Eagles' Backup QB Race Intensifies After 24-21 Preseason Loss to Patriots

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — In a preseason contest that stood in stark contrast to last week's opener, the Eagles fell to the New England Patriots 24-21 on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium. The game, as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer and Mechanicsburg Patriot News, was decided on a late touchdown pass by Patriots quarterback Behren Morton to wide receiver Nick DeGennaro, who beat Eagles cornerback Isaiah Bolden on a 37-yard score with 57 seconds remaining.

While the outcome carried little weight in the grand scheme of the preseason, the night offered a clearer picture of several individual competitions, most notably the battle for the No. 2 quarterback job. Andy Dalton, who started for the second consecutive week, turned in another, as The Inquirer reported, "erratic" performance, completing 3 of 10 passes for 44 yards. He was nearly intercepted twice by Patriots cornerback Kindle Vildor, and according to The Inquirer, he missed a read on an unblocked blitz and overthrew receivers.

Dalton, now in his 16th season at 38 years old, was acquired by the Eagles from the Carolina Panthers in March for a seventh-round pick. In two preseason games, he has completed just 6 of 16 for 64 yards, numbers that have sparked speculation he might not be the answer as Hurts's backup. When asked about trade rumors, Dalton told reporters, "I think we're focusing on the here and now."

On the other side, Tanner McKee, working with mostly third-string offensive line and skill players, had a sharp turnaround from his disappointing opener. As The Philadelphia Inquirer detailed, McKee went 16-for-22 for 173 yards and two touchdowns, with a 125.8 quarterback rating. His scoring strikes included a 14-yard pass to Britain Covey and a 20-yard catch-and-run to running back Carson Steele, who avoided defenders with a hurdle on his way to the end zone. McKee was also praised by head coach Nick Sirianni, who said the young quarterback "made some nice plays," though he also acknowledged some struggles with fourth-down conversions.

McKee, when asked about his standing, said simply, "I play when the coaches put me in." Sirianni said, "We got to continue to give both of them opportunities within practice and potentially games," indicating the battle is far from over.

Beyond the quarterbacks, the Eagles running game showed noticeable improvement. Will Shipley showcased his progress, rushing for 56 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, including a 5-yard touchdown run up the middle behind key blocks. Carson Steele, who also had a touchdown, was a true dual threat, leading the team with six catches for 84 yards and adding 12 carries for 33 yards. The offensive line, which included Fred Johnson, Drew Kendall, Willie Lampkin, Jake Majors, and Markell Bell, as per The Philadelphia Inquirer's report, opened lanes that allowed the Eagles to rebound from last week's 31 yards on 11 carries.

Second-year defensive tackle Ty Robinson continued his strong preseason, recording two sacks, which were his second and third of the preseason, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Not all was rosy. The Eagles also suffered a medical scare when running back Ja'Quinden Jackson was stretchered to an ambulance following an injury during the opening kickoff. The team reported that Jackson had strength and movement in all extremities. Cornerback Mac McWilliams and offensive tackle Markell Bell also left the game after visits to the medical tent.

The Patriots showed their own quarterback depth. Tommy DeVito, who was sacked by Jeremiah Trotter Jr., had a solid showing, and according to an assessment carried by The Philadelphia Inquirer, he looked better than either Eagles quarterback on the night. The game-winning score came from Behren Morton to Nick DeGennaro, who beat Isaiah Bolden on the play.

Philadelphia's special teams had moments as well, with Britain Covey muffing a punt return but recovering; he averaged 9.5 yards on four returns. Jake Elliott connected on all three extra points, and Braden Mann averaged 42.0 net yards on four punts.

Coaches and Injury Updates

Both head coaches Nick Sirianni and Mike Vrabel, as The Philadelphia Inquirer reported, decided not to dress their starters, giving extended snaps to the second and third units. Jalen Hurts and the starting offense got the night off. Rookies and second-year players had extended chances to prove themselves, and Cole Wisniewski, playing in his first NFL game, tallied four tackles, while Shaun Wade forced a fumble in the fourth quarter, which offset a pass interference penalty.

Outlook

The Eagles will close their preseason schedule before opening the regular season on Sept. 13 against the Washington Commanders. Before that, there is a preseason game and a week to go before the roster deadline. The competition for the backup spot is wide open, and the team's leadership is not ready to commit. As Sirianni said, "I'm not there yet."