Eagles-Ravens preseason observations: Position battle updates, injury news, and more

The Philadelphia Eagles kicked off their 2026 preseason schedule with a LOSS to the Baltimore Ravens. Final score, which doesn’t matter, but we’re logging it here anyway: 24 to 7.

To no surprise, the Eagles barely played any starters in this game. You could say that any football is better than no football but this was mostly a boring game. The Eagles’ offense mustered just 100 yards on their first 31 plays before Cole Payton finally led a scoring drive later in the fourth quarter.

Read on for some noteworthy moments from Saturday night.

NOTABLE POSITION BATTLE UPDATES:

BACKUP QUARTERBACK

Andy Dalton got the start on Saturday night. The offense ran nine plays for 12 yards and three punts while he was in. Not exactly sharp. He finished 3/6 for 20 yards and 57.6 passer rating.

Tanner McKee wasn’t much better. He was 6/10 for 35 yards and a 66.7 passer rating.

This outing reflected what we’ve seen from the QB2 battle in training camp thus far; no real separation between these two.

SAFETY

Marcus Epps — who isn’t injured to our knowledge — did not dress for this game while Michael Carter II did. Advantage: Epps, who has been taking most of the first-team safety reps in camp.

PUNT RETURNER

Britain Covey was first up at punt returner .

KICK RETURNER

Quez Watkins and Elijah Moore were first up at kick returner.

FIRST QUARTER OBSERVATIONS

• Sean Mannion called the game from the sideline, not from the booth. It was previously unclear where the first-time play-caller would be located for his offensive coordinator duties.
• The Eagles’ captains for the opening coin toss: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Tank Bigsby, Byron Young.
• Rookie tight end Eli Stowers was flagged for holding on the Eagles’ first play from scrimmage, which wiped out a Bigsby run.
• The Eagles’ starting offensive line for this game: LT Fred Johnson, LG John Ojukwu, C Willie Lampkin, RG Drew Kendall, RT Markel Bell.
• Fred Johnson had a false start to knock the offense back to 3rd-and-15.
• The Eagles’ first drive: three plays, three yards, punt. Nice little throwback to the 2025 offense.
• A.J. Epenesa dropped into coverage and gave up an explosive play. Perhaps not the best way to utilize him.
• A blitzing Jeremiah Trotter Jr., who started at linebacker next to Jihaad Campbell, got to Tyler Huntley for a sack. That’s an aspect of Trot Jr.‘s game that stands out in a good way.
• Ty Robinson beat his blocker to sack Huntley and put the Ravens’ offense in 3rd-and-17. Robinson has picked it up a bit more recently after a slow start to camp.

• Hollywood Brown had a chance to make a defender miss for a big gain but got tackled instead. Just hasn’t had an impressive summer.
• Tank Bigsby bobbled a low throw by Andy Dalton into a pick six … that was ruled incomplete upon review since the ball hit the ground.
• Gotta like Willie Lampkin’s effort.

• The Eagles shuffled their offensive line after their first drive … with Lampkin bumping out to right guard and Kendall moving to center.
• Paying tribute to the 2025 offense, the Eagles went three-and-out on their second drive as well. Six plays, seven yards, two punts to start the game.
• Darius Cooper dropped a pass that led to the Eagles having a third straight three-and-out. Bad drive-ending drop by DC.

SECOND QUARTER OBSERVATIONS

• Tanner McKee entered the game on the Eagles’ fourth drive.
• New offensive line configuration: LT John Ojukwu, LG Micah Morris, C Jake Majors, RG Willie Lampkin, RT Markel Bell.
• The Eagles’ fourth drive: three plays, seven yards, punt. Four straight three-and-outs.
• Kelee Ringo and Michael Carter II were seemingly beat in coverage on the Ravens’ first touchdown.

• Cooper caught a McKee pass over the middle to give the Eagles their first first down of the night!
• Will Shipley had some solid runs to the right side, where Markel Bell was blocking.
• Jake Majors got hit with a holding penalty.
• The Ravens got away with a pass interference penalty on Danny Gray that prevented a first down.
• Mac McWilliams gave up a catch on a play where he also got called for defensive holding. Adding to not a good night for him.
• Ringo got called for a clear defensive pass interference to give the Ravens a goal-to-go situation. And then he instantly redeemed himself with a tremendous catch in the end zone for an interception!

• Eli Stowers made two short catches — each for three yards — to end the first half.

THIRD QUARTER OBSERVATIONS

• Shaun Wade has a good pass breakup on a play where he trailed and initially allowed the ball to be caught before punching it out while going to the ground.
• A blitzing Smael Mondon Jr. nearly got a sack but instead settled for a forced incompletion.
• Uar Bernard saw his first-ever snap in the NFL! Clint Hurtt gave him a head pat and a smile after that play.
• Josh Weru his first-ever snap in the NFL! He pressured the Ravens’ quarterback into an imcompletion and generated multiple pressures! Helped that he was unblocked on one but he looked athletic and had good closing speed.
• McKee failed to pull the trigger on a blitz and got sacked.
• Another new offensive line configuration: LT Myles Hinton, LG Micah Morris, C Jake Majors, RG Michael Jordan, RT Cameron Williams.
• Shaun Wade gave up a catch and run after the catch … but hustled back to knock the ball out of the Ravens’ hands for a fumble and Eagles recovery (Ambry Thomas)! You like to see that kind of effort.

• Cam Latu had a bad drop.
• McKee sailed a pass over Darius Cooper’s head on 3rd-and-8 for yet another three-and-out on offense.

FOURTH QUARTER OBSERVATIONS

• Deontae Lawson had a bunch of flashes.
• Veteran safety J.T. Gray got his hand on a pass for a deflection … on the same play where Ambry Thomas was flagged for illegal contact. A lot of penalties.
• It looked like Uar Bernard was going to get a run stop in goal-to-go … but the Ravens’ running back broke through his tackle for a touchdown. Good effort to be in position but obviously has to figure out how to finish the play.
• New guy David Blay had a couple nice moments. Played with physicality.
• Cole Payton entered the game with a little over 11 minutes left.
• Tarron Jackson notched a sack.
• Ty Robinson, playing in the game with six minutes left in the fourth quarter, got flagged for a late hit on the quarterback.
• Myles Hinton was flagged multiple times.
• Cole Payton looked good as a runner.
• Micah Morris got flagged for holding on a play where Payton took off running.
• Payton capped off a 9-play, 59-yard scoring drive with a touchdown pass to Erik Ezukanma. Gotta like how the rookie quarterback kept his eyes downfield and had nice touch on the throw for the TD.

EAGLES INJURY NEWS

• Jakorian Bennett got banged up on the Ravens’ first drive. He spent some time in the medical tent before heading into the tunnel.

UP NEXT

The Eagles are off tomorrow, Sunday, August 16 before returning to practice on Monday. Then Tuesday is a travel day ahead of two joint training camp practices against the New England Patriots on Wednesday and Thursday.