Eagles stock up, stock down after preseason game vs. Bengals
Eagles stock up, stock down after preseason game vs. Bengals originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Eagles kicked off their 2025 preseason on Thursday night against the Cincinnati Bengals with a 34-27 win.
The Bengals actually played their starters early in the game too.
After a day off on Friday, the Eagles will be back on the practice field Saturday morning. They still have two more preseason games, two joint practices and plenty more days of training camp this summer.
But the regular season will be here before you know it.
Here's a stock watch from Thursday night:
Stock up
WR Johnny Wilson: The 6-foot-6 receiver has had a pretty quiet training camp but he had a big game on Thursday night. He caught a couple of jump balls and a back-shoulder pass. He went up over Bengals cornerback Josh Newton to win a 50-50 ball for a gain of 27 yards late in the first quarter. And then he got a 28-yarder in the second quarter on another 50-50 ball.
Head tap @jjohnnywilson pic.twitter.com/3cWdstqegL
- Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 8, 2025
QB Tanner McKee: The Eagles' backup quarterback got the start and looked really sharp. McKee finished 20-for-25 for 252 yards with 2 touchdowns and a passer rating of 135.5. McKee even got to punch in a touchdown on a Tush Push; that's good practice for him on that play. Every time we see McKee play, he has been impressive.
WR Darius Cooper: The UDFA from Tarleton State has been a standout of training camp and he kept it going in the preseason game. He had a crazy change of direction play after the catch and caught a 20-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter. He finished with 6 catches on 7 targets for 82 yards and a touchdowns. Not a bad NFL debut.
Tanner McKee to Darius Cooper extends the @Eagles' lead
Stream CINvsPHI on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/haXcgMmm2d
- NFL (@NFL) August 8, 2025
DT Ty Robinson: The fourth-round pick got his first NFL sack in the second quarter. He was the looper on a stunt with DT Gabe Hall. Robinson showed quickness to loop and finished violently at the quarterback. Robinson also showed some awareness on a screen play to take away the option.
RG Tyler Steen: Maybe it's not a great sign that Steen and Jahan Dotson were the only projected starters on offense to play in this game, but Steen played well for one series and was then pulled. He had a nice block to help spring Will Shipley's 38-yard run in the first quarter.
WR Ainias Smith: Not only did Smith get into the end zone in the second quarter, but he also had a big 54-yard punt return. If Smith can make the roster in Year 2, he has a good shot at being the Eagles' primary punt returner.
S Andre Sam: While he's not in the competition for a starting gig, Sam made some plays on defense and special teams Thursday night. He has a really good shot to stick on the roster.
OLB Patrick Johnson: Johnson had a sack taken away by a penalty but on the next play late in the third quarter he was able to pick off a pass after batting it to himself. An athletic play for Johnson, who had a strip-sack that he recovered in the preseason opener last year.
Tipped. Picked. Patrick Johnson doing it all
Stream CINvsPHI on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/sdteKvTPQp
- NFL (@NFL) August 8, 2025
Stock down
CB Kelee Ringo: The Eagles rested Quinyon Mitchell so their top outside corners on Thursday were Ringo and Adoree' Jackson. Ringo was facing Ja'Marr Chase (tough assignment) but gave up a couple plays. One of them was a 36-yard catch-and-run touchdown when Ringo just took a bad angle and missed the tackle.
Joe Burrow. Ja'Marr Chase. Easy Bengals TD.
Stream CINvsPHI on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/y0K6WqUbPP
- NFL (@NFL) August 8, 2025
WR Elijah Cooks: One of the training camp standouts this summer injured his shoulder on a kick return in the second quarter. He went into the blue tent and then got carted inside and looked emotional as he went indoors.
LB Smael Mondon: The rookie fifth-round pick got the start and had a couple of missed tackles early and gave up some plays in coverage.
LG Kenyon Green: The former first-round pick was in the game with the third-team offensive line and got called for an obvious hold in the third quarter. Green got injured in the fourth quarter after a Kyle McCord interception. He seemed to be holding his wrist.
CB Eli Ricks: While Ricks has had a solid summer, he had some rough moments in the preseason opener. He was called for a DPI and dropped an interception that went right through his hands.
QB Kyle McCord: It certainly wasn't all his fault but it wasn't a great debut for the local product. He completed just 1 of 5 passes for 8 yards and threw an interception that initially looked like a pick-6.
OT Myles Hinton: It was a rough start for the sixth-round tackle with a lot of promise. He gave up a sack when he was slow to identify a blitzer and was also called for a false start and a hold.