PHILADELPHIA — After 179 days, the Philadelphia Eagles are back to playing football again. The last time the Eagles took the field was in New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX, in one of the most dominant victories in franchise history.
The exhibition opener against the Cincinnati Bengals to commence the 2025 season surely didn’t hold the same weight as the Super Bowl, but there was tangible football against an opposing team being contested. There were some developing stories approaching this matchup, such as the Bengals employing their primary offensive unit during the preseason (which typically isn’t the case under Joe Burrow due to injury concerns) and the Eagles’ cornerback competition between Kelee Ringo and Adoree’ Jackson taking precedence.
For the initial exhibition contest, there was palpable eagerness being back in Lincoln Financial Field. This offered a welcome deviation from the 10 training camp sessions.
These were the significant observations from the Eagles’ 34-27 triumph, a game that held no implications for the standings, yet presented some revealing indicators concerning this team’s trajectory.
Tanner McKee began the season as the QB2 following Jalen Hurts, and arrived with substantial acclaim from the Eagles’ quarterback and coaching personnel. Witnessing McKee excel against NFL defenses isn’t surprising considering his performance in a Week 18 start the prior year against the Giants, but the Eagles’ secondary signal caller truly shone against the Bengals’ first-string defense.
McKee completed 5 of 6 passes for 73 yards and secured a rushing touchdown (utilizing the Tush Push) in the two series against the Bengals’ first-team defense. Subsequently, he connected on 9 of 11 passes for 120 yards, accompanied by two touchdown passes as the half drew to a close, with the final one materializing as a remarkable 21-yard pass to Darius Cooper on a fade route.
Impressive in the first half, McKee concluded with 14 completions on 17 attempts for 193 yards, tallying two touchdowns, zero interceptions, averaging 11.4 yards per attempt, and achieving a 153.2 rating. He amassed a total of three touchdowns as the Eagles managed to score on four of five first-half possessions.
In the event that the Eagles require McKee to secure a victory in a game this year, he is undoubtedly capable of rising to the occasion. He stands among the top-32 quarterbacks in the league and possesses the potential to eventually become a starting quarterback for another team.
Ringo is embroiled in a contest for the CB2 position opposite Quinyon Mitchell. He did not create a favorable initial impression against Ja’Marr Chase, most notably failing to execute a tackle on a 36-yard touchdown reception by the prominent wide receiver.
The Bengals deployed their first-team offense during the initial two possessions, with Joe Burrow consistently targeting Ringo throughout the evening. Ringo was bested by Chase on numerous plays, underscoring the vulnerability Ringo presented in coverage.
Chase poses a challenging matchup for the majority of cornerbacks, but Ringo needed to showcase a superior performance compared to his showing against Chase. Adoree’ Jackson — also competing with Ringo for the CB2 role — didn’t fare significantly better either.
The Eagles’ acquisition of Jakorian Bennett after nine training camp practices occurred for a specific reason. This wasn’t a positive night for Ringo.
Bengals first-team offense gets work
In the event that anyone was tuning in and was surprised to witness Joe Burrow participating in the game, there was a valid explanation. Burrow had only played a total of 16 snaps during the preseason since being drafted in 2020 — and head coach Zac Taylor reached the decision to provide his quarterback with valuable repetitions during August.
Since drafting Burrow, the Bengals have accumulated a record of 1-9 during the opening two weeks of the season. Taylor is attempting something different with the intention of propelling his team to a rapid start, leading to the first-team offense’s participation in the exhibition opener.
Burrow overwhelmed the Eagles’ second-team defense in his two series, completing 9 of 10 passes for 123 yards and securing two touchdowns (157.5 rating). Ja’Marr Chase proved to be a difficult matchup for Kelee Ringo and Adoree’ Jackson, concluding with four receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown. Both were substituted after Burrow connected with Chase on a 36-yard touchdown to conclude the second series.
If Burrow and Chase appeared to be in midseason form, it was because they were indeed performing at that level. The Eagles’ personnel didn’t matter.
Will Shipley makes strong statement for RB2
The Eagles possess Saquon Barkley as their RB1, and he is expected to receive the vast majority of touches this season. But what about the running back who will provide relief for Barkley?
That designation belonged to Kenneth Gainwell last year, but he departed during free agency. The competition for the RB2 position is between Shipley and AJ Dillon, with both receiving equitable repetitions with the second team throughout training camp.
Shipley secured the starting role in the exhibition opener, and showcased an impressive 38-yard run during the Eagles’ third offensive play, which was facilitated by a noteworthy block executed by Tyler Steen. He concluded with seven carries for 48 yards during his brief stint, averaging 6.9 yards per carry, while also recording a four-yard reception.
Shipley made significant progress in securing the RB2 designation. In fact, he may already have earned it.
Big nights for young receivers
The Eagles boast one of the premier wide receiver duos in the NFL, consisting of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Including Jahan Dotson into the equation results in arguably the finest trio. But what about the remaining members of the group?
Johnny Wilson is a strong candidate to secure a roster spot in his second season due to his proficiency in blocking and his commitment to performing the unglamorous tasks that are not reflected in the box score. Wilson was afforded an opportunity to showcase his receiving capabilities in the exhibition opener, recording three receptions for 73 yards — averaging 24.3 yards per catch.
Another young wide receiver contending for a roster spot is Darius Cooper, who has garnered attention during camp. An undrafted free agent originating from Tarleton State, Cooper emerged as a frequent target for McKee once Dotson was removed from the game. He secured six receptions for 82 yards on seven targets, averaging 13.7 yards per catch.
Cooper is undeniably in contention for a roster position.
Josh Uche shows off inside move
Josh Uche recorded an 11.5-sack season three years ago, but has encountered difficulties in establishing a consistent presence since then. A discerning player possessing a move that confounds tackles, Uche employed it to generate pressure on Bengals quarterback Jake Browning during the second quarter.
During this defensive series, Uche also registered a quarterback hit by intercepting Browning as he rolled to his right — however, the play was nullified due to a defensive penalty.
Uche demonstrated a strong performance during camp and has emerged as the leading candidate for the No. 3 edge rusher role behind starters Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt. The exhibition opener served as a positive indication that Uche can contribute to this defense in third-down pass rushing scenarios.
