August 07, 2025
Eric Hartline/Imagn Images
Tanner McKee suffered a fractured thumb that could shelve him Week 1.
The Philadelphia Eagles' backups played a preseason football game on Thursday against the Cincinnati Bengals. We laughed, we cried, we're glad it's over. As always, win, lose, or tie, we hand out 10 awards.
McKee has been a preseason stud in each of his first two NFL seasons, and he had another good game Thursday night, going 20 of 25 for 252 yards, 2 TDs, and 0 INTs. Here's a dime to UDFA rookie Darius Cooper:
One incompletion was a good throw that was dropped by Grant Calcaterra, and at least two others were throwaways.
McKee is already a good QB2, and I'm confident he'll be ready if the Eagles need him this season.
If someone called me offering a 2 for Tanner McKee, it would be an easy "No thanks."
Kelee Ringo had a tough night against the Bengals' starters, notably the following ugly play against Ja'Marr Chase. He gave up an easy reception on an out route, and then overran Chase, who then waltzed into the end zone.
Yuck. Chase is a top 2 NFL receiver, but he didn't do anything all that exceptional there. That is just an awful play by Ringo. No other way to say it.
Adoree' Jackson didn't play particularly well either. The Eagles might have a big problem at CB2.
Facing a 4th and Goal from the 1 yard line, the Eagles successfully ran the Tush Push with McKee. (Via KBeckEagles):
Roger Goodell and 22 teams unsuccessfully tried to get the Tush Push banned this offseason.
The Lincoln Financial Field crowd cheered loudly when the Eagles lined up in the Tush Push formation, before they even ran the play.
Wilson did basically nothing as a receiver his first two-plus weeks of camp, and then in the first game, he made two impressive contested catches, plus a nice back shoulder catch, because of course he did.
Wilson finished with 3 catches for 73 yards. His performance will go a long way toward justifying his spot on the roster.
(He did later have a drop and, in my opinion, misplayed a fade in the end zone, but whatever, there was progress.)
Smith had 2 catches for 11 yards and a TD. He also had a long punt return:
Ainias Smith has a receiving TD AND this punt return in the last minute of play 😤
— NFL (@NFL) August 8, 2025
Stream CINvsPHI on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/g4iFHezUM9
Like Wilson, Smith made a statement in the Eagles' first preseason game.
Cooper is an undrafted rookie from Tarleton State. The Eagles list him at 5'11, 210. In 2024, Cooper had 76 catches for 1450 yards (19.1 YPC) and 16 TDs. He ran a 4.49 at his pro day.
He's been a camp standout, and he was a star in the first preseason game, making 6 catches for 82 yards and the TD that we showed above.
But Cooper's most impressive play was on a slant, in which he ran a good route, got separation, and while he was catching the ball, slammed on the brakes, spun to the outside, and got a bunch of yards after the catch.
Cooper will be on the roster in my next 53-man projection.
We already awarded Steen the starting RG job in our Eagles camp battle tracker earlier this week, but he left no doubt on Thursday night. Steen played one series and made a really nice block on a 38-yard run by Will Shipley.
Steen did not return for another series. That competition is over.
In the first preseason game last year, with the score tied late, Jake Elliott missed a 50-yard field goal with a chance to win the game. On the Ravens' ensuing possession, with 10 seconds left, Patrick Johnson had a strip sack and recovery, giving Elliott another chance to win the game, which he did.
FUMBLE WITH TEN SECONDS LEFT IN THE 4TH! 🚨
— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2024
📱: Stream #PHIvsBAL on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/TrOhKHxwwe
Tipped. Picked. Patrick Johnson doing it all ‼️
— NFL (@NFL) August 8, 2025
Stream CINvsPHI on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/sdteKvTPQp
McCord was 1 for 5 for 8 yards and an INT. Dorian Thompson-Robinson has outplayed McCord in camp, and he certainly also did in the preseason game. The Eagles could have an interesting decision to make there.
After the Eagles' second touchdown, punter Braden Mann kicked the PAT, and Jake Elliott held for him.
Cooper DeJean is the emergency holder and he didn't play, but it's not the worst idea to get Mann a rep in a game should Elliott go down.
Oh, and the Eagles won by the way, 34-27.
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