5 Things To Watch For In Eagles' Preseason Opener Vs. Bucs
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Football is here!
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The Eagles open their preseason schedule on Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
For the Eagles, 10 players -- WR Jordan Matthews (knee), LT Jason Peters (quad), S Malcolm Jenkins (hamstring), LB Mychal Kendricks (hamstring), RB Wendell Smallwood (quad), DT Mike Martin (knee), LB Marcus Smith (concussion), CB JaCorey Shepherd (hamstring), WR Hunter Sharp , and WR Marcus Johnson -- have been ruled out.
So what should we be watching tonight?
5. Eagles' Defensive Line
The Eagles' defense is shifting from Billy Davis' 3-4 system to Jim Schwartz's 4-3 aggressive style. It will be interesting to see how the Eagles' front -- particularly the key contributors like Vinny Curry, Brandon Graham, Bennie Logan, Fletcher Cox, and Connor Barwin -- perform in Schwartz's system.
4. CBs Jalen Mills And Eric Rowe
Mills, a seventh-round pick this year, is listed ahead of last year's second-round pick, Rowe.
Rowe started five games last year and played well at times, recording five pass deflections and an interception. However, the Eagles really like Mills, a four-year starter at LSU who fell in the draft due to a 2014 incident where he was accused of punching a woman.
Now the "Green Goblin" is looking to earn a significant role in the Eagles' defense.
3. The Receivers
After Jordan Matthews, who won't play tonight, the Eagles have kind of a mish-mosh at wide receiver: Josh Huff, Nelson Agholor, Chris Givens, T.J. Graham, Reuben Randle.
Who will step as the Eagles' second and third receiving options?
2. Byron Marshall
The Eagles' backfield is depleted. It was expected to be led by two Oregon guys tonight in Kenjon Barner and Byron Marshall. However, Barner's status and workload for tonight is unknown after he suffered a quad injury on Tuesday.
With rookie Wendall Smallwood ruled out, and the likely preservation of veterans Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles, we should see a lot of Marshall regardless of Barner's status.
Marshall, an undrafted free-agent, rushed for 1,000 yards as a sophomore at Oregon and then recorded 1,000 receiving as a junior becoming the first player in conference history to ever do that. The 5-9, 200 pound versatile back caught eight passes for 169 yards and a touchdown in the 2015 National Championship Game against Ohio State.
1. Carson Wentz
The no-brainer No. 1 reason to watch tonight.
The Eagles' No. 2 overall pick makes his NFL debut tonight and Doug Pederson already said Wentz will play the bulk of the second half. With the way things are going with the Eagles, Wentz may be this team's only glimmer of hope.
"I'm excited to play at the Linc," Wentz said on Monday. "I'll have to calm down the excitement, because I'll be really excited, but once that first snap comes, I'll be ready to play."
