With the Eagles' preseason finale taking place this evening, it's crunch time for those on the roster bubble or looking for one last shot to prove their worth. Here are 5 players worth keeping an eye on when the Birds clash with the Jets.
Ainias Smith
The injury to Johnny Wilson deals the Eagles a significant blow. While John Metchie's acquisition will now be very important, the Birds could still be inclined to afford opportunities to younger wideouts from their own school of coaching.
Smith is in his second year and despite a quiet training camp, has looked good in preseason, flashing on special teams and scoring a touchdown in each of the first two contests. If he can put in another solid outing on Friday evening, it will go a long way in deciding if he's stashed on the practice squad, or pips a more head-turn worthy player like Darius Cooper to a roster spot.
Kyle McCord
McCord was never going to unseat Tanner McKee or Dorian Thompson-Robinson this offseason, but his summer has been slower than perhaps some expected. Going 9/21 through two games with 1 pick and 1 TD is hardly a glistening stat-sheet. But this is valuable experience for a quarterback who has all the tools to develop into a solid backup. His pocket-presence and footwork are the glaring areas for improvement, so keep an eye on those in the preseason finale to see how he's developed over the last month.
Mac McWilliams
The cornerback position is in a state of flux beyond Quinyon Mitchell. The injury to Andrew Mukuba casts some short-term doubt over who would start alongside Reed Blankenship, and if the Eagles decide to roll with Cooper DeJean, it means starting potential for rookie Mac McWilliams. On top of that, the CB2 battle is far from over, and there's even a chance he forces his name into the conversation with a late lotto ticket.
Jakorian Bennett
The man the Eagles brought in to plug the gap at CB2, Bennett has also been unable to make his mark on the ever-changing landscape at CB2. Himself, Ringo, and Jackson are all still vying for the starting role, and while it's unclear how many of them will see snaps on Friday night, we can assume that Fangio will want to dish out as many reps as he can. Given that Bennett is the newest Eagle to the nest, the more snaps he can get his hands on, the better, as far as getting acclimated with the scheme and his new teammates goes.
Brett Toth/Drew Kendall
A lot has been said about Toth this offseason, and as things stand, he's in-line for a key backup role. He's subjectively struggled at times in preseason, but has looked solid in others. Whether he becomes Cam Jurgens' primary center backup or the Eagles roll with rookie Drew Kendall, could well be dependent on how varied his performance levels are. We know that versatility is a key trait in Stoutland University, and Toth has been on this team long enough now to be trusted with a larger role. But will his play reflect that sentiment?
He's been primarily featured at LG, with a few C snaps sprinkled in, but the Birds will likely have to trust one of these two to backup Jurgens this season barring a late move or a push for someone like Matt Pryor to move inside.
Kendall, meanwhile, has looked really good considering his age and experience. There is still plenty of room for improvement, but the preseason has been far kinder to him, and with one game remaining, both players could do with a standout display.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
