Eagles vs. Jets preseason game: 16 winners, 6 losers, and 10 IDKs

The Philadelphia Eagles beat the New York Jets in their preseason finale on Friday night.

The game went down to the wire with the Birds getting a fourth down stop to be able to run out the clock.

Final score, which doesn’t matter, but we’re logging it here anyway: 19 to 17.

The Eagles’ final preseason record, which also doesn’t matter, is 2-1.

Time to hand out some winners, losers, and I don’t knows ahead of the team making roster cuts from 90 players down to 53 before 4:00 PM Eastern on Tuesday, August 27.

Brown obviously didn’t play in this game. But he did seem to be moving well during a pregame workout. Encouraging to see. Barring any setbacks, he should be ready to play in Week 1.

We previously noted that Campbell took first-team reps next to Zack Baun for the first time this summer during the Eagles’ final training camp practice on Wednesday. The rookie first-round pick did not suit up on Friday night while Jeremiah Trotter Jr. did. More confirmation that Campbell is a Week 1 starter at off-ball linebacker.

Jackson did not suit up on Friday night. Seems like he won the starting cornerback job despite not having a great summer.

Brown did not suit up on Friday night. Seems like he won the starting safety job despite the fact that Andrew Mukuba looked to be in position to win it prior to a hamstring injury.

Pryor did not suit up on Friday night. He’s on the team. Pryor’s been better at guard than tackle this offseason, though the Eagles might be counting on him as their top tackle backup.

Dillon did not suit up on Friday night. Maybe the Eagles don’t keep him on the initial 53-man roster because he’s a vested veteran and thus not subject to waivers. But maybe they just like him as their RB3 and don’t want to overthink it.

Young made a tackle to limit a Jets run to a short gain in the first half. He also read a Jets screen play and chased down the ball carrier for a TFL. The 2023 third-round pick might make the roster with the Eagles keeping six defensive tackles.

Good click and close to contest a third down target that a Jets wide receiver ended up not being able to catch. McWilliams also wrapped up a Jets ball carrier’s legs for a TFL. McWilliams did miss an open field tackle later on.

Granson was wide open for a 19-yard gain due to the Jets simply not covering him. To his credit, he did make a defender miss on the run after the catch. He looked better than fellow TE3 contender E.J. Jenkins.

Johnson Jr. showed some promise early in camp before suffering a hamstring injury that sidelined him for about a week’s worth of practices and the Eagles’ first preseason game. Now seemingly healthy, Johnson Jr. looked good against the Jets. He ran with juice, finishing with 15 carries for 57 yards (3.8 average) and a touchdown. His score came on a nice cutback against the defense. He also ran over a Jets safety at one point and almost made a downfield sideline catch.

The Eagles will probably hope that makes it through waivers unclaimed to join their practice squad.

The rookie left tackle had a nice pulling block to spring a Keilan Robinson run. He crushed the defender. Hinton did allow a sack, though McCord didn’t do Hinton any favors by holding the ball and drifting backwards. Jeff Stotuland seems to like Hinton, so, I believe he sticks on the roster.

The Eagles’ fullback had a reception go for 11 yards. BVS hasn’t looked unnatural as a ball-carrier or pass-catcher despite making the transition from previously playing on defense.

Mondon Jr. had a TFL and a nice open field tackle where he read what was happening on offense to limit the Jets to a short gain. Mondon Jr. did get banged up but it didn’t seem to be a serious injury.

All Patrick Johnson does is make plays in the preseason. He got to Jets quarterback Brady Cook for a sack.

APR has been pretty invisible this summer but the Eagles’ final pick of their 2025 NFL Draft class finally made a splash on Friday night with a strip-sack. APR was really good at racking up forced fumbles in college with nine in his final three years at Virginia Tech. It’d be surprising to see him make the roster but he’s now done enough to warrant a practice squad spot.

Drilled a 51-yard field goal. Then drilled a 53-yard field goal. Good to see after he struggled from distance last season.

Elliott finished 4/4 on field goals and made his sole extra point attempt to account for 13 of the Eagles’ 19 total points on Friday night.

The numbers: 15/35 (42.9% completion), 136 yards (3.9 average), 0 TD, 1 INT, 42.1 passer rating.

Not pretty.

In fairness to McCord, he did deal at least five drops by his teammates.

Then again, he also benefited from a dropped pick by the Jets at one point.

The interception that counted was a curious decision to throw to Darius Cooper, who was bracketed by a cornerback and safety.

McCord hasn’t played well enough to definitely be the Eagles’ third quarterback. The team should be scouring other QB3 options. If they can’t find one they like than McCord, maybe they keep him. Or maybe they only go with just two quarterbacks on the 53? But probably not if McKee is banged up?

Regardless, McCord is not ready to play meaningful snaps for the Eagles in 2025.

Smith got lit up as the punt returner on the Jets’ first punt. He should’ve called a fair catch. Smith later dropped a pass. And then another drop where the ball went right through his hands. He didn’t hold up as a lead blocker on a tight end screen to E.J. Jenkins.

Smith remained in the game after Darius Cooper and John Metchie III had already exited. The Eagles might keep him … but it’s hard to argue that they should.

Cooks dropped a pass on an out route and couldn’t keep either of his two feet along the sideline for a potential touchdown grab. Cooks had a nice stretch earlier in training camp but between missing time due to injury and struggling on Friday night, he could be looking for a new NFL home.

The veteran hasn’t been good in camp and he gave up pressures against the Jets’ backups on Friday night. I think the Eagles might cut him to temporarily save a roster spot (since he’s a vested veteran) and then re-sign him. If they bring him back after Week 1, his 2025 salary won’t be guaranteed.

Keegan stood out for getting beat. The 2024 draft pick probably hasn’t done enough to earn a roster spot entering Year 2.

He didn’t play well and he also got kicked in the dick. Ouch.

JM3 ran a crisp route to get open and catch a pass thrown behind him on the Eagles’ first play from scrimmage for a 14-yard gain.

Metchie also dropped a first down reception that wouldn’t have counted due to a holding penalty. Still, bad.

Nickerson made a really nice read to jump a route for a leaping pick where he managed to catch the bobbled ball as he went to the ground.

Nickerson did have a rough missed tackle on a Jets rushing touchdown.

I don’t think the 30-year-old journeyman is going to make the team. He’s a vested veteran, so the Eagles don’t have to worry about waivers. Would be a good depth player to have on the practice squad again this year.

Latu was credited with four tackles (one solo). That’s pretty good for a special contributor. Latu didn’t show much potential on offense this offseason but he looks like a good ST guy. If he doesn’t make the Eagles’ practice squad, another team should sign him to theirs.

Ojulari played in this game, which isn’t the best sign for him. But he didn’t play much, which is a good sign for him. Probably the fourth edge rusher behind Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, and Joshua Uche (who didn’t play but he missed the final training camp practice due to a groin injury).

Toth had a good block to spring a Montrell Johnson Jr. run. He got called for holding but he had good pass protection on the snap and McCord holding onto the ball and bailing the pocket led to the penalty.

Still don’t have a great feel if Toth’s actually going to make the roster this time … and maybe be the Week 1 starter if Landon Dickerson can’t play. I think he might?

Jakorian Bennett was credited with a pass breakup on a play where he hit the Jets receiver a little early on a short target but no flag was thrown. After that, Bennett gave up three receptions where he played tight coverage but couldn’t ultimately prevent the catches.

Bennett might start at some point this season but it won’t be Week 1.

Ogbo logged a quarterback hit on a play where he pressured the Jets’ quarterback into a short checkdown to the flat. Ogbo also had a TFL on a play where the Jets’ tight end failed to pick him up.

Good stuff but also the kind of performance you should be seeing from a 30-year-old veteran with starting experience going up against players who won’t even make NFL rosters.

Ogbo is on the bubble.

Gant dropped a pick right thrown to him, not good.

Gant stopped a Jets run JUST shy of the goal line on a two-point conversion try to prevent New York from tying the game at 19 to 19 with 3:07 left in the fourth quarter.

Jets quarterback Adrian Martinez inexplicably threw a ball towards the Eagles safety with no wide receiver in the area. To Cine’s credit, he made the diving catch for the interception. Second notable play he’s made all summer with the first one being a pass breakup in practice one day. Probably too little, too late.

Also, Cine got banged up again. Hasn’t been able to stay healthy.

Astute observation here from ZBerm. Wonder how serious McKee’s finger injury is. Will he be ready for Week 1?

If not, the Eagles need to address backup QB, because it simply can’t be McCord or Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Perhaps Kenny Pickett returns to Philly if the Cleveland Browns cut him?

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