PHILADELPHIA − The Eagles finally have a preseason game to evaluate, albeit not a very good one as they lost to the Baltimore Ravens 24-7 on Aug. 15.
But it served a purpose because the Eagles got a chance to see their backups, roster hopefuls and young players go against a different team for the first time after two weeks of training camp practices.
So there could be some shakeups at some of the positions. That could be true at quarterback where rookie Cole Payton outplayed the two veterans vying to be Jalen Hurts' backup in Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee.
Now, there are plenty of grains of salt to be taken with this. Payton played the final quarter, both with and against deep reserves and players who won't make either team's roster. But Payton did something Dalton and McKee couldn't do: lead a scoring drive.
Not only did Payton lead a drive, he also threw for the most yards (an unimpressive 37) and ran for the most of any Eagles player (45). He also accounted for four of the Eagles' six most first downs (the Ravens had 31). Most importantly, Payton led the Eagles' only touchdown drive, capping it with a 6-yard TD pass to Erik Ezukanma.
"It was off-schedule," Payton said about the TD pass. "I didn't like the first couple of reads, so I was able to get out of the pocket and Erik did a good job in the scramble drill. Found him in the back of the end zone."
Payton was asked if he had thought about trying to run the ball in.
"Yeah," he said. "But I felt purple jerseys on the goal line and Erik by himself." Then he added with a laugh: "And I was also gassed. I won't lie."
Here's how Payton's performance and those of some of his teammates have impacted our second Eagles' 53-man roster projection. Players are listed in order of where they stand on the depth chart.
Comment: Did Payton do enough against the Ravens to make the Eagles believe he could be a viable No. 3 QB? At the very least, he proved the Eagles could use him in gadget plays, and that could make him worth keeping around as a change of pace from non-mobile QBs in Dalton and McKee. I'm counting on McKee getting traded before the preseason ends, and thus not cut. Dalton is a better No. 2.
Out: Dameon Pierce, Elijah Mitchell, Carson Steele, Ja'Quinden Jackson
Comment: Barkley and Bigsby can form a solid 1-2 punch, with Bigsby getting a few series during the course of a game to preserve Barkley throughout the season. None of the other running backs have shown anything to displace Shipley as either a receiver out of the backfield or on special teams.
EAGLES WINNERS, LOSERS: 14 winners, losers from Eagles preseason Week 1 as new offense bombed
In: Dallas Goedert, Johnny Mundt, Cameron Latu, Eli Stowers
Comment: Stowers, the Eagles' second-round pick, had a holding penalty on the first play against Baltimore. But he did rally to have a team-high 3 receptions, albeit for 12 yards. Mundt stays because he's the best blocking tight end, and Latu stays because he's good on special teams.
