31 players especially worth watching in the Eagles vs. Ravens preseason game (2024)

Philadelphia Eagles football is (kinda) back!

The Birds will be playing a real, live football game on Friday night when they take on the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.

Of course, the final score of this meeting doesn’t matter. And we don’t even know if the Eagles will be playing their starters. I’m thinking we won’t see much of them, if at all (hence the lack of starters in the following list). [UPDATE: The Eagles’ starters will reportedly play at least one series.]

Still, preseason games give us more information as it relates to position battles and players fighting to make the roster.

Here are the most especially interesting Eagles to watch tonight. For your viewing convenience, I’ve listed jersey numbers next to the players.

#3 - Nolan Smith

Smith’s development (or lack thereof) could be a major make-or-break factor for the Eagles’ pass rush as a collective. It’d be encouraging if he’s able to show improvement. In an ideal world, he plays so well that he graduates out of taking preseason snaps and the Eagles keep him off the field to preserve his health.

#7 - Kenny Pickett

Pickett absolutely crushed the preseason last year; he went 13/15 for 199 yards (13.3 average), 2 TD, 0 INT, and a perfect 158.3 passer rating. He led the Pittsburgh Steelers to touchdowns on all five drives he played in. That summer success clearly did not translate to the regular season, however.

Pickett is the current favorite for QB2. He looks better (as a passer) than Marcus Mariota did last summer ... but that’s a pretty low bar to clear. Pickett had made some good throws in camp but he’s also been guilty of holding onto the ball for too long. Pickett can play his way out of being Jalen Hurts’ backup if he really struggles while Tanner McKee excels. He needs to avoid doing that.

#16 - Tanner McKee

McKee strictly took third-team reps in spring practices and early in training camp. More recently, he’s been getting time with the second-team offense (though always after Pickett gets his reps). McKee came alive in the preseason games last summer and it’ll be interesting to see if he can do that again. If he excels while Pickett stumbles, he could be QB2.

#17 - Nakobe Dean

Dean’s having the best training camp of his career. The problems are: 1) that’s not saying much and 2) while having some success as a run defender and blitzer, he’s struggling as a pass defender. If his coverage deficiencies continue to be apparent, the coaching staff could have a hard time trusting him to take snaps for this defense.

#18 - Britain Covey

We already know Covey is an excellent punt returner. The remaining question is: can he actually contribute on offense? He’s caught a lot of passes in camp. We’ll see if that carries over to game action.

#22 - Kelee Ringo

Earlier in camp, it looked like Ringo was separating himself for the starting cornerback job across from Darius Slay. He’s since seemingly lost ground to Isaiah Rodgers. Ringo needs a good showing to keep the competition open.

#23 - Eli Ricks

Ricks hasn’t had a great camp. That said, he was pretty quiet in practice last summer before shining in the preseason games. So, maybe he’s more of a gamer than a practice player? Ricks is on the bubble for a roster spot. He could help his case by doing some good things on special teams. He might also be able to earn a spot on another roster (via trade) if he shines on defense and the Eagles feel like he doesn’t quite fit in a cornerback room loaded with young talent.

#24 - James Bradberry IV

Did You Know? The “IV” in Bradberry’s name actually refers to Coheed and Cambria album Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness.

Not really.

Anyway, I’m curious to see IV things: 1) how much does Bradberry play as a veteran, 2) how does he handle the physical/tackling element of the safety position, 3) does he play at safety exclusively or does he take some cornerback reps as well in an attempt to maybe showcase him, and 4) does Bradberry play on special teams.

#28 - Josh Jobe

Jobe, like his fellow Alabama alumnus Eli Ricks, is on the roster bubble. The Eagles will probably only keep one of them. Jobe is perceived to be the superior special teams player ... and his first-team status on various ST units (as opposed to Ricks) reinforces that idea. If Jobe continues to stand out in the third phase and also does some good things on defense, he can make his case to stick around.

#30 - Quinyon Mitchell

Mitchell is especially worth watching by default as the Eagles’ first-round pick. More specifically, it’ll be interesting to see where he lines up. The guess here is we could see him both in the slot and on the outside.

#31 - Tyler Hall

Hall has quietly done some positive things in camp and the Eagles might want to go heavy with backup nickel cornerback options after really struggling in that area last year. Keeping Hall around for slot depth could also free up Avonte Maddox to play more at safety.

#34 - Isaiah Rodgers

Rodgers currently appears to be the favorite for CB2. He can strengthen his grip on that job by shining in the preseason. It’ll also be interesting to see if he gets involved as a kick returner under the NFL’s new format.

Rodgers is clearly fired up to be playing for the first time in a long time:

#35 - Tyrion Davis-Price

TDP has really, really struggled as a pass-catcher. But he runs angry, so, that could make for some preseason viewing. It’s currently hard to buy the Eagles keeping four running backs on the roster but they’ll keep at least one on the practice squad. There’s an open battle for that RB4 spot.

#38 - Lew Nichols

Nichols had some fumble issues in practice this week but he’s shown some juice as a runner. He could get a lot of work in the preseason.

#39 - Will Shipley

Shipley started OTAs cold. He started to heat up in minicamp and that carried over to early in camp. He’s cooled off a bit since then, however, by fumbling a hand-off exchange, dropping a pass that created an interception, and struggling to hold up in pass protection. The coaching staff will have a hard time playing a rookie who continues to make mistakes.

#41 - Shon Stephens

In the past week, Stephens caught a deflected interception for a pick-six and created another interception by tipping a pass. Entering camp, expectations were very low for Stephens as an undrafted player who signed with the Eagles after a successful rookie minicamp tryout. While a long-shot to make the roster, he could earn a job on the practice squad.

#47 - Armani Rogers

It’s unclear if Rogers will even play since he only joined the roster on Wednesday and hasn’t practiced with the team at all. But he’s previously had preseason success and there’s a TE3 job to be won, so, he could factor in.

#54 - Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

I mean, how cool is it that we’ll be seeing Jeremiah Trotter’s son play linebacker for the Eagles in a No. 54 jersey? Even if it ultimately doesn’t pan out in a great way, that’s still a pretty neat concept. And there’s reason to believe he might actually be good since he’s made some positive plays in camp. Now we’ll see how he holds up in game action. Trot Jr. has a real chance to push for rotational snaps, if not eventually take over a starting job.

#56 - Tyler Steen

How will the Eagles handle the right guard spot tonight? That much remains to be seen. Steen has seemingly been overtaken by Mekhi Becton but the latter hasn’t done a ton on merit to lock up the starting job. Big opportunity for Steen to try to get his job back. If the Eagles do happen to be locked in on Becton starting, shouldn’t we see Steen get some tackle snaps at some point?

#57 - Ben VanSumeren

BVS was a tackling machine last summer; he led the Eagles with 26 combined takedowns (nine more than the next closest player). We’ll see if he can be active again and continue to make Oren Burks look expendable.

#58 - Jalyx Hunt

We previously noted how Hunt looks more advanced than reasonably expected at this point. Can he keep that positive momentum rolling into game action? Maybe he can actually have a (small) role in the pass rush rotation?

#63 - Dylan McMahon

As the second-team center, McMahon is technically Cam Jurgens’ backup. But the Eagles put Brett Toth in at the pivot when Jurgens had to leave practice earlier this week. McMahon still needs to earn Jeff Stoutland’s trust.

#67 - Laekin Vakalahi

Remember how Jordan Mailata had never even played in a football game at any level before making his Eagles debut during the 2018 preseason? Vakalahi is in the same boat tonight. It’s impossible to expect him to look as promising as Mailata did from the jump. But maybe lightning strikes twice?!

#76 - Matt Hennessy

When the Eagles signed Hennessy, it seemed like he was a pretty safe bet to make the roster as a backup interior offensive option. The team’s reluctance to give him first-team reps when there have been ample opportunities for him to get those, however, has been curious. The Temple alumnus apparently needs to prove he belongs on the roster.

#77 - Mekhi Becton

If the Eagles rest their starters, does Becton even play? I’d think so; it seems too early to act like he’s locked up the starting right guard job. Especially when he’s yet to see game snaps at that position. It’ll be interesting to see what Becton’s snap count looks like coming out of this one. And while there’s little doubt he can make an impact as a run blocker, he needs to show he can hold up in pass protection.

#79 - Trevor Keegan

The Eagles have occasionally mixed Keegan in at first-team left guard (to spell Landon Dickerson). He should get plenty of playing time to prove he can be a quality backup option.

#82 - Ainias Smith

Smith’s really struggled to catch the football this offseason. The rookie receiver is coming off his best practice performance, so, maybe he can show he’s turned a corner? If not, it’s fair to wonder if he’s even going to make the roster.

#83 - John Ross

Ross has seen a decent amount of first-team practice reps but he hasn’t really done much with them. That’s not entirely his fault; he did get open for a deep touchdown where Jalen Hurts overthrew him. In theory, at least, Ross is a threat to make a big play or two tonight.

#84 - E.J. Jenkins

Jenkins has flashed the most out of any contender for the Eagles’ third tight end job. Someone needs to step up and earn that role. Why not him?

#89 - Johnny Wilson

Wilson has deservedly earned some hype for the WR3 job. However, some of that hype is merely about how the Eagles are utilizing him with the first-team offense. This isn’t to suggest he hasn’t had good moments during those reps; he has. But the rookie hasn’t looked so good just yet that he’s locked in for WR3 by any means. Wilson still very much needs to strengthen his case and he can do that by shining in the preseason games.

#97 - Moro Ojomo

Don’t ever tell me #JerseyNumberAnalytics doesn’t matter:

Major glow up for Ojomo going from No. 72 to No. 97. He’s a lock to break out for the Eagles in his second season. Much more serious defensive tackle number.

Ojomo has often been active in the backfield for the Eagles this summer. It won’t be surprising if his practice success carries over into the preseason.