6 standouts from Eagles' preseason loss to the Ravens

The Philadelphia Eagles didn't get the result they wanted in their preseason opener, but there were still individual performances worth highlighting. Philadelphia fell 24-7 to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday night, struggling to generate much offense for most of the evening. The Eagles finished with only 159 total yards, six first downs, and went 0-for-9 on third down. Baltimore controlled the game for more than 41 minutes. That makes it difficult to find many positives from the overall performance. But that's not really the point of the preseason. With most of Philadelphia's starters watching from the sideline, the game provided an opportunity for young players, backups and roster hopefuls to establish themselves. A handful of Eagles took advantage of that opportunity. Here are six players who stood out against Baltimore. 1. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Trotter was the easiest choice at the top of this list. The third-year linebacker was one of Philadelphia's most active defenders throughout the first half, finishing with five tackles, a sack and a quarterback hit. His sack came early, when he tracked down Tyler Huntley and prevented the Ravens quarterback from escaping the pocket. Trotter consistently showed the instincts that have made him one of the more intriguing young linebackers on Philadelphia's roster. The most encouraging part wasn't simply the statistical production. Trotter looked comfortable diagnosing Baltimore's running game, getting downhill and making plays before they had time to develop. He's entering an important season in his development, and this was exactly the kind of preseason performance he needed. 2. Cole Payton It took until the fourth quarter, but Payton finally gave the Eagles' offense some life. The rookie quarterback completed 4 of 9 passes for 37 yards and a touchdown, but his impact went beyond his passing numbers. He also rushed three times for 45 yards, including a 17-yard scramble that helped keep Philadelphia's lone touchdown drive alive. Payton eventually connected with Erik Ezukanma on a six-yard touchdown pass after escaping pressure. That drive accounted for Philadelphia's only touchdown of the night. The overall numbers weren't spectacular, but Payton displayed the athleticism and playmaking ability that made him an intriguing fifth-round selection. More importantly, he created something when the offense desperately needed it. That's worth remembering as the Eagles continue evaluating their quarterback room. 3. Kelee Ringo Ringo's night was a perfect example of why preseason evaluation requires context. There were some negatives. He gave up a touchdown early and was flagged for pass interference later in the half. Then he made one of the Eagles' best plays of the night. Ringo stepped in front of a Ravens receiver in the end zone and intercepted a pass from Joe Fagnano, making an impressive play on the football while getting both feet down. The interception was Philadelphia's only takeaway through the air and showed off the physical traits that made Ringo such an intriguing prospect when the Eagles drafted him. It wasn't a perfect night. That's actually what makes it a useful evaluation. Ringo showed both the areas he still needs to improve and the high-end ability that could eventually make him an important part of the Eagles' secondary. 4. Ty Robinson Robinson provided one of Philadelphia's best plays at the line of scrimmage. The defensive tackle exploded through the Ravens' protection and dropped Huntley for a seven-yard loss early in the game. It was a big play because it immediately put Baltimore behind the sticks and helped force a missed field goal. Robinson finished with five tackles and a sack, continuing what has reportedly been an improving stretch after a difficult start to training camp. The Eagles need depth along the interior defensive line, and Robinson is competing for a larger role. His performance against Baltimore was a good reminder that he remains part of that conversation. 5. Will Shipley Shipley didn't produce huge numbers, but he showed some of the qualities that could make him a valuable piece of Philadelphia's running back depth. He carried the ball seven times for 22 yards, averaging 3.1 yards per attempt. The numbers don't jump off the page. The tape was more encouraging. Shipley showed patience on outside-zone concepts and demonstrated an ability to find lanes when the offensive line gave him opportunities. He also received the majority of Philadelphia's running back workload among the reserve backs. With Saquon Barkley established at the top of the depth chart and Tank Bigsby competing for touches, Shipley's path to a significant role isn't necessarily straightforward. But performances like this can reinforce his value as a reliable No. 2 or No. 3 option. 6. Joshua Weru Weru might have been the most intriguing player on the field from a long-term perspective. The Eagles' international edge rusher was playing in his first-ever football game, having only begun playing the sport earlier this year through the NFL International Player Pathway program. He immediately made an impression. Weru recorded a quarterback hit on his first NFL play and generated another pressure later in the same drive. That's remarkable context for a player still learning the fundamentals of American football. The athletic ability is obvious. The Eagles now have to see whether they can continue to translate that athleticism into production on the field. Weru isn't a finished product. Honorable mention: Uar Bernard Bernard deserves a mention alongside Weru. Like Weru, Bernard is an international player who only recently began playing football. He made his NFL debut against Baltimore and showed flashes of his ability to shed blocks and adapt to the speed and physicality of the game. It's far too early to make any roster predictions based on a handful of preseason snaps. But Bernard's debut was encouraging enough to make him a player worth following throughout the rest of August. The bigger takeaway The Eagles didn't play well. There's no reason to dress that up. Philadelphia was outgained 440-159, couldn't convert a single third down and committed 10 penalties for 96 yards. Baltimore had 31 first downs compared with six for Philadelphia. But preseason football is ultimately about figuring out who can help the team when the games start counting. This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: 6 standouts from Eagles' preseason loss to the Ravens