Eagles stave off shutout in preseason defeat to Ravens as rookie quarterback scores late

Philadelphia opened its 2026 preseason with a 24-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday night. The Eagles were held to a single touchdown until rookie fourth-string quarterback Cole Payton, a 5th-round pick from North Dakota State, engineered a late scoring drive. Payton ran three times for 45 yards, including a 17-yard gain on fourth-and-3, and threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Erik Ezukanma with three minutes remaining, becoming the team's leading passer and rusher for the game.

Quarterbacks Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee combined for 77 yards and two first downs on eight drives, with Dalton completing three of six passes for 20 yards and McKee completing six of ten for 35 yards. Neither threw a touchdown or interception. The limited offensive production raised questions about the competition for the backup role behind starter Jalen Hurts.

The defensive unit, composed largely of backups, allowed 441 total yards and 31 first downs, conceding 14 points in the fourth quarter. The Ravens' fourth-string quarterback Austin Reed scored on a 14-yard run late in the game as the Eagles' defense struggled to contain the backup attack.

Other notable observations included the absence of wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks from the active roster, suggesting his position on the depth chart, and the participation of international rookies Uar Bernard and Joshua Weru, who each recorded a snap in the third quarter. Defensive standouts mentioned were cornerback Shaun Wade, who forced a fumble, and linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr., who recorded a sack and five tackles.

The performance underscored concerns about the Eagles' depth at several positions as the team prepares for upcoming joint practices and the remainder of the preseason schedule.