Dave Zangaro and Reuben Frank discuss which Eagles rookies they’re most excited to watch in their first preseason game on Thursday.
After 10 training camp practices, the Eagles will kick off their 2025 preseason against the Bengals tonight at 7:30 on NBC10.
This is the first of three preseason games before the Eagles’ regular season opener on Sept. 4.
Head coach Nick Sirianni was non-committal on Tuesday when asked if any of his starters will play against the Bengals. But even if starters play, they won’t play long. With that in mind, here are 15 players to watch on Thursday night:
QB Kyle McCord
The rookie sixth-round pick is competing with veteran Dorian Thompson-Robinson for that QB3 position behind Jalen Hurts and Tanner McKee. While DTR has outperformed McCord in training camp — the experience has seemed to help Thompson-Robinson — these games reps will be important for the rookie. McCord should get plenty of opportunities during the preseason.
RB Will Shipley
Shipley was a fourth-round pick out of Clemson last year but didn’t get a ton of opportunities on offense behind Saquon Barkley and Kenny Gainwell. But with Gainwell gone after leaving as a free agent, there could be more opportunity for Shipley in Year 2. Of course, he is competing with veteran A.J. Dillon for a role and for snaps in the offense. Shipley has looked really smooth as a pass-catcher in this training camp but this game will be a chance to see him run between the tackles.
RB ShunDerrick Powell
Powell (5-7, 183) is an undrafted rookie out of Central Arkansas who has really started to show some burst in these training camp practices. Early in camp, rookie Montrell Johnson from Florida was flashing but he has missed time with injury. Powell is making the most of his reps at the NovaCare Complex, so it’ll be fun to see what he can do in a game.
FB Ben VanSumeren
After spending his first couple of years in the NFL as a linebacker, VanSumeren is now a full-time fullback. The Eagles might not divulge much about their offense in the preseason but maybe we’ll at least see a few plays with BVS out there with another running back. VanSumeren is a great special teams player but we’ll really be watching to see how he fits in on offense.
WR Elijah Cooks
Among the receivers after the top three (A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jahan Dotson), Cooks (6-4, 215) has been the guy making the strongest roster push. Cooks has been making a big play daily in training camp and the 26-year-old has become one of the best stories of the summer. Cooks played in 11 games with the Jaguars over the past two seasons and could land one of the last two or three receiver spots with the Eagles.
WR Darius Cooper
Like Cooks, Cooper (5-11, 210) is another depth receiver making a strong roster push. Cooper is an undrafted rookie from Tarleton State who has been flashing. He hasn’t made quite as many plays as Cooks but he’s making the most of his opportunities and pushing guys like Johnny Wilson and Ainias Smith for roster spots.
C Drew Kendall
The Eagles used a fifth-round pick to draft Kendall out of Boston College and he’s been solid in training camp. He started camp playing exclusively with the third-team offense but has since gotten plenty of reps with the twos and will probably play a ton in the game.
OT Myles Hinton
Of the two sixth-round offensive tackles, Hinton has seemingly been ahead of Cameron Williams, who was drafted after him. Hinton (6-7, 323) has been getting some second-team reps and has already shown impressive improvement. He seems like a player worth developing under OL coach Jeff Stoutland.
DT Ty Robinson
At 24 years old, there’s a good chance Robinson will be able to feast against some less experienced offensive line depth in the preseason. While Robinson was a fourth-round pick, the Eagles might need him to be a part of the rotation as a rookie. The one thing that stands out about Robinson are his heavy hands and he’s been using them in camp. He has also been rushing from the edge on occasion.
DT Gabe Hall
This week’s trade to acquire Jakorian Bennett for Thomas Booker was probably a great sign for Hall’s chances to make the roster. In his second year, the former UDFA out of Baylor has really been making a strong roster push. Hall (6-6, 295) has a taller and leaner build than most defensive tackles and he has been using it to his advantage in training camp.
DT Moro Ojomo
I’m not sure how much Ojomo will play but this could be a chance for Eagles fans to see what reporters have seen all summer. Ojomo has been dominant in practice and if he does it in the preseason, that hype won’t slow down. After Milton Williams’ departure in free agency, Ojomo’s role should increase in 2025.
LB Jihaad Campbell
I probably didn’t need to tell you to watch the first-round pick, but I am anyway. Campbell was back on the field for Day 1 of camp, which was a pleasant surprise. And because of his build (6-3, 235) and athleticism, it’s hard to not watch him in practice. Campbell just moves so well and covers a lot of ground. He has a chance to earn a starting role next to Zack Baun if he can beat out Jeremiah Trotter Jr., who isn’t going down without a fight.
LB Smael Mondon
While there’s a lot of excitement around Campbell, Mondon has been playing really well all summer too and has even been getting a lot of first-team reps. Mondon (6-2, 224) might not have a ceiling like Campbell’s but the fifth-rounder from Georgia has looked the part in training camp. Mondon’s role this year will probably end up being on special teams but the Eagles have great linebacker depth and he’s a big part of that.
OLB Antwaun Powell-Ryland
It has been a quiet training camp for the sixth-round edge rusher from Virginia Tech. While Powell-Ryland was very productive in college, that hasn’t been showing up as much through the first 10 days of camp. But this is a great opportunity for Powell-Ryland to get game reps.
OLB Josh Uche
The Eagles this offseason signed Uche and Azeez Ojulari in March to bolster the edge rusher group with a couple of veterans. While Ojulari was the headline acquisition, Uche has outplayed him in training camp and has been flashing a lot. If Uche can do that in games too, he might go into the season as the third option behind Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt.
S Andrew Mukuba/CB Mac McWilliams
We’re putting the second-round pick and the fifth-round pick together because there’s a chance neither play in this game. Mukuba is getting over a shoulder injury and McWilliams is getting over a quad injury. Both were limited in practice earlier in the week. Hopefully, even if they miss this game, they’ll be back for the next two.
