Rookies To The Rescue

PHILADELPHIA – After a pair of mid-week joint practices, the Eagles and Browns reconvened Saturday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field. While it’s probably fair to say the Browns got the better of the Eagles in practice, the Browns capped their week in South Philadelphia on top, winning 22-13.

The game might not have been aesthetically pleasing, with sloppy execution and nine penalties called in total, but the Eagles still managed to learn more about their depth in key areas.

The Eagles opened the game with third-year quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who completed 5-of-8 pass attempts for 17 yards and an interception that was returned 45 yards for a touchdown. Rookie Kyle McCord completed 8-of-15 for 47 yards and a touchdown.

Rookie Montrell Johnson Jr. led a punchless ground attack, carrying six times for 20 yards. Second-year WR Ainias Smith bested all Eagles pass catchers with 19 yards on two receptions.

Defensively, rookie safety Drew Mukuba – in his preseason debut – returned a Dillon Gabriel interception 75 yards for a touchdown. He also pounced on a fumble. Rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell and veteran pass-rusher Azeez Ojulari registered sacks.

GETTY IMAGES: Eagles rookie S Andrew Mukuba (right) produced two takeaways vs. the Browns while rookie LB Jihaad Campbell (30) got a sack.

Let’s get to the game observations:

* Not an ideal start for the Eagles’ defense, which surrendered three third-down completions on the opening drive to Browns QB Dillon Gabriel, including a 3rd-and-5 despite tight coverage from rookie CB Brandon Johnson – earning the start at nickelback – on the 3rd-and-7 completion along the right sideline to WR Jamari Thrash. While the drive resulted in a 13-play, 63-yard touchdown – capped by an Ahmani Marshall 1-yard plunge – there were some positives. I thought the defensive line, particularly Gabe Hall, Byron Young and Jacob Sykes, bottled up interior runs. Rookie LB Jihaad Campbell also registered a sack on the second play of the game, dropping Gabriel for a four-yard loss.

* The Eagles opened with an offensive line configuration of (L-R): LT Kendall Lamm, LG Brett Toth, C Drew Kendall, RG Darian Kinnard and RT Matt Pryor. The second unit was comprised of LT Myles Hinton, LG Drew Kendall, C Brett Toth, RG Trevor Keegan, RT Cameron Williams.

Toth, of course, has been receiving the reps at left guard with Landon Dickerson (meniscus) on the mend. The opening drive was sloppy, but Toth moved Browns DT Shelby Harris on a couple of A.J. Dillon carries.

* The Eagles opened the game with veteran Adoree’ Jackson and third-year pro Kelee Ringo at cornerback. On the second series, Jakorian Bennett entered for Ringo, while Jackson subbed out for Ringo on the third series. Jackson failed to corral WR Kaden Davis on a 2-and-8 catch-and-run that picked up nine. Bennett, tagged for a defensive offsides penalty on the third series, also collected a nice pass breakup on a Gabriel attempt to WR Gage Larvadain on a 2nd-and-2. Gabriel connected with WR Jamari Thrash, with Ringo trailing, on a 19-yard crosser.

* Eagles DC Vic Fangio hasn’t minced words when asked about the depth at OLB behind starters Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt. And aside from veteran Josh Uche, there hasn’t been anyone who has yet emerged from the pack. That player was widely expected to be former New York Giant EDGE Azeez Ojulari, though the 25-year-old has had a quiet summer. He changed that narrative a bit Saturday afternoon, registering a key 3rd-and-3 sack of Gabriel. Ojulari also did well to cover up the tight end on a play in which Gabriel veered toward the sideline waiting for an open receiver, eventually firing a pass into a tight window that was sniped by rookie S Drew Mukuba, who sprinted 75 yards in the other direction to complete the pick-six.

Mukuba, by the way, also pounced on Pierre Strong Jr. fumble, returning possession to the Eagles’ at the Cleveland 28-yard line. As I’ve previously noted throughout the pre-draft process, Mukuba has a nose for the football.

* Rookie LB Smael Mondon Jr. had a nice bounce-back performance on the heels of an underwhelming preseason debut. The Georgia product was instinctive and rangy in coverage, notably stopping RB Pierre Strong Jr. for a 1-yard loss on a short pass to the left flat and later limiting TE Sal Cannella to just five yards on a short completion to the right. Mondon Jr. also made an impact against the run, attacking downhill, as well as special teams. With the presumed first-game jitters out of the way, Mondon Jr. played more like the player I’ve seen through 15 practices.

* The Eagles rotation at cornerback continued in the second half, the first series unveiling a tandem of Ringo and rookie fifth-round pick Mac McWilliams on the perimeter. McWilliams, who’d largely repped at nickel early in camp, has worked on the outside over the last three practices. McWilliams doesn’t boast the desired measurables to play outside, but his physicality and natural instincts make him one to watch. It’s worth noting that Vic Fangio has endorsed McWilliams on multiple occasions.

“Mac is a young player that we like, we think he can play the nickel position,” Fangio said back on July 24. “Think he’s got a chance at corner. He’s an interesting guy here these next four or five weeks to see how much he progresses and see if he finds a role with us.”

* Third-year QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson got the nod Saturday afternoon, but did little with the opportunity, completing 5-of-8 pass attempts for 17 yards and an interception. A leaky offensive line didn’t help, but in a quarterback battle, I was looking for a better showing. Thompson-Robinson would return in the third quarter but squandered the series by tossing a pick-six to former Eagles DE K.J. Henry, who rumbled 45 yards for a score. Comparatively, rookie Kyle McCord entered in relief and engineered a brief, 7-play, 31-yard scoring drive capped by a nine-yard connection over the middle to WR Ainias Smith. Thompson-Robinson has been the better of the two in camp, but McCord rebounded nicely (to start) from a shaky preseason debut. The rest of his afternoon would leave much to be desired.

(Note: At one point in the second half, there appeared to be a miscommunication between McCord and Thompson-Robinson, who were rotating series. McCord was late getting on the field.)

* There hasn’t been much separating a three-way logjam of hopefuls eyeing the No. 3 tight end role between Harrison Bryant, Kylen Granson and E.J. Jenkins, but the usage is an indicator. Granson and Jenkins seemingly have prominent special teams roles and have logged more in-game snaps than Bryant. Something to monitor as final cutdowns loom.

* With second-year RB Will Shipley having the afternoon off, the initial kick return pairing included rookies RB Montrell Johnson Jr. and WR Darius Cooper. The second tandem was Johnson Jr. and FB Ben VanSumeren. Johnson Jr. missed much of camp – and the opener – with a hamstring injury but has flashed at times as a runner. He’s shown patience, vision and contact balance in his opportunities. Interesting to see the Eagles give Johnson Jr. looks there over someone like an Avery Williams. Williams, by the way, teamed with RB Keilan Robinson late in the game. Not sure there’s room to roster a fourth running back for kick return purposes, but Johnson Jr. is someone I certainly envision the team carrying on the practice squad.

* Some of the players on the kickoff team: CB Jakorian Bennett, WR Darius Cooper, FB Ben VanSumeren, LB Smael Mondon Jr., S Andre’ Sam, WR Avery Williams, OLB Patrick Johnson.

As someone who looks at trends carrying over from practice, some of the constants on the first unit kick return team: TE Kylen Granson, S Andre’ Sam, LB Smael Mondon Jr., TE E.J. Jenkins.

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