Eagles showcase depth in preseason win over Patriots, Dalton’s performance questioned

Philadelphia’s offense looked more cohesive in Saturday night’s preseason matchup against the New England Patriots, with the Eagles’ backup offensive line dominating the Patriots’ reserve defensive front. The unit, featuring Drew Kendall, Willie Lampkin and Markel Bell, was praised for its physical play early in the game.

Running back Will Shipley carried the ball 11 times for 56 yards and a touchdown, earning recognition for his vision and effort. His performance, combined with solid contributions in pass protection, appears to solidify his position as the third-string running back.

Quarterback Andy Dalton completed three of ten passes for 44 yards, a stark contrast to backup Tanner McKee, who threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns on 16 of 22 attempts. Dalton’s struggles have raised questions about the coaching staff’s decision to start him in both preseason games.

Wide receiver Darius Cooper caught all three of Dalton’s completions for 44 yards, while a competition is expected to develop between him and Makai Lemon for the third receiver spot.

On defense, linebacker Jeremiah Trotter recorded a sack and a key tackle, contributing to a unit that also featured promising performances from Jihaad Campbell, Smael Mondon, Chance Campbell and Deontae Lawson.

Defensive end Ty Robinson added two sacks, reinforcing his case for a roster spot. Defensive linemen Joshua Weru and Uar Bernard each made notable plays, with Weru recording a sack and Bernard contributing to run stops.

Tight end Carson Steele posted six receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by two long jumps that resulted in touchdowns.

Overall, the Eagles showed marked improvement from their previous preseason loss to the Baltimore Ravens, where they were outgained significantly. The team will continue preparations with practices this week and a regular-season game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday.