JACKSONVILLE – There was some drama – how could there not be when quarterback Cody Kessler went out of preseason game No. 2 seven snaps into the contest on Thursday night – but for the most part the Eagles went out and took care of business in a neat and tidy fashion with a convincing 27-10 win over Jacksonville and left the state of Florida with a winning feeling as a whole lot of good things happened in the victory.
Here are some observations from a game that the Eagles dominated ...
1. Let's start with the quarterbacks. Kessler completed just 1 of 4 passes in his brief stint, but he picked up a first down with a 14-yard scramble and had the offense moving before taking a blindside hit that left him, ultimately, in concussion protocol. In came rookie Clayton Thorson, who was worlds better than he was a week earlier. Thorson completed 16 of 26 passes for 175 yards and one unfortunate interception when his pass bounced off DeAndre Thompkins' left hand and into the belly of a Jacksonville defender. Otherwise, Thorson looked composed as the game clearly slowed down for him. He was much more accurate with his throws and he played with a ton of confidence. Good showing as he led touchdown drives of 95 and 85 yards.
2. As for Kessler, the Eagles now wait to see how long before he's able to practice as Training Camp resumes on Sunday. Baltimore comes to town for joint practices on Monday and Tuesday. At the moment, only Thorson and Carson Wentz are healthy at the position. Will the Eagles be forced to bring in another arm for a week of practice and perhaps even next Thursday's preseason game against Baltimore?
3. In case you were wondering, wide receiver Greg Ward, a star quarterback at the University of Houston, would have been the emergency quarterback had Thorson not been able to complete the game.
4. The Eagles ran the football for 139 yards on 33 carries, great stuff. Jordan Howard had four carries and 14 yards. Miles Sanders ripped off 31 yards on five carries, including a 16-yard gain. Josh Adams ran hard and scored a touchdown. Donnel Pumphrey picked up 29 yards on five carries and had one great juke move for a nice gain. Boston Scott came in late and gained 43 yards on 7 carries, including a 20-yard pickup.
5. Wide receiver Mack Hollins caught only one pass for a 5-yard gain and he didn't show up statistically on special teams, but he made an impact. First of all, it was great to see Hollins on the field after missing all of last season with a groin injury that needed surgery. And on special teams, he was a force as a gunner. With the fifth wide receiver spot open – and the Eagles certainly could keep a sixth receiver as well – Hollins is back in the thick of the competition. His ability to play special teams is a big plus.
6. Once again, defensive end Daeshon Hall was a major factor. He had two more quarterback sacks and a forced fumble. He has three sacks and two forced fumbles in two preseason games. As the Eagles look for pass-rushing depth, Hall is stating his case impressively.
7. Fourth-round draft pick Shareef Miller was around the ball as well, recording a sack, two tackles for loss, and four total tackles. He's coming on. The Eagles felt confident in their young edge players and that confidence is being rewarded halfway through the preseason.
8. Most of the first-team defense started and pitched a shutout. Vinny Curry played the run exceptionally well off the edge, as did Brandon Graham.
9. Zach Brown looks like he's worked his way into a starting role at linebacker, but there is so much to be sorted out with that group. Both Nigel Bradham and Kamu Grugier-Hill are injured – Bradham is ramping up his work in practice – and Paul Worrilow figures to get more work in the weeks ahead. All of a sudden, a group that many wondered about looks pretty darn good in terms of depth and versatility.
10. Ward made a nice adjustment on the touchdown play and then showed his terrific ability in the open field. He had a chance to make another big play with an option pass, but he didn't get enough on the throw to Carlton Agudosi, who made a nice play breaking up what would have been an interception.
11. Don't quite know if Andre Dillard had resonsibility on the sack from Datone Jones that sent Kessler to the sidelines. Rookie mistake if it is on him. Could have been that Kessler didn't get the football out quickly enough. Dillard was largely outstanding at the position, and Jordan Mailata turned in another strong performance at right tackle.
12. The Eagles were successful on two challenges, one a catch on the sidelines that was initially ruled no catch and the second challenge on a defensive pass interference no call that was successfully challenged and reversed. Excellent.
13. Jake Elliott crushed a 52-yard field goal and is hitting the ball extremely well at this point of the preseason.
14. The Eagles had 11 penalties, still too many.
15. And, finally, how about a huge hand for defensive tackle Aziz Shittu, who was added to the roster this week and then went out and played his butt off with a quarterback sack and two passes tipped at the line of scrimmage. Talk about making the most of an opportunity.
Take a look at the best photos from the Eagles' game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2 of the preseason.
WR Greg Ward and RB Miles Sanders
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
QB Carson Wentz reuniting with Jaguars QB Nick Foles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
QB Carson Wentz and TE Zach Ertz catching up with Jaguars QB Nick Foles
WR DeSean Jackson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
S Malcolm Jenkins
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
C Jason Kelce
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
TE Josh Perkins
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
S Malcolm Jenkins
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
RB Jordan Howard
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
RB Miles Sanders
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
T Jason Peters
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
WR Alshon Jeffery
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
RB Miles Sanders
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
T Jordan Mailata
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
LB L.J. Fort
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
RB Miles Sanders
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
S Malcolm Jenkins
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
QB Clayton Thorson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
RB Miles Sanders
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
RB Jordan Howard
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
DE Brandon Graham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
QB Clayton Thorson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
DT Malik Jackson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
QB Clayton Thorson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
LB Zach Brown
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
WR Greg Ward
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
WR Greg Ward
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
WR Greg Ward
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
WR Greg Ward sprinting toward the end zone
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
WRs Greg Ward and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
S Malcolm Jenkins hugs WR Greg Ward
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
DT Tim Jernigan
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
DT Tim Jernigan
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
DE Daeshon Hall
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
T Andre Dillard
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
CB Sidney Jones
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
RB Jordan Howard
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
DE Daeshon Hall
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
DE Daeshon Hall
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
Head coach Doug Pederson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
DE Vinny Curry
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
WR Carlton Agudosi
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
RB Josh Adams
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
WR DeSean Jackson signing an autograph for an Eagles fan in Jacksonville
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
Head coach Doug Pederson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
RB Josh Adams
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
K Jake Elliott and P Cameron Johnston
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
RB Donnel Pumphrey
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019
