The Philadelphia Eagles' upcoming preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens is the first chance to see some of the team's players in action. Here are five Eagles offensive players to watch closely in the opener.
Darius Cooper
In last year's preseason opener, Cooper clinched his roster spot with a game-high 82 yards on six catches with a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals. This year, Cooper is not fighting for a roster spot, but instead for a real role in the offense.
Reportedly, Cooper has been the most consistent receiver in camp, making multiple catches each day against the first-team defense, taking advantage of the opportunities available due to injuries in the wide receiver room.
When reporters asked head coach Nick Sirianni if Cooper has earned more playing time, Sirianni declined to comment but had lots of praise for the second-year wide receiver.
"There's still a lot of time left," Sirianni said. "He's having a good camp. There's still a lot of time left. It's about being consistent on a daily basis. He's done a good job being consistent on a daily basis. And he makes some really good catches, really elite hands, and we know he's tough and things that he can do. But I've been pleased with where he is."
Cooper's performance against the Ravens could be an early indication of whether his strong camp can carry over into the preseason and earn him a larger role in the offense.
Eli Stowers
Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
The Eagles drafted Stowers in the second round of the NFL draft, with the hope of securing their next franchise tight end. Early in camp, Stowers has been quiet and is now listed as the third tight end in the initial depth chart. Johnny Mundt has primarily been the second tight end when the Eagles are in 12 personnel.
The Vanderbilt product is a talented route runner and deep threat but is not a touted blocker. Stowers only started playing the position three years ago, so it appears the Eagles are being patient with his development and not rushing him on the field.
Stowers, with a strong performance, has the chance to show the coaching staff that he's ready to contribute and deserves to be on the field when Week 1 arrives.
Willie Lampkin
Despite being named a first-team All-American, Lampkin went undrafted in the 2025 NFL draft after an injury caused him to miss all of last season. Now healthy, he has a chance to prove teams made a mistake by passing on him.
Considered undersized for an NFL offensive lineman, Lampkin has reportedly impressed throughout training camp, dominating one-on-one drills and working his way up the Eagles' depth chart. He is currently getting reps at both center and guard, giving Philadelphia some valuable versatility along the offensive line.
The Eagles have had success with undersized centers before, most notably Jason Kelce, who went on to become one of the greatest centers in NFL history. It will be exciting to see how Lampkin handles his first real test against the Ravens' defensive front.
Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee
Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
In the Eagles' initial depth chart, both Dalton and McKee were listed as the second quarterback. Sirianni declined to elaborate, telling reporters that the coaching staff is "still thinking through" which quarterback will start in the preseason opener.
Dalton and McKee have been battling to be Jalen Hurts' backup throughout camp, with neither player creating separation from the other. McKee had a strong performance in the aforementioned Bengals game last preseason, throwing for over 250 yards with two touchdowns with an 80% completion rate. Over Dalton's 16-year NFL career, he has thrown for over 2,700 yards over 29 preseason games.
With Hurts' status for the game still unknown, both players will be at the helm for the first time Eagles' fans get to see new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion's system. Battling for the backup role and potentially a spot on the roster, both quarterbacks should have plenty of incentive to be aggressive, making for an interesting test of their decision-making and ability to make difficult throws.
