The last dress rehearsal for the Eagles was a mundane 19-17 victory over the New York Jets on Friday night at MetLife Stadium.
Some players may have solidified a spot on the team, like local star Kyle McCord, who may be the Eagles’ third-string quarterback. McCord, from local St. Joseph’s Prep, took every snap and completed 15 of 35 for 136 yards and an interception, while Dorian Thompson-Robinson saw no reps at all. Edge Patrick Johnson had a sack, and running back Montrell Johnson led the Eagles with 57 yards rushing on 15 carries and a touchdown.
There was more good than bad, or ugly in the Eagles’ 19-17 languid preseason victory over the New York Jets.
The Good
Cornerback Parry Nickerson coming up on Jets’ tailback Kene Nwangwu for a two-yard stop on the Jets’ second possession on a third-and-11 at the New York 12. Nickerson, in a slot role, also had a nifty jumping interception when he undercut a sideline route on the last play of the first quarter.
McCord operating out of the shotgun hitting Kylen Granson with a short pass right that resulted in a 19-yard gain on the Eagles’ second drive—on a third-and-eight at the Eagles’ 43. That set up a Jake Elliott 51-yard field goal.
Jake Elliott’s first-quarter 51-yard field goal was encouraging, and hopefully, another indication that his inconsistent 2024 is way in his back mirror. The kick had plenty of leg behind it, although it just did slide through the right upright. Still, it showed Elliott has plenty of leg to hit 50-plus field goals. Elliott made a reassuring 53-yard field goal early in the second quarter. Last season, Elliott was an uncharacteristic one-of-seven from 50-yards plus, his worst single-season rate in his career. His two 50-yarders were the only Eagles’ points in the first half.
Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr., who had a good training camp and has proven he is a viable NFL linebacker, coming up to make a one-yard stop on Nwangwu near the end of the first quarter. Trotter has shown he has a great ability to decipher plays quickly, can step up and fill gaps and make the play. He led the Eagles in tackles in their first two preseason, and was pulled after the first quarter. He will make the team again, and has a chance to start. If not, he will again be a key member of the Eagles’ special teams.
The Eagles’ first-half defense. They held a pitiful Jets team to just three points, 119 yards of total offense and three three-and-outs on seven New York drives.
Running back Montrell Johnson, who had a game-high 57 yards rushing on 15 carries, including a touchdown. An undrafted rookie free agent out of Florida, Johnson’s highlight of the game came on a 12-yard run in the third quarter, when he burst through a great hole on the right side of the Eagles’ offensive line, and then lowered his shoulder and ran through Jets’ third-string strong safety Dean Clark. On that same drive, Johnson finished it off with a 15-yard TD run. His cut-back 15-yard TD run in the third quarter, with some help from rookie fifth-round pick Trevor Keegan, was a highlight.
The Bad
Safety Tristan McCollum missing Nwangwu for a loss on the first play of the game. Not a good way to try and establish a spot on the team.
McCord throwing an interception in the first quarter, when he tried getting through to a double-covered Darius Cooper.
Left guard Brett Toth getting flagged for holding early in the second quarter. Not a good sign when your penciled-in starting left guard gets called for holding a New York Jets backup when he is expected to fill the considerable shoes of regular starting left guard Landon Dickerson. It was a debatable call, with Toth holding up well before McCord tried scrambling left.
Receiver Ainias Smith has overall had a good summer, though he slipped up in this game, dropping two passes and looking unsure as a kick returner.
The Ugly
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson received no snaps in this game. He was once a promising young quarterback who may have had a future in the NFL as a starter, and now is fighting for the No. 3 quarterback spot on the Eagles. Against Cleveland in Preseason Game Two, he was awful, completing five of eight for 17 yards—including a pick six and a sack. Thompson-Robinson let go a pick-six on the Eagles’ second possession of the second half. After a bobbled snap, DTR decided to throw the ball up for grabs and not eat it as he was going down. It looks like he may have to latch on elsewhere. The Eagles’ special team punt coverage that gave up a 41-yard return by Jamaal Pritchett early in the third quarter, forcing Eagles’ punter Braden Mann to make the play and the tackle. The third preseason game is no way to risk your first-team punter.
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