The Eagles are coming off of an impressive preseason victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday afternoon. The team showed great resilience and grit to pull out the narrow win of 21-20. While the starters never saw action on the field, it was the rookies who displayed great promise. They did just enough to make this team’s next round of roster cuts that hard.
Here are a few of the rookies who impressed me the most:
WR Devon Allen
Probably the world’s best hurdler if he wasn’t robbed due to a “false start”. Allen made a great impression on the fans and the coaches as he sprinted downfield for a 55-yard touchdown. While that was the only highlight he could provide, it should be noted that many teams are going to be vying for his services if the Eagles cut him. Hopefully, for both Allen and the Eagles, that won’t be the case.
WR Britain Covey
Britain Covey may have a guaranteed roster spot already. The Eagles value special teams greatly and having a true return specialist would be the route that the team will want to go. That’s where Covey comes in. The Eagles could use his services strictly there and could spell the starts on offense when needed. He had a kick return for 22 yards on Sunday afternoon.
CB Josh Jobe
Not only has Jobe been playing with the first team during practice due to Bradberry’s absence, but he’s also been making some noise this offseason. Jobe may be the most deserving young cornerback on the team right now. He’s done a terrific job in his transition to the NFL and could be a good developmental project for the Eagles’ defense. Jobe led all of the team in tackles on Sunday with a total of 7 tackles, three of them being assists.
S Reed Blankenship
Everyone knows that the Eagles need depth at the safety position and Blankenship is making everyone aware of his presence. The former Middle Tennessee safety has been making his case for a roster spot all offseason long. He recited four tackles with one of them being an assist against the Browns on Sunday. He led the team in tackles against the Jets the week before and continues to leave his stamp on the preseason. A true Jack of all trades at the safety position is what the Eagles need and Blankenship could fit the role perfectly.
Other Eagles rookies
Nakobe Dean played about 30 snaps and while he didn’t stand out completely, it was much needed for him to play. He recorded only 3 tackles on the day. Mario Goodrich surprisingly only played 19 snaps. The former Clemson product had a quiet offseason with the Eagles so far.
Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire
