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Six Eagles who can strengthen their roster cases against the Patriots
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- Six Eagles who can strengthen their roster cases against the Patriots
In Week 2 of the preseason, the Philadelphia Eagles aren't looking for a game filled with individual highlights. They need evidence of something. They'd like to learn whether the progress they've seen during training camp can carry over from one evaluation period to the next.
Their preseason debut was a snoozer . Another road trip followed, and in the first joint practice vs. the New England Patriots , Mike Vrabel's squad was deemed 'the winners'. Philadelphia took the checkered flag at the end of the second , and that makes Saturday night's second preseason game against the Patriots particularly useful for several players who entered the week with something to prove.
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The joint practices provided an opportunity to compete against unfamiliar players in a controlled setting. The game will produce fewer fireworks. Of that, we can be certain, but every opportunity is needed. Philadelphia can show any momentum they gained wasn't simply a product of one good day.
Some pass the first game off by saying, 'It's only the preseason', but players and coaches both stated they want better showings. For some of these Eagles , the stakes are particularly high. A few are competing for roster spots, while others are trying to establish themselves in roles that remain unsettled. Here are six players who have something positive to build on heading into the second preseason game.
Hollywood Brown
Hollywood Brown needed a week like this. After a relatively quiet start to training camp, the veteran receiver found more opportunities with the first-team offense and took advantage of them. That doesn't mean his roster spot is secure, particularly with the Eagles still sorting through the back end of their receiver room, but it does mean Brown has given the organization something to consider.
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The important part now is whether he can keep that momentum going. Brown has experience, speed, and a contract that gives both him and the Eagles financial incentive to see whether he can contribute, but those factors won't determine the final roster by themselves. The competition remains open, and Saturday gives Brown another chance to show that his recent surge represents a change in his trajectory rather than a brief stretch of good work.
Andy Dalton
Andy Dalton appears to have gained ground in a quarterback competition that failed to produce a clear winner during the preseason opener. The veteran has received the majority of the second-team opportunities since then and has reportedly looked comfortable operating within the offense.
More importantly, the Eagles have increasingly placed him in situations that suggest they are giving him a legitimate opportunity to establish himself as the favorite behind Jalen Hurts . That doesn't make the QB2 competition over. McKee remains in the conversation, and preseason games are ultimately more meaningful than practice-rep distribution. But Dalton has created separation, and another efficient performance Saturday could turn a slight advantage into a much more difficult lead to overcome.
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Kelee Ringo
Kelee Ringo may have entered the summer looking for consistency. He now has an opportunity to turn a strong stretch into a roster spot. The Eagles have continued challenging Ringo to make better use of his considerable physical gifts, and the cornerback responded with a week that strengthened his case.
That's particularly significant for a player who has spent much of his Eagles career caught between his obvious athletic potential and the inconsistency that has prevented him from fully establishing himself. Ringo doesn't need to make a spectacular play Saturday to help himself. He needs to continue looking like a player the Eagles can trust.
If he can stack another solid performance on top of what he has shown recently, the conversation around his roster status could become considerably different by the time Philadelphia begins making its final decisions.
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Andre' Sam
Andre' Sam may be one of the most interesting players on this list because his challenge isn't necessarily proving he's one of the Eagles' best safeties. His challenge is convincing Philadelphia to keep a fourth when everyone knows Cooper DeJean will start at safety in base sets
He may already have established himself as the fourth-best true safety option behind Andrew Mukuba , Marcus Epps , and Michael Carter II. That puts Sam in an unusual position. He has familiarity with the system, has continued developing, and has made enough plays recently to remain part of the conversation. But the Eagles also know they may be able to move him through waivers and retain him on the practice squad. Another productive game could make that decision more difficult, which may be the biggest thing Sam can accomplish Saturday.
Chance Campbell
Chance Campbell's opportunity is tied to something that doesn't show up in a box score: his health. The Eagles have received enough from their linebacker depth for Vic Fangio to identify the position as the deepest on the defense .
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Campbell is part of the reason for that confidence, but he also has had to navigate a groin injury that interrupted his summer. If Campbell is healthy, he has an opportunity to capitalize on the momentum he has generated since returning. His athleticism and ability to find the football make him an intriguing option behind the expected starters, and another strong performance could strengthen his claim in a crowded linebacker room that suddenly has several players competing for meaningful roles.
Will Shipley
Will Shipley's opportunity may be more straightforward than some of the others. He'd like to keep giving the Eagles reasons to believe he is the right choice for the third running back job. The third-year back has shown versatility throughout camp, particularly as a receiver, while continuing to display the decisiveness the Eagles want from their running backs.
His competition isn't simply about who can produce the most yards in August. Philadelphia needs to know who can contribute in multiple phases and give the offense flexibility when the regular season begins. Shipley has put himself in a good position. The next step is sustaining it.
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The Eagles don't need these six players to dominate Saturday, but no one would complain if they did. What's more important, however, is to provide another piece of evidence.
Joint practices can create momentum, but the players who turn that momentum into roster security are the ones who continue producing when the evaluation setting changes. For Brown, Dalton, Ringo, Sam, Campbell and Shipley, Saturday offers exactly that opportunity. The preseason game won't settle every roster decision, but it can make some of those decisions considerably harder to make.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Six Eagles who can strengthen their roster cases against the Patriots
