The preseason is almost over. Really. Two preseason games and a joint practice are already in the books.
The Eagles have won two thrilling preseason games by a total of four points, taking the lead for good in both games late in the fourth quarter. The Eagles close out the preseason against the Vikings on Aug. 24, if you’re into that sort of thing.
It’s been a relatively quiet preseason. The Eagles have mostly held their key players out of the preseason games. They’ve taken a good, hard look at their young players. They’ve — fingers crossed — avoided the the injury bug other than a few bumps and bruises.
So, what’s there left to watch against the Vikings?
Three things.
The most and least important thing to watch is the quarterback competition between Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee.
It is very important to have a No. 2 quarterback who can fill in temporarily should starter Jalen Hurts get injured during a game or for a short stretch in the course of the season.
If Hurts is sidelined for an extended time, it won’t matter much one way or the other.
For the second summer in a row McKee has looked like the most confident backup during the preseason. Last year, Marcus Mariota struggled through August but was named the backup anyway. This year, Pickett, the former first-round pick for the Steelers with lots of starting experience, had gotten most of the No. 2 QBs reps through training camp.
Where Pickett has looked tentative and unsure of himself, McKee has appeared comfortable and decisive.
Pickett has two years to run on his contract and is a good fit financially for the team. McKee was a sixth-round pick last year, who dressed as the emergency third quarterback in every game.
Last year, Mariota was a nonfactor in the Eagles season. McKee will be on the team no matter what happens. Will the Eagles take a risk and name him the No. 2?
We’ll find out sooner rather than later.
The second thing to watch is the Eagles’ young guys, especially running back Will Shipley. The fourth-round pick from Clemson has been exactly what the team has hoped for. He has carried the ball 12 times for more than three yards a pop and caught five passes for almost 10 yards a catch.
With Saquon Barkley and Kenneth Gainwell on board, Shipley would be an excellent addition.
Finally, it will be the last time we see a lot of these players for the last time in the preseason finale. The final cuts come on Aug. 27.
One of the toughest decisions the Eagles will have to make involves one of the stars of the Super Bowl 57 season.
Cornerback James Bradberry played to a Pro Bowl level in 2022 but struggled mightily last season. With his career in the balance, Bradberry has worked all preseason on learning a new position, safety.
That effort has had, at best, mixed results. Bradberry is a good team player. He is great in the locker room. However, it would be a surprise to see him in an Eagles uniform in Brazil.
That’s the tough part of being a fan. Good players, players you’ve rooted for, can’t play forever.
It’s the one downside of being a fan.
