While the New England Patriots played several starters in Week 2 of the NFL’s Preseason, that wasn’t the case for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Philadelphia’s entire starting offense sat out the game, although a handful of defensive starters suited up for the Eagles in Foxborough.
On Thursday night, the Eagles learned lessons about several players competing in position battles or for final roster spots. Let’s examine which players impacted their stock the most in Philadelphia’s second preseason game.
Which Eagles Impacted Their Stock in Preseason Week 2?
Stock Up | Tanner McKee
After a promising performance in Philadelphia’s first preseason game, Tanner McKee took a major step forward against the Patriots.
After Kenny Pickett struggled to move Philadelphia’s offense, McKee entered the game and immediately put together two promising drives.
Despite playing with less talented players, McKee clearly outperformed Pickett on Thursday night. It legitimately felt like McKee was playing a different sport than Pickett, as he was standing tall in the pocket and delivering timely throws down the field.
McKee could be making a push for the back-up quarterback job in Philadelphia.
Stock Down | Kenny Pickett
While McKee flourished against the Patriots, Pickett did quite the opposite. Despite his starting experience, Pickett looked flustered against New England’s defense. He was consistently dropping his eyes and escaping the pocket early.
Although Pickett completed 11 of his 13 passes, he averaged just 5.2 yards per attempt.
For the second consecutive week, Pickett was constantly dumping the ball down to his checkdown. He threw one deep pass to John Ross in the first quarter, and it fell incomplete.
Stock Up | Bryce Huff
Following a relatively quiet training camp and performance in Week 1 of the preseason, many began to get concerned about Bryce Huff, especially once it was announced that Huff would be the only starter along Philadelphia’s defensive line to suit up in Foxborough.
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Huff used the opportunity to make a statement, as he showcased that he can be a factor against the run.
While many have questioned Huff’s ability to be more than a situational pass rusher, he made several key stops against the run on Thursday night.
Stock Down | James Bradberry
After a promising debut at safety during Philadelphia’s preseason opener, James Bradberry took a major step backward against the Patriots.
Bradberry whiffed on a tackle in embarrassing fashion, bringing back memories of his tackling attempts last season.
Although Bradberry has said all of the right things about making the switch to safety, his play has been underwhelming at best.
It’s hard to say with any certainty that Bradberry is a lock to make Philadelphia’s final roster.
Stock Up | E.J. Jenkins
Prior to Philadelphia’s matchup with the Patriots, I questioned the team’s situation at tight end. Beyond Dallas Goedert and Grant Calcaterra, no player at the position had stood out thus far. That was until E.J. Jenkins made a statement on Thursday night.
Prior to exiting the game with an injury, Jenkins hauled in all five of his targets for 47 receiving yards. He showcased his athleticism and upside, which is something Philadelphia’s tight end room is lacking.
Heck of a catch by E.J. Jenkins pic.twitter.com/u2gDWNya25
— Ben Brown 🌻 (@BenBrownPL) August 16, 2024
Jenkins could push for the TE3 job in 2024.
Stock Down | C.J. Uzomah
While Jenkins thrived against the Patriots, veteran tight end C.J. Uzomah failed to stand out once again. Uzomah wasn’t targeted at all and continues to underwhelm since signing with the Eagles earlier this offseason.
Given his experience, it felt like Uzomah was the clear frontrunner to win the TE3 job in Philadelphia. But he has struggled to secure a final roster spot thus far as Jenkins makes a late push to steal Uzomah’s job.
Stock Up | Tristan McCollum
Tristan McCollum played sparingly last season but showcased his value as a core special teams player. Now, McCollum is building on that performance with strong play at safety during the preseason.
While Bradberry struggles to earn a roster spot, McCollum has seemingly stepped up. He is consistently in the right spot in coverage. He recorded three total tackles and one pass breakup against the Patriots.
McCollum is in line to earn a safety spot on Philadelphia’s final roster.
Stock Down | Brett Toth
Despite a strong start during training camp, Brett Toth has really struggled during the team’s first two preseason games. Toth played both center and right tackle against the Patriots, and he failed to impress at either position.
Earlier in training camp, it felt like Toth was suddenly a favorite to make the team’s final roster. Now it seems like Toth has significantly hurt his stock with the Eagles following his performance against the Ravens and Patriots.
Stock Up | Joseph Ngata
The Eagles have been waiting for anyone to step up at wide receiver. Joseph Ngata answered the call in a major way against the Patriots.
Ngata hauled in all five of his targets to lead the team with 88 receiving yards.
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Considering that no wide receiver has separated themselves from the pack thus far, Ngata could be a dark horse to make the 53-man roster. With another strong performance in the team’s final preseason game, Ngata could earn a spot on Philadelphia’s final roster.
Stock Down | Max Scharping
Once backup left tackle Fred Johnson’s night was over, veteran Max Scharping stepped in for him. Despite Scharping playing just three career snaps at offensive tackle, he was the Eagles’ third-string left tackle on Thursday night.
It quickly became clear why Scharping rarely played offensive tackle in the NFL, as he was consistently slow out of his stance and allowed several pressures against New England’s defensive front.
While Scharping’s stock was never particularly high, it’s safe to say that it certainly dropped after his performance against the Patriots.