That’s A Wrap

PHILADELPHIA – The sun was shining and temperatures near-perfect for the Eagles’ preseason finale at Lincoln Financial Field, a stark contrast to the metaphorical storm clouds that hover during the weekend roster trimmings.

While the matinee itself – typically devoid of household names and least pertinent to the evaluation process – is often viewed as little more than the final mile-marker en route to the regular season, it meant everything to many of the players battling for roster spots.

In some cases, much more was at stake, such as staying power.

Among the first to take the field, just under an hour before kickoff, were rookies Cooper DeJean, Ainias Smith and Shon Stephens, along with fourth-year pro Zech McPhearson.

DeJean, in his first game action, totaled four tackles, offering a glimpse of the intriguing characteristics that warranted the second-round selection.

For the Eagles, who on Saturday dropped the preseason finale 26-3 at the hands of the Vikings, offensive production was scarce.

Quarterbacks Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee combined for 18 completions for 173 yards and an interception. Third-year running back Ty Davis-Price was the pulse of the ground game, carrying 12 times for 56 yards but also a lost fumble. Wide receiver Griffin Hebert paced the Eagles in receiving, compiling 48 yards on three catches.

Defensively, safety Tristin McCollum led the way with a combined nine tackles. Veteran linebacker Oren Burks followed close behind with six, adding a sack to his total. The Eagles accrued four sacks on the afternoon, from Burks, Julian Okwara,Ben Van Sumeren and Tarron Jackson.

Let’s get on with the observations.

* Veteran DB James Bradberry was among those who didn’t play. A curious decision, with Avonte Maddox also not dressing, leaving the Eagles thin at safety and only Tristin McCollum and Andre’ Sam remaining to assume the entirety of the snaps. Could the Bradberry deactivation be a ploy to preserve health in an attempt to conjure a trade? Or have the Eagles seen enough in his conversion to safety to warrant a roster spot? Something to ponder.

* Second-round pick Cooper DeJean saw his first game action after working his way back from a weeks-long hamstring injury. He had a turbulent initial series. His illegal contact penalty negated a Tristin McCollum interception, and he trailed WR Lucky Johnson on a deep strike in the left corner of the end zone. The pass ultimately fell incomplete, but put into perspective the learning curve and reps needed for DeJean to fully acclimate.

I still suspect that DeJean will claim the starting nickelback role in a matter of weeks, but it’ll seemingly take some time for him to shake off the rust. DeJean did, however, show instincts and open-field tackling prowess, notably knifing through and stopping Vikings RB Dwayne McBride for a 1-yard loss in the waning moments of the third quarter.

* Not a great sign that EDGE Nolan Smith, a 2023 first-round pick, was rolled out as a starter in the preseason finale. Furthermore, it was an indictment on Smith that he struggled to generate much in the way of edge pressure. For comparison, fellow depth edge players Julian Okwara and Patrick Johnson had little trouble bearing down on Vikings QB Jarran Hall, with Okwara registering a second quarter sack and Johnson consistently giving the RT fits. Smith, by the way, was also on the kickoff team.

* DT Thomas Booker IV’s impressive summer continued all the way through the preseason finale. The third-year defensive tackle showcased an unrelenting motor and exceptional burst and effort throughout, often storming through with disruptive interior pressure, this time providing pressure on Hall and filling the stat sheet as a result of hustle plays. DC Vic Fangio during camp mentioned his preference of carrying between five-t0-seven pure defensive tackles. Booker IV has legitimately elbowed his way into the conversation.

* Third-year CB Josh Jobe won’t make the Eagles for his defensive contributions, but rather his special teams. Even still, it’s conceivable to think his uneven defensive output could be perceived as troubling enough to force him on the outs. Against the Vikings, Jobe appeared tentative – a departure from his physical nature – and tick slow to react. For his part, Jobe was beaten for a touchdown on the opening drive by Vikings WR Trishton Jackson.

Jobe at this time last summer was the Eagles’ top backup at outside corner. He appears to have his confidence shaken coming off a season in which he ultimately dropped in the pecking order. But Jobe, consistently the first player mentioned by special teams coordinator Michael Clay, is the Eagles’ top special teams player and found his way on the 2023 Pro Bowl ballot for his third phase ability. A difficult decision for the Eagles, as I suspect Jobe will be among the final decisions.

* Staying at cornerback, Eli Ricks was underwhelming, especially coming off his stellar showing in the final training camp practice of the summer. For someone who logged just more than 300 defensive snaps as a rookie, Ricks conceded way too many easy completions for my liking.

* Conversely, the Eagles will have some interesting decisions to make at safety, as both McCollum and rookie free agent Andre’ Sam showed well in their final audition. McCollum, who had a first quarter interception stripped away due to the DeJean penalty, demonstrated his range and instincts and led the Eagles in tackles (7). McCollum will be a name to watch, as he’s developed into a core special teamer. McCollum tallied a timely fourth quarter pass breakup on a 3-and-1 attempt to WR Justin Hall, a play after limiting McBride to a 1-yard pickup on a 2nd-and-2.

Sam, as mentioned in my training camp observations, really began to stand out late in camp. His reps saw an uptick. He flies around with urgency and showcased his physicality against the Vikings, coming down and delivering some pops in the running game. I’m not sure there’s room for either – especially if Bradberry factors into the equation – but they’ve proven worthy of a roster spot.

*I’m not sure if veteran LB Oren Burks getting the nod as first-team linebacker alongside rookie Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is an indictment on second-year pro Ben VanSumeren or a case of the team wanting to see more from Burks, who wasn’t even fully cleared until earlier this week in his return from a knee injury. Still, it’s worth noting that Burks looked like a player with 91 games of NFL experience playing against mostly reserves. VanSumeren, for his part, flew around and registered a sack. The decision for what would presumably be the fifth and final linebacker spot perhaps got a bit more interesting.

* Tough break for veteran WR Jacob Harris, who got his bell rung on the opening kickoff and was subsequently ruled out with a concussion. While Harris was a longshot to stick, the 27-year-old had some bright moments in camp and was clearly at the head of the class among the backend of the roster wide receivers. Harris also received first-team work with the kickoff team. Seemed the Eagles liked him a bit. In light of his head injury, perhaps Harris eventually returns on the practice squad.

* Not that the Eagles would carry four running backs, but for those curious, fourth in the pecking order behind Saquon Barkley, Kenny Gainwell and rookie Will Shipley would be third-year RB Ty Davis-Price, a 2022 third-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers. While second-year holdover Lew Nichols has had some nice moments in camp, Davis-Price has gotten the bulk of the reserve reps and has been the superior runner. The reserve/future signing has put the ball on the ground at various points during camp and in the spring – via drops or fumbles – and his first quarter lost fumble all but punched his ticket to the practice squad.

* The final preseason outing failed to provide any additional clarity to the third tight end position, where it appears it’s E.J. Jenkins’ spot to lose. But the Eagles struggled to garner any sort of traction offensively against the Vikings, whereas I expected Jenkins to affect the intermediately levels and help Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee. Jenkins, who mustered only 15 yards on three catches (5 targets), had a chance to bring in a touchdown in the right corner of the end zone in the third quarter, on 3rd-and-6 from the 11, though it caromed off his outstretched fingertips.

* The Eagles captains for today were Smith, VanSumeren, P Braden Mann and veteran OL Nick Gates. The latter, who came on a bit in the latter stages of camp, started the contest at left guard and held up well. Given the shortage of depth and experience along the offensive line, Gates has perhaps done enough in his limited time to conceivably enter the roster conversation. Sure, Gates is a vested veteran who could likely be stashed safely on the practice squad, but his ability to play guard and center could be valuable enough to warrant a roster spot.

* Good to see CB Shon Stephens, the rookie free agent, get some game reps late in the fourth quarter. The Ferris State product produced a pair of tackles on consecutive plays, the second of which stopped Vikings WR JeShaun Jones short of the first down on a 3rd-and-9, limiting him to five.

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.