PHLY Philadelphia Eagles Podcast - What to watch when the Eagles open the preseason

Episode Date: August 7, 2025

Your position-by-position look at which players to watch when Jihaad Campbell, Sydney Brown and the Eagles open the preseason against the Bengals. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Philadelphia Eagles open their preseason slate on Thursday night against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lincoln Financial Field. We are not expecting to see most of the starters in this game. And what does that mean at quarterback, Zach Berman, for the Eagles? Yeah, we'll see a lot of Tanner McKee to begin with. And Tanner McKee has had a good camp. And this is really his opportunity to show why he used to clear number two quarterback for the Eagles, why they traded Kenny Pickett and they were ready to elevate him. And so you saw it in actually the last, well, you saw it on Week 18 last year.

but Tanner McKee will be the top quarterback tonight. And then the quarterback three competition actually behind him is pretty interesting with Kyle McCord and Doreen Thompson Robinson. And how do you feel like that? We'll shake out. You think we'll maybe get a half of McKee and a quarter each of McCord and Thompson Robinson? I would hope so. Nick Siriani's kept it close to his vest, but I would imagine that being the case. And, you know, it obviously depends on, you know, the rhythm of the game.

There's a long drive, short drive, defense stays on the field, things like that. But I think they'll both get into. And frankly, I think the third quarterback competition is going to come down to how they perform in preseason settings. On the outside, one of the things that I like about Tanner McKee in these settings, we have seen it from him in the past. And we've seen it when he's played in the regular season as well is that he gives his wide receivers a chance to make plays. He gets rid of the ball and is willing to throw balls that will require. contested catches. And so in this deep wide receiver competition right now for spots on the roster, Elijah Cooks has had a really impressive summer for someone of his stature. I think he will

have a chance to make some plays on Thursday night against the Bengals. And Darius Cooper is another player who has really popped as far as I've been concerned, the undrafted rookie at Charlton State. You're thinking about those guys competing with the likes of Johnny Wilson and Anaya Smith for spots. I'm looking forward to seeing if any of those guys make plays when it matters in these games. Yeah, I agree with you. Especially Elijah Cooks is someone he has NFL experience. He played with Jacksonville before, right? So it's just not like his first time he's on an NFL field. He's been pretty consistent throughout camp. And you'll see the size. You know, for fans who haven't been at training camp, you'll see legit, you know, 6-4-215 size, former basketball player. He'll

he'll use that. Darius Cooper from Tarleton State, a little shiftyer, right? And I think that's something you'll see from him. And he's an undrafted rookie. So this is his first professional football game tonight. Running back wise, do you think we're going to see Will Shipley and AJ Dylan get some work here, or is it going to be mostly undrafted rookies? Yeah, I would expect to see some Will Shipley early, but I think this is mostly going to be, you know, the Shendrick Powell show, right? I would say Montreal Johnson, but I don't know how he's coming back from an injury. Keelan Robinson, is someone too that they have, who, you know, they brought in.

He has some speed so you can watch him. But Shendarik Pals made a few plays in camp, so pay attention to him. Tight end is interesting. You've got Dallas Goddard at the top, and Grant Calcuttaire pretty much settled into the number two role, I think. And then you've got several guys competing for a third spot. You've got E.J. Jenkins, who has been here, Harrison Bryant and Kylan Granson, who are veterans with experience,

offer different styles. And then under the radar guys like Cameron Lottu, and Nick Mews, is there anybody who you think might pop there? Yeah, so we've had different conversations about the debt tight ends. Cameron Latu, he was a good player at Alabama, third round pick by San Francisco. He's kind of bounced around with on Cleveland's practice squad last year. But of like, you know, between the him and Nick Mews and those guys, I'm curious to see what he does. Of the like non-Gogotara tight ends, I think Colin Granson's probably made the most plays this summer.

Up front, some players to watch. Drew Kendall, the fifth round rookie from Boston College to center. I want to see how he does. I want to see how Miles Hinton does, who has had probably the best camp so far of the rookie offensive lineman. He's mostly at left tackle. He's looked pretty good. And then also I want to see how Daring Kinnard looks, Zach, because Daring Kinnard is competing to be the top backup on the outside.

He and Matt Pryor have both played a lot of right guard and right tackle this summer, spent the year on the active roster with the Eagles last year. You expect that he was being groomed to be sort of the swing tackle. And it seems like we're going to see some ones from the Bengals. So I want to see Dary and Kinnard really be buttoned up in this game. Yeah, that's going to be key. He came on last summer. He made the team based on how he looked last summer.

So we'll really get a sense of how he's coming along tonight. And then you're right about Miles Hinton and Drew Kendall. Those are the two rookies I'm closely paying attention to. All right, let's flip lines of scrimmage. Talk about the defensive side of the ball. On the edge, Eagles need somebody to pop behind Nolan Smith and Jalick's Hunt. Josh Ushay has been the one who's probably had the best summer so far. But I'm a little bit, you know, veterans of Ushay and O'Jolari's caliber.

I'm not super moved by how they look in the preseason. I guess I'm a little bit more curious about, you know, does a guy like Antoine Powell Riland who has been really quiet this summer, the lights go on and all of a sudden he pops. Is there anybody else that's interesting to you there? Yeah. I think Powell Rylund being a draft pick, being a productive college player, would be the one there.

O'Sheaan Mathis got a shout-out from Vic Fangio, which is not a surprise. It's not something to like sneeze at. Yeah. Defensive tackle, I think we can just say like Ty Robinson is going to be a player to watch. Gabe Hall is going to be a player to watch. Both of those guys look like they are definitely going to make this roster after the Thomas Booker trade. at linebacker, probably the most highlight person to consider for the Eagles heading into this game is the first round pick, Jehad Campbell.

You're absolutely right. And Jehad Campbell has been kind of the highlight for me watching the summer in training camp. And now being able to see him in a game for the first time, seeing him tackle. He's had that shoulder injury. So, you know, you'll see the length. You'll see the athleticism. He's going to be a fun player to monitor. And if the game goes anything like the summer has gone, could be a bit of a bit of

a coming out party for Smile Mondin to Eagles fans because he has been very good this summer. If he makes him a couple of big plays, I think he will be someone that Eagles fans like a lot. And then let's close with the secondary, Zach. Mack McWilliams, it seems like he's going to play in this game. So that's a fun one to watch for Eagles fans. Do you think we'll see Keeley Ringo and or Adori Jackson? I would hope to just so you can form an evaluation on them. And it's something Vic Fangio has done in the past is play those guys.

So maybe for a series or two for both of them. But based on the lineup you saw, the scout team look you saw, it doesn't seem like they're going to get a lot of work in the Thursday game. I think probably not a lot of work is right. Elsewhere, you know, my guy, Brandon Johnson, want to see how he does. He's going to get a chance. You know, he's a player who has looked good so far, but he's a little bit undersized.

So can he hold up physically when the bullets are live, so to speak? And then what about it's safety? Do you think that Sidney Brown is going to get a lot of run as he is right now probably in the poll position to be the week one starter in nickel. Yeah, I do think Sidney Brown's going to play. And I think that time's running out from Akuba. So it's a chance for Sidney Brown to really kind of put a stamp on that job. All right.

Two predictions for you, Zach. One, Max and Hook, the safety from Toledo, is going to make a big hit in this game. He's going to whatever crowd is there in the second half of this game, he's going to fire them up. We're going to see a big Max and Hook. hit. Number two, Cameron Williams, the tackle from Texas, is going to commit a penalty. Okay. Those are my two predictions. Any from you? My prediction is, I think that Elijah Cooks catches a touchdown. Ooh. Yeah.

That little slant from like the four-yard line with the slot receiver going to the corner clearing out to space. Exactly. Exactly. So that's that's one prediction there. And Shendarik Powell has a rush of more than 11 yards. More than 11 yards? That's not a good. That's not a good. If you have a 12, 15, 20 yard rush. Okay.

Let me find a different one for you then. Here we go. Kyle McCourt has a pass to a tight end, a pass attempt of more than 20 yards to a tight end. Okay. That's interesting. More than 15 yards. Yeah, 20 is tough.

Yeah. He's going to throw a seam ball to a tight end. Yeah, he's going to throw a seam ball to a tight end, yes. Okay, I'll take that. He'll wish Ronda Gadsden was out there, yes. All right, we'll have you covered afterwards on P.H.O.I. With everything you need to know from the game, that's Zach Berman, Beowulf. Like the video, subscribe to the channel, all that good stuff.

We'll talk to you later.