Eagles preseason: New offense fails to inspire vs. Ravens, peek at safety battle

BALTIMORE — An offensive lineup for the Philadelphia Eagles that did not include any projected starters staged the antithesis of what first-time offensive coordinator Sean Mannion intends for his system this season.

The bottom of the offense’s depth chart did nothing to echo progress from its top in a historically lousy 24-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in a preseason debut. An organization that tossed out its old playbook because of its stagnancy witnessed a collection of backups total its fewest first downs in a preseason game (6) since at least 2019. Traveling fans haunted by the 2025 team’s three-and-out problems had to sit through yet another seven.

The only promising part about Saturday’s debut for Mannion’s system was that the starters did not play — and that no one was injured.

It would be an overreach to extrapolate a Week 1 projection from a dismal outing by Philadelphia’s reserve players, but there can’t yet be any confidence in this offense’s depth. A wide receiver corps that briefly fielded veterans Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore did not make catches with room to run, as the system desires. Offensive linemen who may be called upon to sub in for aging and injury-prone starters totaled more yards in holding and false start penalties (55) than rushing yards gained by those not named Cole Payton (31). And there is no clarity in the backup quarterback battle between Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee.

The Eagles failed to gain a first down with Dalton as their starting quarterback. The Dalton-led rotation netted 12 yards in three drives. Rookie tight end Eli Stowers was flagged for holding on the game’s first play. On its third, offensive tackle Fred Johnson committed a false start. Dalton stagnated his second drive by underthrowing a second-and-6 pass to Tank Bigsby (designed for easy yards in this scheme) that fell incomplete. On the third drive, Darius Cooper achieved separation on a third-down comeback route, but a would-be first down from Dalton glanced off Cooper’s hands.

McKee hardly fared better with the first rotation of substitutes. He snapped the first-down slump with a 13-yard throw to Cooper on the quarterback’s second drive. But any signs of life were owed to the run game. Will Shipley opened the drive with an eight-yard run behind a third-team offensive line that included right guard Willie Lampkin playing beside third-round rookie Markel Bell at right tackle. Shipley gained 22 yards on four carries, then, on what would have been an 8-yard run, third-string center Jake Majors was flagged for a holding penalty. The Eagles punted two plays later.

The Eagles did not gain another first down until Payton, their fourth-string quarterback, scrambled for 17 yards on a fourth-and-3 play with 4:08 left in the game. Payton’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Erik Ezukanma six plays later staved off what would have been the first shutout loss in a preseason game since coach Nick Sirianni’s first season in 2021.

“With the new offense and so many things are new, mistakes are going to happen,” said McKee, who completed 6 of 10 passes for 35 yards in five drives. “That many is unacceptable. But we’re going to learn from them and be better for it.”

“It’s good to get reps like that to learn from,” he added. “Like a lot of times in camp, you make mistakes … but if you can never make that mistake again, then it’s worth the mistake. We had a lot of mistakes that we put on film. Obviously, I’m included as well. As long as we don’t make those same mistakes, I think it will be a positive.”

All eyes were on Mannion, who called his first game from the sidelines. (Analyst Ross Tucker said on the team’s television broadcast that Mannion will next call games from the booth as he sorts out what works best.) Given the players who participated and the somewhat restrained play-calling of a preseason game, Mannion’s operation took center stage. Though disaster reigned post-snap, it was at the very least preceded by assertiveness. McKee said Mannion was “clear” and “decisive” when communicating to the quarterbacks via their helmet radios.

“There was never a time when he was trying to get a play call in, and he hit the 15-second (cutoff of radio communications at the play clock) because he wasn’t sure what he was going to do,” McKee said. “And so I thought it was a very smooth operation from Sean, which was great because as a quarterback, there’s so many uncertainties, to have a guy who knows what he wants when he calls the plays.”

An opportunity for redemption and reassurance awaits the Eagles as they travel to Massachusetts this week for two days of joint practices with the New England Patriots.

And it’s when the starters will play.

Wide receiver depth among the unimpressive

The Eagles signed veterans Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore to bolster their wide receiver depth with experienced pass-catchers. Neither provided the Eagles a spark during the first two drives of the game. Moore took an end-around run for a two-yard gain, and Brown caught one pass for four yards.

Cooper, like the rest of the offense, also experienced a setback in Saturday’s loss. The second-year wide receiver had been the talk of training camp. With the starters resting, and with Johnny Wilson sidelined after suffering a knee injury in practice, Cooper also had a prime opportunity Saturday to take a significant step toward securing a roster spot. But of a game-high five targets, he totaled two catches for 21 yards.
Cooper was critical of his third-down drop. He said he approached Dalton on the sideline afterward and said, ‘Hey Andy, I got that one. That’s me. I need that one.”

“I’ve got to bring it in. It hit my hands,” he said. “Andy put it where it needed to be: in my hands. So, I’ve got to bring it in for sure.”

Dalton, McKee and Payton combined for 92 passing yards — the fewest in the preseason for the Eagles since their 35-0 loss to the Patriots in 2021. Brown said one of Mannion’s primary goals entering the game was to play cleanly. They totaled seven penalties on offense for 55 yards. They totaled 159 yards on offense, their fewest in a preseason game since their 6-0 loss to the New York Jets in 2019 (103).

“We had a lot of penalties today,” Cooper said. “Playing behind the sticks a lot. (We) just (need to) clean it up in practice and keep moving forward.”

A peek at the safety battle

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio tipped his hand in the position battle at safety by sitting Marcus Epps. Epps, an eight-year starter, has consistently played with the first-team defense in training camp. Michael Carter II has also split time with Epps opposite Drew Mukuba, but Carter started against the Ravens alongside Andre’ Sam.

That alone does not decide the Week 1 lineup. Carter, 27, was a career nickel with the New York Jets before the Eagles acquired him via trade in October. Carter mostly appeared as the defense’s sixth defensive back in 2025, and it is sensible that Fangio fielded Carter against the Ravens to gain more experience at safety. Carter played four defensive drives before J.T. Gray entered the game to play alongside Sam.

Carter was involved in coverage on two explosive pass plays for the Ravens: quarterback Tyler Huntley’s 18-yard strike to rookie Ja’Kobi Lane on the second drive, which was placed between Carter and cornerback Mac McWilliams in coverage; quarterback Joe Fagnano’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Lane, who gained separation from cornerback Kelee Ringo and hauled in the score just before Carter could arrive with aid.

Stock up

DT Ty Robinson: The 2025 fourth-round pick has not been seeing much time with the first-team units in training camp. But he put together a nice night of tape against the Ravens. His sack of Huntley in the first quarter led to a 49-yard field goal that the Ravens missed wide right. Robinson also recorded a tackle for loss.

QB Cole Payton: He was one of the few offensive players who contributed to a pulse in Saturday’s exhibition. He completed 4 of 9 passes for 37 yards and a well-placed 6-yard touchdown to Erik Ezukanma. Payton also rushed three times for 45 yards. Payton entered the weekend having thrown five interceptions in training camp. Game tape matters more.

LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr.: Trotter played a full first half and totaled five tackles and a sack. He started opposite Jihaad Campbell and stayed in the game with Smael Mondon Jr. until Deontae Lawson subbed in during the third quarter. Campbell, the team’s 2025 first-round pick, has plenty of upside, but Trotter’s consistent playmaking could earn Fangio’s trust.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Cole Payton (10) impressed in his debut against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. (Jamie Sabau / Imagn Images)

Stock down

QB Andy Dalton: The 18-year veteran did not look as comfortable in this system as his experience would have suggested. He failed to gain a first down in three drives. His throws lacked accuracy and, at times, strength. Cooper owned the third-down drop, but Dalton ought to be more on the same page with his receivers by now.

QB Tanner McKee: McKee’s substitution did not inspire confidence. He was 0 for 3 passing on third down, including a third-and-3 attempt to tight end Grant Calcaterra. McKee was also sacked for a nine-yard loss on another third-down situation.

LT Myles Hinton: Twice flagged for holding, the 2025 sixth-round pick returned to third-team left tackle after the coaching staff experimented with playing him at guard in OTAs and the beginning of training camp. A roster spot will be more difficult for him to secure this year with more depth added in the offseason.

Lineup notes

Saturday’s starting defense: EDGE A.J. Epenesa, DT Ty Robinson, DT Byron Young, DT Gabe Hall, EDGE Arnold Ebiketie, LB Jihaad Campbell, LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr., S Michael Carter II, S Andre’ Sam, CB Jakorian Bennett, CB Kelee Ringo (Nickel Mac McWilliams)

Starting offensive line: LT Fred Johnson, LG John Ojukwu, C Willie Lampkin, RG Drew Kendall, RT Markel Bell

Second offensive line rotation: LT John Ojukwu, LG Micah Morris, C Jake Majors, RG Willie Lampkin, RT Markel Bell

Notable players sidelined: WR Makai Lemon, CB Riq Woolen, S Drew Mukuba, S Marcus Epps, TE Johnny Mundt, LB Chance Campbell, DB Jonathan Jones, WR Johnny Wilson, RB Dameon Pierce, S Cole Wisniewski, CB Tariq Castro-Fields, EDGE Keyshawn James-Newby.