The Eagles got a useful preseason snapshot on Saturday night against the Patriots, and the biggest takeaway was clear: Tanner McKee was sharper and more efficient than Andy Dalton. In a game meant to help sort out the back end of the roster, McKee finished 16 of 22 for 173 yards and two touchdowns, while Dalton went just 3 of 10 for 44 yards.
That contrast matters because preseason games are less about the final score and more about how players handle their chances. McKee did that well, running the offense more efficiently and giving the Eagles a stronger look at their quarterback depth behind the starters.
What the game showed at quarterback
McKee’s performance stood out because it came after a first preseason game the week before in Baltimore and after joint practices with the Patriots that already gave the coaching staff a broader look at the roster. The game made one thing easier to see: McKee helped himself, while Dalton did not do much to separate in the same way.
For a team still evaluating depth-chart decisions, that is the kind of preseason result that can matter. McKee did not just post better numbers; he also looked more in control of the offense, which is the main job in these August settings.
Other roster spots still being sorted
The quarterback evaluation was only part of the night. At running back, Shipley continued to make his case for the RB3 role. Earlier in camp, that spot had been challenged by Dameon Pierce, but Shipley showed some value in the passing game during joint practices and then handled 11 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown against New England.
That is the kind of all-around showing that can help a player hold onto a roster spot, especially when preseason work is being used to compare depth players rather than starters.
There were also notes at wide receiver and linebacker. The Eagles continue to evaluate options such as Eli Stowers, E.J. Jenkins, Makai Lemon, Cooper, Jeremiah Trotter, Jihaad Campbell, Smael Mondon, Chance Campbell and Deontae Lawson as the preseason moves along. For players in those spots, every snap is part of the same larger question: who can be trusted when the roster gets trimmed?
That is why Saturday mattered. The Eagles were not trying to solve everything in one preseason game, but McKee’s performance, Shipley’s workload and the ongoing battles across the depth chart gave the team more information than it had before kickoff. For players on the fringe, that is the real point of August football.
