The Eagles have FINALLY won a preseason game! Rejoice!
After Thursday’s 24-10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, every Philly fan’s favorite AFC team, there are a few players whose stock rose after the the game.
Contrarily, there are also a few players whose stock dropped after the game.
Who are those players? Well let’s find out, shall we?
Stock Up
Clayton Thorson
Admit it, when Thorson came into the game when Kessler went down, you weren’t very excited. Thorson didn’t start his second game off great, but he did finish it on a high note.
Thorson finished the game 16/26 for 175 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Not game breaking numbers by any means, but it’s a long ways away from the 2/9 for seven yards and an interception we saw just last week.
Although he under throws this ball, he placed it where only his wide receiver can get it:
Clayton Thorson places the pass where it needs to be and Greg Ward handles the rest for a 38-yard score.#PHIvsJAX | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/XQfhDgy4xd
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 15, 2019
That’s the type of throw you want to see in a quarterback fighting for a roster spot.
With Cody Kessler being in concussion protocol, Thorson can cement his spot as QB3 with a strong showing against the Ravens next week.
Jordan Mailata
The Aussie continues to validate the coaches’ faith in him.
When the Eagles traded away Ryan Bates to the Bills last week, it signaled confidence in the 2018 seventh round pick. Mailata has rewarded that confidence with another strong showing in the preseason.
NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger heaped praise on Mailata after the first game and couldn’t help but gush over him again after the second game:
.@Eagles @jordan_mailata with a clinic tape on how to shut down the “End/Tackle Twist”. Violent hands, and great feet are required. ++for Mailata. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/j0GIZlUkRD
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) August 16, 2019
Mailata joined Matt Pryor as the only Eagles players to play all of the offensive snaps during the game. It seems as though he is cementing himself as the primary backup to Lane Johnson.
Daeshon Hall
If Thorson and Mailata’s stocks are up, Hall’s stock is breaking through the ceiling.
No one on the Eagles has impressed more than the third year pro.
Seemingly an afterthought on the depth chart, Hall has strongly made the case that he deserves to be in the main defensive end rotation.
So far this preseason, #Eagles DE Daeshon Hall leads the NFL in sacks (3), TFLs (4), QB hits (5) and forced fumbles (2).
— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroNBCS) August 16, 2019
You read that correctly. He doesn’t just lead the Eagles in those stats, he leads the entire NFL. He has been making offensive linemen look silly trying to block him and it doesn’t matter if those linemen are first team, second team, or third team.
Daeshon Hall bringing the pressure for the second straight week ? pic.twitter.com/ocJmciZxoL
— Gayle Saunders (@EagleSessions) August 16, 2019
Hall will definitely be a main part of the defense this season, don’t be surprised if he ends up being the main back up behind Derek Barnett.
Halapoulivaati Vaitai
“Big V” seemed like a lost cause at left tackle over the past few seasons, but he has found new life at right guard.
Going into this season, Vaitai looked like a surefire third string/cut candidate, with Stefan Wisniewski being the primary back up to Brandon Brooks at right guard.
But Big V has played outstanding this preseason and is getting to the next level (the linebackers) with ease:
Miles Sanders has a 3 lane highway to run through on his first carry versus the Jaguars. #Eagles pic.twitter.com/LZ0phrpJDj
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) August 15, 2019
If you watch the video, focus on the left side of the screen. You’ll see Vaitai pull through to the linebackers and solidify the running lane for Miles Sanders. Vaitai has really made a case for his spot on the roster, or at least another team’s roster (HowieSZN).
Boston Scott
In his first game action of the preseason, Scott only saw 17 snaps on offense. However, those 17 snaps led to seven carries for 43 yards and this touchdown:
Getting it done on the ground ?#PHIvsJAX | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/uHVWckd0fJ
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 16, 2019
Scott showed flashes of potential last season as both a running back and kick returner, and it looks like he is making sure his name is in the fifth running back conversation.
With Howard, Sanders, Sproles, and presumably Clement locking down the first four spots on the depth chart, Scott has gained the upper hand on that fifth spot over Josh Adams, Wendell Smallwood, and Donnell Pumphrey.
So which players have seen their stock fall after Thursday’s game? Find out on the next page.
Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
