RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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The Eagles will not determine their entire 53-man roster during Saturday night’s preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens , but several competitions should begin to take shape. Philadelphia has few questions involving its most established starters. The uncertainty is concentrated further down the depth chart, where the Eagles must identify dependable backups, settle their safety rotation and determine which players can contribute on special teams.
Game performance will not erase everything that has happened during training camp. However, preseason action provides a different evaluation because players must communicate, make adjustments and execute assignments without coaches guiding every repetition. Those details often decide close competitions.
The user identified six areas, so all six are included here.
Backup quarterback
Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee are competing to serve as Jalen Hurts’ primary backup. McKee held the No. 2 job last season and started Philadelphia’s regular-season finale, but the Eagles traded for Dalton to add 15 years of NFL experience to the quarterback room.
Dalton’s experience should make him the safer option, while McKee offers familiarity with the organization and potential long-term value. Their performance against Baltimore should be judged by more than passing yards. Command of Sean Mannion’s offense, third-down efficiency, ball placement and protection of the football will carry greater weight. Rookie Cole Payton should also receive opportunities to show whether he warrants a developmental roster spot.
Wide receiver depth
DeVonta Smith is the unquestioned leader of the room, while Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore and first-round pick Makai Lemon are positioned for significant roles. The battle behind them becomes more complicated.
Darius Cooper has built on the momentum that helped him make the roster as an undrafted rookie last season. Johnny Wilson, Quez Watkins, Samori Toure, Danny Gray, Erik Ezukanma and Britain Covey are also fighting for limited places. Receiving production will matter, but blocking, route detail and special-teams value could separate the final candidates. Lemon’s availability must also be monitored after he missed practice time with a hamstring injury.
Reserve offensive tackle
Fred Johnson is the most experienced reserve tackle and played a career-high 59% of Philadelphia’s offensive snaps last season. The competition behind him includes third-round pick Markel Bell, Myles Hinton, Cam Williams, Hollin Pierce and John Ojukwu.
Bell may be the player to monitor most closely. The 6-foot-9 rookie has worked at both tackle spots and impressed during one-on-one drills ahead of the opener. Hinton and Williams are attempting to regain momentum after injuries interrupted their rookie seasons. With Lane Johnson indicating that 2026 will probably be his final year, this competition carries consequences beyond the immediate roster.
Reserve offensive guard
Tyler Steen is established as Philadelphia’s starting right guard after starting every regular-season game in 2025, leaving the competition to determine the interior depth behind Steen, Landon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens.
Veteran Michael Jordan offers 49 career starts, but Philadelphia must evaluate the upside of Micah Morris, Jaeden Roberts, Drew Kendall, Willie Lampkin and Jake Majors. Morris missed practice time with a shoulder injury, making his availability worth monitoring. Versatility will be important because the Eagles generally prefer reserve linemen who can cover multiple positions. Communication and handling Baltimore’s interior pressure packages will provide a demanding first test.
Safety
Andrew Mukuba is expected to start at one safety spot, but the rotation around him remains unsettled. Marcus Epps has the experience and enters the preseason as the favorite to start alongside Mukuba. The Eagles must still decide how J.T. Gray, Andre’ Sam, Cole Wisniewski and undrafted rookie Maximus Pulley fit into the group.
Gray is already one of the NFL’s most accomplished special-teams players, while Wisniewski and Pulley offer developmental upside. Wisniewski’s hamstring injury could create additional snaps for Pulley, who recorded five interceptions during his final season at Wofford. Tackling, alignment and communication will be critical against Baltimore, but special-teams performance could ultimately determine the final safety spots.
Special teams
Jake Elliott and Braden Mann have secured their jobs, but the operation has a new component in undrafted rookie long snapper Rocco Underwood. The former Florida standout enters the preseason as the favorite to win the job after earning the Patrick Mannelly Award as the nation’s top collegiate long snapper in 2024.
Underwood’s performance should be evaluated by consistency rather than visibility. Accurate snaps, dependable timing and clean operation with Elliott and Mann are the priorities. The game will also be important for players such as Gray, Covey, Pulley, Gushiken and Philadelphia’s reserve linebackers and receivers. A strong performance covering kicks and punts could decide the final few roster positions.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Six Eagles position battles to watch against the Ravens
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