The three-game preseason ends on Saturday at 1 PM. at Lincoln Financial Field when the Minnesota Vikings visit, a final chance for the players to impress an entire league that is watching intently. We are in sprint mode right now as the Eagles and every NFL team prepare to reduce rosters to 53 players by Tuesday, August 27 at 4 PM.
What is on the agenda for Saturday? Plenty. Let's begin with some storylines to watch …
1. What does this game really mean?
It isn't all about winning, but in full disclosure, it's been a wonderful preseason as the Eagles have engineered two late-game victories and, let's face it, it sure feels better to win than to lose, right? Most of the players on the field are playing for, well, everything.
"Anyone who says the preseason games don't mean anything hasn't been in this position," veteran wide receiver Parris Campbell said recently. "We're fighting for our jobs out there, our professions. Everybody responds to that. Saturday is a great opportunity for everyone who steps on that field."
So there you have it. This game has real meaning for men who have been fighting and scraping and putting the best version of themselves on the field every day since the spring.
2. Making his Eagles (preseason) debut: Rookie Cooper DeJean
A hamstring injury sidelined the team's second-round draft pick until the team held a joint practice at New England, and now Cooper DeJean is preparing for his first game action in the defensive backfield. It is unfair to expect DeJean to jump right back in after missing a full month of on-field activity, but DeJean has been working hard and is looking forward to seeing how it all plays out on Saturday.
"Just training my eyes back to seeing the different things in our different coverages on the field, kind of getting my football eyes back," he said. "It's definitely a little rust, but it's a good, good learning opportunity."
3. Keeping up the solid QB play
We don't know how Head Coach Nick Sirianni is going to play it at the quarterback position, but it's fair to think that second-year man Tanner McKee will see quite a bit of action. He has taken another step forward in his second preseason and relishes the chance to step on the field.
"Any time you play, you're going to be more comfortable and more prepared," McKee said. "I've definitely made strides in recognizing things, reacting, and knowing where to go with the football. The more reps you get, the better you're going to be."
4. What can we learn about the right guard position?
Maybe something. Maybe nothing. Again, we don't know who is going to play on Saturday, but we do know that Mekhi Becton has taken a lot of first-team reps at right guard, as has Tyler Steen, and Becton says that if he is the guy when it all starts when it counts in the standings on September 6, he will be ready to go.
"I'm ready," he said. "I mean, I've been, I've been doing a lot of right guard stuff. I've been doing nothing but right guard for, I guess, two weeks now. So, I feel like I'm really ready."
5. The Rookie Class in focus again
Impressive group, right?! Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell has gotten better and better since he arrived from the University of Toledo and is trying to earn playing time in the regular season. DeJean plays on Saturday. Defensive end Jalyx Hunt has played hard and has been productive this summer. Running back Will Shipley has run the ball well and has made plays as a receiver. Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. has been around the football all summer. Guard Trevor Keegan has had plenty of quality snaps. This is a final preseason game to try to convince the coaching staff and Executive Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman that they belong here. It's a big game for all of them.
6. The 1 PM factor
Maybe this doesn't matter to you and, honestly, the way the schedule is set up it doesn't come into play much this season (six times total, as it stands now). But it's a 1 PM game and it's the first time for that this preseason. Getting everyone familiar with the flow of a 1 PM kickoff will be helpful when the Eagles play at New Orleans, at Tampa Bay, vs. Cleveland, and at the New York Giants in Weeks 3 through 7 this year. The first two preseason games have been played at night and then there is the regular-season opener in Brazil and the home opener in prime time against Atlanta. So … welcome to the 1 PM time slot, guys!
