Preseason Week 2: 6 Eagles players who need big performances vs. Pats

There won’t be much incentive for the Philadelphia Eagles to play their starters in tonight’s preseason game against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Not after the Eagles trounced the Pats for over two hours during Tuesday’s joint practice session, leaving the local team reporters in New England second-guessing everything coach Jerod Mayo and the new regime is doing.

For the Eagles, that means there will be plenty of opportunities for players currently locked in position battles to ball out, especially on offense. Here are six Eagles players who need a big performance tonight in Foxboro :

WR Ainias Smith

Veteran wide receiver Parris Campbell, who opened training camp in the Eagles’ No. 3 spot, has missed time with a groin injury. He returned to practice in a limited fashion this week, putting him on track to play in the preseason finale against Minnesota .

Smith, the rookie out of Texas A&M, has had an up-and-down training camp. If Campbell does indeed miss tonight’s game, Smith will get a chance to flash against a solid Patriots defense.

QB Tanner McKee

Kenny Pickett’s name has been a popular one in trade fodder this week. But would the Eagles even consider trading the QB they just acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers on March 15?

McKee’s play could have a say in that. If the former sixth-round pick can continue to close the gap and prove to be a viable option as Jalen Hurts’ backup, GM Howie Roseman would have more motivation to flip Pickett to a QB-desperate team, like the Vikings.

RG Tyler Steen

The Eagles have a bunch of young talent along the offensive line, with Steen among them. But the second-year pro appears to be on the wrong side of his battle with Mekhi Becton for the starting job at right guard. Becton started at RG in the first preseason game against the Ravens and left after one series. Steen then switched over from the left side and wound up playing 36 total snaps.

CB Kelee Ringo

The opportunities will be there for Ringo this season, but he’s been trending down a bit in training camp with Isaiah Rodgers grabbing the lion’s share of first-team reps. Both players started in the preseason game against the Ravens, but Rodgers was the first to exit the contest .

The Patriots have arguably the worst group of outside wide receivers in the league, so how the Eagles’ corners, like Ringo, perform could be telling.

CB Quinyon Mitchell

The star Eagles’ rookie is competing to be the starting nickel corner. If he gets matched up with Patriots slot receiver Demario Douglas, who’s as quick and elusive inside the first 5 yards of route as you’ll see, Mitchell could get a chance to show defensive coordinator Vic Fangio he’s ready to take the job.

S Tristin McCollum

One of the standouts for the Eagles’ preseason opener, both on defense and special teams, McCollum is looking to make his case for a roster spot as a backup safety. He appeared in three games on defense last season. The Eagles are so needy at the position that James Bradberry might see meaningful snaps, if he sticks around for the start of the regular season.

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