Preseason games have always been important for coaches and players, despite what fans might think of the exhibition matches.
This year, however, the games hold a little extra value.
The Eagles are considered to be Super Bowl contenders and have one of the deepest rosters in the NFL. That does not change the fact that they have some major questions on the roster heading into the season on both sides of the ball. Most of these questions center around young players, making the preseason games that much more important, as the Eagles will get a real look at just how ready these players are to contribute.
Here are six sets of players to watch on Thursday night in the Eagles' preseason opener against the Titans:
Josh Sweat and Shareef Miller: Defensive end is the one position where the Eagles could end up make a big move at in training camp. General manager Howie Roseman values the pass rush almost as much as he does the quarterback and is willing to invest both draft capital and salary cap space to the position. Heading into this season he is trusting young players like Josh Sweat, and returning veterans like Vinny Curry, with some valuable snaps on defense.
Sweat has all the tools you want to see from a defensive end prospect. He has the size, the length, the speed and the pass rush moves. What he doesn't yet have is production, as he sat basically his entire rookie year. Sweat needs to show in the preseason that his elite set of tools can translate into production on the field.
Miller is in a similar, but slightly different, boat. The Eagles would love if Miller, a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, were to earn some playing time. So far, however, he has not stood out during training camp practices. Sweat is competing for playing time — Miller is competing for a spot on the gameday roster. Both need to impress the coaches, starting on Thursday night.
L.J. Fort and Nate Gerry: The Eagles are currently practicing without both of their starting linebackers with Nigel Bradham and Kamu Grugier-Hill both sidelined. Both should be back at some point early on in the regular season, with Bradham potentially back in time for Week 1, but the Eagles need to plan for life without them. They are hoping Fort and Gerry can get the job done.
The Eagles made Fort a priority in free agency, making him one of the first free agents they signed. He has looked good in camp so far, especially against the run, and has the kind of sideline-to-sideline speed teams need in their linebackers. The same can be said for Gerry, as defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz heaped a ton of praise on him this past week, highlighting the team has won some big games with Gerry at linebacker.
Seeing Gerry and Fort, both of whom should get a fair amount of playing time, would go a long way in easing the concern of not having Bradham or Grugier-Hill.
Andrew Sendejo and Tre Sullivan: Safety Rodney McLeod has returned to team drills this past week, a very positive sign for where the veteran safety is at in his return from a torn ACL. That being said, he has by his own admission said he is still not as quick as he used to be, and is sporting a brace that essentially covers his whole leg. That leaves the team with a question mark at safety next to Malcolm Jenkins, and the two players who might be first up in easing those concerns are Sendejo and Sullivan. Sendejo has been getting first-team reps with the Eagles' defense when McLeod isn't on the field, and seems to be set as the third-safety on the roster. Sullivan seemed to be battling for a roster spot, but head coach Doug Pederson mentioned him Wednesday morning on 94WIP as one of the reasons his roster is so deep. The Eagles have some tough decisions to make at safety, especially with the unknown of McLeod's health.
Mack Hollins and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside: The top question with Hollins is the same one that has followed him over the last year — will he play? Hollins has not played or practiced consistently since his rookie season, instead spending more time on the sideline dealing with a groin and hip injury. Hollins has been sidelined for most of training camp once again this time around and his status for Thursday night is up in the air. Hollins being sidelined has allowed Arcega-Whiteside to come in and get some time with the first-team offense, snaps he has made the most of so far in training camp. Arcega-Whiteside can continue to separate himself from Hollins on the depth chart Thursday night.
Miles Sanders and Josh Adams: Sanders and Adams are in two very different situations heading into Thursday night, but both need to impress the coaching staff. Sanders is pushing for the starting running back job, but head coach Doug Pederson has already said that he needs to see Sanders get hit and hold onto the ball during preseason, a not-so-subtle reference to the fumbling issues Sanders had at Penn State. Holding onto the ball, and playing like he has in training camp, could lock up the starting job for Sanders over Jordan Howard.
Adams, on the other hand, is looking to lock up a roster spot. Adams has impressed in training camp and is coming off of a season inwhich he led the team in rushing with 511 yards. Adams is battling with Wendell Smallwood and Corey Clement for a roster spot, but with Clement unlikely to play and Smallwood already a known commodity, it is Adams that has the most to gain — or lose — during the preseason.
Matt Pryor and Jordan Mailata: Last season, the duo of Pryor and Mailata did not have much to lose or gain. Neither were going to be cut and neither were going to play. The Eagles knew that going into training camp. This year it is much different. Pryor needs to show he can be a reliable backup if called upon. Mailata needs to show he has improved from last year and is getting closer to being a player the Eagles can consider putting onto the field. After a year of investing time, money and coaching into both players, it is time to see some results and steps in the right direction from the duo of Pryor and Mailata. Otherwise, their roster spots could be in trouble.
You can follow Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
