Players To Watch In The Eagles Preseason Opener

Eagles football is BACK. With a roster that has gotten much deeper with talent seemingly everywhere, the excitement level for the Birds is sky high. To my surprise, the Eagles WILL play their starters for a series or two on Friday night. That means we will see new additions such as A.J. Brown and James Bradberry in action. It also means we’ll get our first look of Jalen Hurts and overreact to it for the next week.

 

 

While the starters will get most of the attention, there are still plenty of other players to keep an eye on once the starters depart. After all, that’s what the preseason is all about. It’s about dudes fighting for their lives to make a roster. That’ll be especially tough for this year’s Eagles roster, with added depth meaning less spots for young guys.

 

Let’s not waste any more time. Here are the guys you need to keep an eye on tonight.

 

Eagles Offense

 

Jalen Reagor – Wide Receiver

 

This one is obvious. To say Jalen Reagor has been a disappointment as a first-round pick through his first two seasons is the understatement of the century. He’s not only disappointed, he’s had instances where he has completely killed the Eagles. Who could forgot last year’s game in the Meadowlands where he had not one, but two game-winning touchdowns in his mitts, only for him to drop both.

 

This season, with the addition of proven receivers like A.J. Brown and Zach Pascal, Reagor is almost certainly fighting for a roster spot. I tend to think he’ll end up making the roster because he still possesses tantalizing talent. He also provides the Eagles with an added dynamic as a punt returner. Though, if he doesn’t make the roster, it’ll either be because the Eagles still remember this play…

 

 

…or, the next guy on this list turned a lot of heads.

 

Britain Covey – Wide Receiver

 

First and foremost, what a cool ass name for a white slot receiver who’s awesome at returning kicks. I can’t believe the Patriots didn’t snatch him up.

 

In all seriousness, Covey has really made a name for himself in camp. Covey has gone mini-viral (at least in Eagles Twitterland) for his extremely polished footwork.

 

 

Plus, he adds a ton of electricity in the return game. At the University of Utah, Covey earned FIVE all-Pac 12 selections, three of them as a first-team punt returner (2018, 2020, 2021). But he’s not just a return specialist, as he led Utah in receiving yards in 2015 (as a true freshman, yes he played college football seven years ago), 2018, and 2020. He is easily the guy I’m most excited to watch tonight. I think he’s going to make the roster. Something tells me Sirianni thinks so too.

 

 

 Cam Jurgens – Center

 

Cam Jurgens is already fighting an uphill battle. Jurgens was reportedly approved by Jason Kelce to be his heir apparent, and was selected in the second round. Having to fill the shoes of an Eagles legend is tough. It’s even tougher when he may need to fill in for Kelce sooner than expected. Kelce had a routine elbow surgery this week, and is expected to be ready to go for week one. Even still, surgery is surgery, routine or not.

 

Then, of course, there was this clip from the Eagles open practice last Sunday that went viral.

 

 

Rookie first round pick Jordan Davis mauled fellow rookie Jurgens on this rep. Naturally, it got a lot of attention on social media because of how much of an impressive marvel Davis is. However, Davis made sure to point out to the media that the attention he was getting and the skepticism Jurgens was facing wasn’t fair.

 

 

Rookie offensive linemen typically take a little bit of time to get their feet wet in the NFL. We saw that last year when Landon Dickerson struggled a bit in the preseason and in his first couple NFL starts. Now, though, he’s looked at as a cog on the offensive line for the foreseeable future. I’m excited to see how Jurgens plays tonight with the starters, and presumably with the reserves as well.

 

Eagles Defense

 

Jordan Davis – Defensive Tackle

 

Speaking of Davis, all eyes are going to be on the 13th overall pick regardless of how he plays on Friday night. Davis is an athletic freak, and I wish there was a nicer way to say that because he seems like a big teddy bear off the field. The 6’6″ 336 pound rookie recorded an absolutely frightening 4.78 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine.

 

 

Jesus Christ.

 

Davis isn’t expected to start right away, which is good for his development and for the team overall. Defensive line has always been a position where the Eagles have had oodles of talent and depth. Because of that, they tend to rotate their defensive lineman as much as any team in the league. Even if Davis doesn’t start, he’ll get a ton of playing time this season. I expect him to get a decent amount of reps in the first half tonight.

 

Nakobe Dean – Linebacker

 

Davis’ teammate at Georgia, Nakobe Dean, is considered by many to have been the steal of April’s NFL Draft. Dean slipped all the way down to the third round because of fear about a shoulder injury. That injury has not been an issue for a single moment since Dean was drafted by the Birds.

 

For a team that usually tends to completely neglect the linebacker position, there are many Eagles fans who are ready to run through their televisions in anticipation of watching Dean. This is for good reason, as Dean is a first-round talent and was the standout for one of the best defenses in college football history.

 

Dean has great instincts and is one of the smartest rookies in the league. What Dean lacks in size, standing just 5’11” and 231 lbs, he makes up for in intensity and being an absolute baller. One of the most underrated parts about Dean’s game is his ability to rush the passer. In his final year at Georgia, Dean had the sixth-highest quarterback pressure rate in the country. I imagine, or at least i hope, Jonathan Gannon is going to use Dean in a ton of different ways this season.

 

Andre Chachere – Safety

 

Some of you may have no idea who this guy is. I’ll be honest, I didn’t know who he was until camp started and he was making all kinds of plays. At what might be the one position on the roster where there’s a considerable gap in talent, Chachere has a chance to make this roster.

 

 

 

To be completely honest, I’m mostly looking for anyone to stand out at the safety position. Call me crazy, but I don’t think a safety tandem of Marcus Epps and Anthony Harris is all that encouraging, with all due respect. If no one stands out at safety, and the Jessie Bates situation in Cincinnati remains unresolved…don’t be surprised if Howie Roseman makes a move with the Eagles abundant draft capital.

 

Prayer Circle

 

Please, for all that is good and holy, may no Eagles starter suffer an injury tonight. See ya at 7:30. Go Birds.

 

 

By Matt Szczypiorski | August 12, 2022
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