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PHILADELPHIA − Eagles quarterback Andy Dalton says he likes rotating back and forth with Tanner McKee between the second and third units.
The part he likes the most is not knowing from day to day, and even series to series, as the Eagles go through their first full week of training camp with the two quarterbacks battling to back up Jalen Hurts.
That is something new for the 38-year-old Dalton, who has thrown for just under 40,000 yards in his career as he enters his 16th NFL season.
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"You kind of don’t know when exactly we’re going to be going in," Dalton said after practice on Aug. 4. "And that fits the role of the backup ... The first couple of days, we’re trying to figure out, when is it going to be our time? When are we in? When not? Now, at this point, it’s just like let me know when I’m going in."
So far, Dalton has taken advantage both with the second unit and the third unit, while McKee is still trying to find his bearings in the new offense installed by first-year coordinator Sean Mannion.
It's different for McKee, too. That's because he came into training camp as the No. 2 QB after the Eagles traded 2024 backup Kenny Pickett.
That means McKee is getting fewer reps, especially on the days when he's the No. 3 QB. He's adjusting to that while learning a new offense.
"I think the mental reps are always important," McKee said. "It’s similar to the season, you’re not getting as many reps. So the mental reps are very important. Asking the questions in the meeting rooms are important and then taking advantage of every rep that you get.
"Sometimes, you learn from mistakes. But a lot of the time, you have to learn from the mistakes of other people as well. So paying attention on the sideline and watching film are just a little bit more important when you’re not getting as many (reps)."
Here, then, are five players standing out in their position battles, with players who need to step up their game:
The eye test tells you that Dalton knows where to go with the ball. And he's survived this long in the NFL because he's got an arm that can deliver the ball. Dalton has shown that throughout the first week. Dalton has also played in the Eagles' new offense, a derivative of the Sean McVay/Kyle Shanahan model, under previous coaches in Cincinnati (Zac Taylor) and Carolina (Dave Canales).
Who needs to step up? McKee. It's not that McKee has played poorly. But the difference between McKee and Dalton is noticeable through the early going. There are three preseason games for McKee to figure it out.
UNDER RADAR STARS: Eagles have 2 under radar stars on D-line. Can they avoid 'rabbit hole'?
DEVONTA SMITH INJURED: Eagles camp observations. 2 top WRs injured and sloppy offense sputters
It seemed strange that Epenesa fell into the Eagles' lap late in the spring after spending his first six seasons in Buffalo. As it turns out, there's a reason for that. Epenesa was going to sign with the Browns in March, but concerns over a physical nixed that plan.
"Cleveland, you know, it was a weird situation," Epenesa said. "But I don't necessarily want to go back and talk on that in just a weird sense. I'll just leave that in the past, and just be happy that I'm not a Brown, and that I am an Eagle."
The Eagles are happy, too. Epenesa has had a strong start to camp. During the July 30 practice, Epenesa dropped into coverage, something he didn't have to do in Buffalo, and intercepted a pass. And Epenesa has been around the quarterback on several occasions as well. It's believed that Jonathan Greenard (on PUP list) and Jalyx Hunt are the top two edge rushers. But Epenesa is certainly showing that he deserves a spot in the rotation with Nolan Smith and Arnold Ebiketie.
Who needs to step up? Ebiketie. It appears as if Epenesa has been around the ball much more than Ebiketie so far.
When camp started, Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said Marcus Epps would get the first chance to win the starting safety job next to Drew Mukuba. And that Carter, who spent his NFL career as a nickel, would get a chance as well. Carter has made the most of his chances. On Aug. 4, Carter was step for step with Hollywood Brown as Hurts threw deep for Brown. Carter leaped up, caught the ball, and held on as he landed on his back.
"Shoot man, I was just doing my job," Carter said. "I saw Jalen load up, and just went and tracked the ball. That's really it."
Who needs to step up? Epps. The Eagles like safeties who are around the ball. While Epps has been solid in coverage, the takeaways get noticed. So far, slight edge to Carter.
Cooper was a longshot to make the team last summer as an undrafted free agent out of Tarleton State. But Cooper had a strong camp and earned a spot on the 53-man roster. This summer, the odds appeared even longer as the Eagles drafted Makai Lemon, signed Brown and Elijah Moore in free agency, and traded for Dontayvion Wicks.
Yet Cooper keeps making plays. He had a one-handed leaping catch in the back of the end zone on Aug. 4. On a day when DeVonta Smith and Lemon sat out with hamstring injuries, Cooper and Wicks stood out from the other receivers.
Who needs to step up? Johnny Wilson. Wilson missed all of last season with a knee injury. But the Eagles' sixth-round pick in 2024 has the advantage of being 6-foot-6. But he needs to hold on the ball.
The Eagles liked Campbell enough to keep him on the practice squad last season after signing him late in training camp. This season, Campbell has shown the qualities the Eagles covet from a defender − being around the ball. He had an interception on July 30, and he had a "sack" on Aug. 4.
That should at least put him in the running for a roster spot at linebacker behind Zack Baun, Jihaad Campbell and top backup Jeremiah Trotter.
Who needs to step up? Smael Mondon. The Eagles' fifth-round pick in 2025 has quickly proven to be a strong special teams player. That might be enough to keep a roster spot. But Chance Campbell could push him.
Contact Martin Frank at [email protected]. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Sign up for the "Eye On The Eagles" newsletter, emailed to your inbox every Friday morning. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: 5 Eagles winning position battles (so far), and who's falling behind
Continue reading...
The part he likes the most is not knowing from day to day, and even series to series, as the Eagles go through their first full week of training camp with the two quarterbacks battling to back up Jalen Hurts.
That is something new for the 38-year-old Dalton, who has thrown for just under 40,000 yards in his career as he enters his 16th NFL season.
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"You kind of don’t know when exactly we’re going to be going in," Dalton said after practice on Aug. 4. "And that fits the role of the backup ... The first couple of days, we’re trying to figure out, when is it going to be our time? When are we in? When not? Now, at this point, it’s just like let me know when I’m going in."
So far, Dalton has taken advantage both with the second unit and the third unit, while McKee is still trying to find his bearings in the new offense installed by first-year coordinator Sean Mannion.
It's different for McKee, too. That's because he came into training camp as the No. 2 QB after the Eagles traded 2024 backup Kenny Pickett.
That means McKee is getting fewer reps, especially on the days when he's the No. 3 QB. He's adjusting to that while learning a new offense.
"I think the mental reps are always important," McKee said. "It’s similar to the season, you’re not getting as many reps. So the mental reps are very important. Asking the questions in the meeting rooms are important and then taking advantage of every rep that you get.
"Sometimes, you learn from mistakes. But a lot of the time, you have to learn from the mistakes of other people as well. So paying attention on the sideline and watching film are just a little bit more important when you’re not getting as many (reps)."
Here, then, are five players standing out in their position battles, with players who need to step up their game:
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Andy Dalton, quarterback
The eye test tells you that Dalton knows where to go with the ball. And he's survived this long in the NFL because he's got an arm that can deliver the ball. Dalton has shown that throughout the first week. Dalton has also played in the Eagles' new offense, a derivative of the Sean McVay/Kyle Shanahan model, under previous coaches in Cincinnati (Zac Taylor) and Carolina (Dave Canales).
Who needs to step up? McKee. It's not that McKee has played poorly. But the difference between McKee and Dalton is noticeable through the early going. There are three preseason games for McKee to figure it out.
UNDER RADAR STARS: Eagles have 2 under radar stars on D-line. Can they avoid 'rabbit hole'?
DEVONTA SMITH INJURED: Eagles camp observations. 2 top WRs injured and sloppy offense sputters
A.J. Epenesa, edge rusher
It seemed strange that Epenesa fell into the Eagles' lap late in the spring after spending his first six seasons in Buffalo. As it turns out, there's a reason for that. Epenesa was going to sign with the Browns in March, but concerns over a physical nixed that plan.
"Cleveland, you know, it was a weird situation," Epenesa said. "But I don't necessarily want to go back and talk on that in just a weird sense. I'll just leave that in the past, and just be happy that I'm not a Brown, and that I am an Eagle."
The Eagles are happy, too. Epenesa has had a strong start to camp. During the July 30 practice, Epenesa dropped into coverage, something he didn't have to do in Buffalo, and intercepted a pass. And Epenesa has been around the quarterback on several occasions as well. It's believed that Jonathan Greenard (on PUP list) and Jalyx Hunt are the top two edge rushers. But Epenesa is certainly showing that he deserves a spot in the rotation with Nolan Smith and Arnold Ebiketie.
Who needs to step up? Ebiketie. It appears as if Epenesa has been around the ball much more than Ebiketie so far.
Michael Carter, safety
When camp started, Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said Marcus Epps would get the first chance to win the starting safety job next to Drew Mukuba. And that Carter, who spent his NFL career as a nickel, would get a chance as well. Carter has made the most of his chances. On Aug. 4, Carter was step for step with Hollywood Brown as Hurts threw deep for Brown. Carter leaped up, caught the ball, and held on as he landed on his back.
"Shoot man, I was just doing my job," Carter said. "I saw Jalen load up, and just went and tracked the ball. That's really it."
Who needs to step up? Epps. The Eagles like safeties who are around the ball. While Epps has been solid in coverage, the takeaways get noticed. So far, slight edge to Carter.
Darius Cooper, wide receiver
Cooper was a longshot to make the team last summer as an undrafted free agent out of Tarleton State. But Cooper had a strong camp and earned a spot on the 53-man roster. This summer, the odds appeared even longer as the Eagles drafted Makai Lemon, signed Brown and Elijah Moore in free agency, and traded for Dontayvion Wicks.
Yet Cooper keeps making plays. He had a one-handed leaping catch in the back of the end zone on Aug. 4. On a day when DeVonta Smith and Lemon sat out with hamstring injuries, Cooper and Wicks stood out from the other receivers.
Who needs to step up? Johnny Wilson. Wilson missed all of last season with a knee injury. But the Eagles' sixth-round pick in 2024 has the advantage of being 6-foot-6. But he needs to hold on the ball.
Chance Campbell, linebacker
The Eagles liked Campbell enough to keep him on the practice squad last season after signing him late in training camp. This season, Campbell has shown the qualities the Eagles covet from a defender − being around the ball. He had an interception on July 30, and he had a "sack" on Aug. 4.
That should at least put him in the running for a roster spot at linebacker behind Zack Baun, Jihaad Campbell and top backup Jeremiah Trotter.
Who needs to step up? Smael Mondon. The Eagles' fifth-round pick in 2025 has quickly proven to be a strong special teams player. That might be enough to keep a roster spot. But Chance Campbell could push him.
Contact Martin Frank at [email protected]. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Sign up for the "Eye On The Eagles" newsletter, emailed to your inbox every Friday morning. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: 5 Eagles winning position battles (so far), and who's falling behind
Continue reading...
