starstruck. That feeling hasn’t gone away as the summer has progressed.

    “It’ll probably go away once we’re together in the locker room or something,” Edgecombe said.

    “But I mean, our relationship [has] been growing. We talk. I always ask him questions, just trying to learn a lot.”

    He admitted he’ll have to rein in how often he picks James’ brain.

    “[I’ll] have a bunch of questions, so I’m going to have to control myself when it comes to asking questions,” Edgecombe said. “I’m totally excited. It’s such a blessing. I’m going into Year 2, playing alongside my favorite player ever.”

    There’s still a lot to figure out for Edgecombe and the rest of the new-look Sixers, but it has been a summer filled with good vibes, from various combinations of the team posting workout videos to initiating their group chat and getting to know each other better via text.

    There will be an adjustment period for Edgecombe and his game, but it’s also an rare opportunity for a player at this stage in his career.

    “That’s the main thing for me — just learning, getting to know them,” Edgecombe said. “They’re all great persons. Down to earth, [they’re] not acting super big-time like they are, but they’re really a bunch of humble men. I’m just glad to be around them.”

  • Patriot League denies Villanova quarterback Pat McQuaide’s eligibility appeal for 2026 season

    Patriot League denies Villanova quarterback Pat McQuaide’s eligibility appeal for 2026 season

    The Patriot League Council of Presidents executive committee has denied Villanova’s eligibility appeal for quarterback Pat McQuaide, Richard Hamilton Jr., the attorney representing McQuaide, confirmed to The Inquirer.

    McQuaide and Villanova looked to file an appeal after the Patriot League denied his eligibility for the 2026 season, despite the potential starting quarterback being granted a preliminary injunction to play this year.

    The committee is composed of Lafayette president Dr. Nicole Hurd (chair), Loyola (Md.) president Terrence M. Sawyer (chair-elect), and Holy Cross president Vincent D. Rougeau. Patriot League commissioner Jennifer Heppel is the council’s liaison.

    A request for comment was left with Villanova Athletics. The Patriot League said it doesn’t “comment on individual eligibility issues.”

    On Aug. 4, the Patriot League sent a letter to Villanova stating that it had denied McQuaide’s eligibility waiver request based on the four seasons of competition rule. This decision conflicted with a preliminary injunction granted on Aug. 1 by Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Common Pleas Court Judge Timothy P. McCormick. McQuaide, who’s from Cuyahoga County, sued the NCAA after the governing body denied his waiver request to play in 2026.

    “The Patriot League is now asserting [the four seasons of competition rule] as its basis to prohibit [McQuaide] from playing in any Patriot League games,” Hamilton, who represented McQuaide in Cuyahoga County, previously told The Inquirer. “My understanding is that Villanova has been informed that if he plays in any games, then they’ll be forfeited.”

    The Patriot League denied Villanova quarterback Pat McQuaide’s eligibility for 2026. What’s next?

    According to Page 7, Section 3 of the Patriot League bylaws, the school must submit “a written appeal, along with supporting documentation, to the Patriot League Commissioner no later than fourteen (14) days after receipt of the decision” on a student-athlete’s behalf.

    McQuaide threw for 3,123 yards with 25 touchdowns last year and still could play for the Wildcats this season. However, with the Patriot League denying his eligibility, the case will need to be settled in court.

    On Aug. 11, Hamilton, on behalf of McQuaide, filed a motion for clarification to the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. Hamilton is looking for the court to clarify whether the Patriot League is legally required to obey the court’s preliminary injunction. If so, the conference must allow McQuaide to play.

    Villanova quarterback Pat McQuaide threw for 3,123 yards on 237-of-401 passing with 25 touchdowns and four interceptions last season.Isaiah Vazquez / For The Inquirer

    On Friday, two days after Hamilton filed a notice of supplemental authority to prompt an expedited ruling, the NCAA filed a brief in opposition. The governing body contends that the Patriot League is a “separate entity from the NCAA.” As the conference was not “served process and is not a defendant,” the NCAA is contending the motion for clarification does not apply to the Patriot League.

    The question of McQuaide’s eligibility pertains to his 2022 season at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. In the original waiver request to the NCAA, Villanova argued that the COVID-19 pandemic directly led to the quarterback’s single season with the junior college. McQuaide contends that the pandemic stunted his development in high school, and he landed at Kent State as a walk-on. After one year redshirting with the Golden Flashes, he transferred to Mississippi Gulf Coast before two seasons at Nicholls State. Villanova described the move to a JUCO as a “necessary bridge rather than a choice to ‘use’ an additional season.”

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    JUCO programs are not under the purview of the NCAA, but seasons spent at that level historically counted toward student-athletes’ eligibility. However, Villanova had requested that the season should not count as one of McQuaide’s allotted seasons of eligibility.

    Villanova’s season opener is Friday at 6 p.m. against conference opponent William & Mary. With just six days to go before the opener and McQuaide’s situation unresolved, the Wildcats might have to look at another option at quarterback. Throughout spring and summer camps, senior Robert Russo and freshman Nolan DiLucia have been getting a majority of the starter reps.

  • South Jersey’s Cheryl Reeve is atop the WNBA yet again, helped by a rookie sensation with Philly ties

    South Jersey’s Cheryl Reeve is atop the WNBA yet again, helped by a rookie sensation with Philly ties

    WASHINGTON — When Cheryl Reeve’s Minnesota Lynx finished inches short of a WNBA title two years ago, the presumption was they’d be right back in the Finals a season later.

    The Lynx did the job in the regular season, finishing first by a dominant four games. But they only made it as far as the semifinals, bowing out soon after star Napheesa Collier suffered a major injury in the series.

    Now Minnesota is at it again: The first team in the league to reach 30 wins, five games clear of the field, a playoff berth clinched earlier this month — with a quarter of the season to go.

    So will this be the year the Lynx finally reach the top, and deliver Reeve a record-breaking fifth WNBA title? She’s currently tied at the top with Houston Comets legend Van Chancellor, who won four straight from 1997 to 2000. Reeve’s titles came in 2011, ’13, ’15, and ’17.

    Cheryl Reeve has a joint-record four WNBA titles, but has been waiting nine years now for her fifth.Abbie Parr

    If it happens, Reeve is pretty sure she’ll know why. Though the final verdict isn’t in on whether this team is better than the last two, the Sewell, N.J., native and La Salle product can tell why it’s different.

    “Kayla McBride being an All-WNBA player, I think, is a big, big reason for our success,” she said of the guard from Erie, Pa., who’s having a stellar year: 18.3 points per game, including a 43-point explosion against Dallas on Aug. 9.

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    “Napheesa Collier back in the fold and feeling great by the time we get to [the] playoffs,” Reeve said of the five-time All-Star, three-time first-team All-WNBA honoree and a prolific scorer and rebounder who can also pass well.

    “We have a group that never gets rattled and finds a way to compete, and they know exactly what they need to do,” Reeve said. “And we’ve got veterans, like obviously now Collier back in the fold, McBride and Courtney [Williams] who just know really, really well what we’re looking for them to do. Resilience, I think, is what I find with our team.”

    Napheesa Collier (right) is the biggest star on a Minnesota Lynx team full of veterans.Abbie Parr

    But Reeve’s description of a younger player felt just as profound.

    “The rookie sensation,” she said, and she did not have to add Olivia Miles’ name for everyone listening to know. The point guard from Phillipsburg, N.J., who played AAU ball for the Philadelphia Belles, has turned out to be every bit as good as the sport hoped for in her first season as a pro, after starring at Notre Dame and TCU.

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    “That position is one that’s just — it’s incredible when you have someone that can manage the game for you at such a young age,” Reeve said, “and she’s really super mature.”

    The WNBA’s stars — Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, and Collier — garner a lot of the attention. Miles is becoming just as much of a must-watch among hoopheads for her dynamic mix of passing, scoring, and tenacious defense.

    The 23-year-old was at it again Friday in a 94-84 win over the Washington Mystics: 24 points, seven assists, three steals, and three rebounds.

    “Each game, we’re presented with something new that she accomplished,” Reeve said. “And we’re not talking about rookie accolades. We’re talking about, like, all-time in the history of the league type numbers: She’s the fastest player in WNBA history to 700-plus points and 200-plus assists.”

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    Miles returned the praise in her own charismatic style.

    “I knew I was coming into something that was established, and standards existed, and she wasn’t going to take it easy — especially on point guards,” she said. “Actually being in it now, it’s definitely like that. She’s definitely hard on me.”

    Then came the warmth.

    “She gives me a lot of grace knowing that I’m a rookie, and I’m learning, and it’s the hardest position,” Miles said. “And I’ve needed that grace, and I appreciate that from her. … That’s the most important thing for me, knowing where it comes from, her intention, knowing that she ultimately just wants the best for me and wants me to be great.”

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    Reeve put a lot of focus on how quickly Miles built chemistry with the veterans.

    “It was open arms from the from Day 1 that she walked into our practice facility,” Reeve said. “Literally, the first day they watched her make passes, they were oohing and aahing and hyping her up. And by two weeks in, we gave her the job, handed her the keys, and they have loved every second of it.”

    Cheryl Reeve (left) gives Olivia Miles some instructions during a game earlier this year.Abbie Parr

    She also praised how the vets have helped Miles learn the ropes of the pros.

    “They remember being rookies,” Reeve said. “Again, ‘Liv’ is mature, but also, this is a hard league. I think Liv at times appears unfazed, but we see when she has her moments, and it is those veterans that are helping her through that.”

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    Putting everything together, Reeve said though this year’s team might not have the depth of the last two, “we probably have more talent now than we did in the starting five.”

    The end product is the second-highest scoring offense in the league at 92.2 points per game, the third-best scoring defense at 83.4 points allowed per game, and the No. 1 points differential at plus-8.8.

    “If we get it done,” Reeve said of possibly winning a title, “it’s because we had five starters that were playing to their best.”

    This season is her 17th in charge of the Lynx, her 22nd as a head coach overall, and the 38th of a career that has had eight stops across college and pro teams, plus the 2024 Olympic cycle as the U.S. women’s head coach and the two cycles before then as an assistant.

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    Much has changed over those years in women’s basketball. But Reeve made it clear that she still has as much passion as ever for the game and her work.

    “I think the game gives me so much joy,” she said. “The people that you’re in it with, the competitive — just, the feeling you get when that ball is about to be tipped and what’s about to happen. That’s just something that’s sort of innate to those of us that do it for a really long time.”