It’s week 2 of the NFL preseason with an interconference clash on the gridiron on the shores of Lake Erie. The Philadelphia Eagles are on the road as they make the trip to face the Cleveland Browns Sunday afternoon. Philadelphia opened the preseason with a last-second 24-21 loss to the Jets at home last Friday night in their preseason opener. Cleveland opened their preseason slate with a 24-13 road victory over Jacksonville last Friday night. In the all-time regular season series, the Browns own a 32-17-1 advantage, including a 22-17 home win in the most recent matchup on November 22, 2020. The most recent preseason matchup saw the Browns prevail in a barnburner, 5-0, at home on August 23, 2018.
Philadelphia hadn’t run a padded practice leading into their preseason opener and, while they seemed to be fresh, their second and third-stringers wilted with the game on the line against the Jets. As a result, their efforts to take a lead late in the fourth quarter went out the window. Philadelphia was sharp early, jumping to a 14-0 lead after the opening quarter. The Eagles were up 14-3 at the half only to trail 17-14 midway through the fourth quarter. Philadelphia mounted an 18-play, 75-yard drive capped by Kennedy Brooks’ two-yard scoring reception from Reid Sinnett to go up 21-17 with 1:40 to play. The Eagles then wilted, giving up a six-play, 53-yard scoring drive to give up the winning points with just 16 seconds to play. Philadelphia held a narrow 311-302 edge in total offense and a slim 30:52 to 29:08 margin in time of possession. Each team had 18 first downs and turned the ball over once in the contest.
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Jalen Hurts is the clear-cut #1 QB on the depth chart and he was sharp, hitting six of six passes for 80 yards plus a score. Gardner Minshew II hit eight of 12 throws for 81 yards while adding three carries for 11 yards. Reid Sinnett seems destined to be the #3 QB or a practice squad guy, though he nine of 17 throws for 81 yards plus a score while adding three yards on the ground. Miles Sanders, Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott didn’t play much, so we saw Jason Huntley (16 carries, 48 yards, TD, four catches, 39 yards) and Kennedy Brooks (seven carries, 26 yards, catch, two yards, TD) shoulder the load in the run game. Zach Pascal (two catches, 41 yards), Jalen Reagor (three grabs, 26 yards), Deon Cain (reception, 14 yards) and Quez Watkins (two catches, 32 yards) are all looking to move up on the depth chart at receiver. Meanwhile, keep an eye on Noah Togiai (four grabs, 29 yards), Richard Rodgers (catch, six yards) and Jack Stoll (catch, six ya rds) as they try to solidify a spot on the tight end depth chart behind Dallas Goedert. One guy you can scratch off the list is JJ Arcega-Whiteside: he was dealt to Seattle in exchange for defensive back Ugo Amadi Monday.