5 Most Intriguing Eagles Heading Into Ravens Week
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- You know what you're getting from veteran guys like Connor Barwin, Fletcher Cox, Jason Peters, Malcolm Jenkins, Darren Sproles, DeMeco Ryans, and Jason Kelce. You can anticipate the upside of Nelson Agholor, Josh Huff, Brandon Graham, Ryan Mathews, Byron Maxwell, and Eric Rowe. You're certain the front-seven is elite. And minus Sam Bradford, the quarterbacks are exactly who you thought they were.
You understand you probably won't see much of new Eagles linebacker Kiko Alonso as he continues to recover from a concussion, nor from new Birds running back DeMarco Murray, who carried the ball 436 times last season with that other NFC East team I shall not mention.
And frankly, you don't really care about the third and fourth stringers because if they matter, the season doesn't.
I get it.
So as the Eagles welcome the Baltimore Ravens to town on Wednesday for three straight days of joint-practice (and more live play-by-play tweets!) leading up to Saturday night's preseason matchup in Philly, which Eagles' players are you keeping your eye on? Who intrigues you the most?
5. Andrew Gardner
It appears that Andrew Gardner is the front-runner to win the starting right-guard position over John Moffit, Matt Tobin, and Julian Vandervelde. Gardner, entering his eighth NFL season, got the start on Sunday in the preseason opener against the Colts and played well. He's the consistent, safe play and it's Gardner's job to lose.
4. Riley Cooper
The Eagles are suddenly deep at wide receiver. With rookie Nelson Agholor, veteran Miles Austin, and an emerging (we hope) Josh Huff joining the suddenly reliably second-year player in Jordan Matthews, Cooper finds himself on the outside looking in.
Will Coop's role be dramatically reduced this season? Seems like it and maybe that excites me. I'm tracking Cooper's progress, or regression, this week.
3. Jaylen Watkins
Watkins, the Eagles' 2014 fourth-round draft pick, started in the slot on Sunday against the Colts. The 5'11" corner from Florida has been intuitive and energetic during practice, hence the nod to run with the one's in the preseason opener. However, Watkins' play was sporadic at best on Sunday (especially his ability to tackle), causing some concern and potentially opening the door...
2. E.J. Biggers
...for someone like E.J. Biggers.
Playing the outside, Biggers was one of the Birds' most striking defensive backs in the preseason opener. Biggers, 28, is a six-year veteran and his athleticism was on full display against the Colts, highlighted by his stride-for-stride coverage on Indy's crazy-fast rookie wide out Phillip Dorsett. Biggers, previously with the Buccaneers (2009-2012) and Redskins (2013-2014), is somewhat versatile too, as he played a little bit of safety in Washington.
I'm not sure what sort of role Biggers will have with the Eagles this season, but he certainly has my ears perked.
Ps. In 2013, when Biggers was with the Redskins, he was fined for this helmet-to-helmet hit on DeSean Jackson. I'm not gonna say I like that, but I don't hate it.
1. Sam Bradford
I seriously tried my best to think of ways where Bradford is not the No. 1 name on this list, but it's impossible. You could argue Sammy B (can I call him that?) is the most intriguing player heading into preseason Week 2 in the entire NFL.
Bradford will likely make his Eagles debut on Saturday night at Lincoln Financial Field against the Ravens. If he's half as good as he's been in practice, he'll be three times better than any Eagles quarterback under Chip Kelly, including Nick Foles.
Honorable mention: Marcus Smith, Kenjon Barner, Josh Huff, Ed Reynolds
