That was rough to watch.
After days of productive joint practices vs. the New England Patriots, Thursday night's preseason game at Lincoln Financial Field was a dud. But that doesn't mean we have to ignore everything that happened on the field.
Here are 10 things that stood out to me, including an up-and-down professional game debut for Eagles rookie wide receiver DeVonta Smith and the Jalen Hurts health scare.
1. The Hurts situation was strange, but ultimately can be a good thing for the Eagles.
It would have been nice to watch Hurts play, but I have a feeling none of this will matter on September 12. Head coach Nick Sirianni has talked about the advantage his staff has because no one has tape on them yet. We won't see the real playbook or game plan with Hurts' dual-threat ability until Week 1. I'm fine with that.
2. I'm not sweating the backup quarterback situation. Yet.
Joe Flacco looked poor, but that's what to expect when an old, immobible quarterback is playing behind a makeshift offensive line and going up against Patriots starters. If Hurts goes down the season is over, but I haven't lost confidence in Flacco for a short burst. He's fine. As for Nick Mullens? I still don't understand why the Eagles didn't draft a developmental quarterback late in the draft to fill that role. I have no idea how Kyle Shanahan won games with that guy.
3. Smith was up-and-down.
The route running drew rave reviews. It better. That's Smith's ticket to being an impact receiver at this level. We're talking about a very small player without game-breaking speed. If Smith is going to be a high-volume catch guy in the NFL, he'll need to run the kind of routes to give himself big-time separation. We saw some of that vs. New England. But Smith needs to catch the ball when it's close to him, even if the ball isn't perfect.
4. Kenneth Gainwell is going to be a player.
Is it Kenny? Are we going by Kenneth? Or is Eagles preseason color analyst Ross Tucker onto something with Kenny G. references? Either way, get ready for the rookie running back out of Memphis to play a role this season. The Eagles have featured him in the passing game often in the first two preseason games, and that should come as no surprise. There's a Nyheim Hines quality to his game.
5. Milton Williams is going to be a problem for opposing offenses.
The two penalties called on New England's offensive line against Williams said it all. He's big, fast and powerful. Evening Show producer Tucker Bagley had a good comp for him recently: Cullen Jenkins, as in the productive Packers version, not the washed up Eagles version.
6. Alex Singleton is everywhere.
It was easy to dismiss Singleton early last season as some sort of out-of-nowhere fluke or tackling machine on a bad team losing games. It's time to acknowledge that this guy is for real as a NFL linebacker. He flies to the ball, including splitting what should have been a double-team block by New England on a well designed screen play. Singleton and Eric Wilson have a chance to be a very solid Eagles linebacking tandem.
7. I'm excited to watch the SAM linebacker spot in Jonathan Gannon's defense.
Disclaimer: I'm excited to watch how the position is used, not so much the players that could be manning it in 2021. Genard Avery was in there last night, lineup up over center to blow up a play. Patrick Johnson could have the inside track for Week 1. Think of how the Vikings have used Anthony Barr for years. It's a fun chess piece, if Gannon can coach up the available talent this year.
8. Playing Miles Sanders was bizarre.
When Sanders sat last week, I assumed it was the start of a preseason with zero live snaps in games. Then he played last night. Odd choice from the new coaching staff.
9. Don't count on much from Travis Fulgham this year.
The one-month sensation has gone from October 2020 star to playing on special teams in the fourth quarter of a preseason blowout. Yikes.
10. That was still more enjoyable than watching the Phillies get swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
I mean that. Getting swept by that team is a joke. The Phillies still have no idea how to win.
