PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles’ second preseason game is in the books. The Eagles lost, 22-13, to the Cleveland Browns on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field. But a few rookies and roster hopefuls impressed.
Let’s take a look at who stood out for the Eagles.
S Drew Mukuba
Have a day, rook. Mukuba had a pick-six and a fumble recovery in his NFL debut. The second-round rookie out of Texas undercut Dillon Gabriel’s short throw and took it the other way, racing away for a 75-yard house call. It was an electrifying moment, but Mukuba wasn’t done. Two drives later, he fell on a fumble in the backfield.
Mukuba, the No. 64 overall pick in the 2025 draft, is in a battle with Sydney Brown for the starting safety spot opposite Reed Blankenship. Mukuba missed time earlier in training camp due to injury, so that put him behind the eight ball a bit. But Mukuba’s debut turned heads — and proved his ballhawking skills in college were no fluke.
LB Jihaad Campbell
Let’s keep it with the rookies. Before Mukuba’s heroics, Campbell made an impact, tripping up Gabriel for a sack on the opening drive of the game. The first-round rookie out of Alabama provided immediate pressure on a blitz, getting in Gabriel’s grill and making life difficult.
Campbell’s aggressiveness and athleticism have flashed during a nice preseason. Eagles fans didn’t know when they’d first see the No. 31 overall pick, who fell in the draft due to a torn labrum surgery in March. But Campbell has hit the ground running.
WR Ainias Smith
For the second straight week, Smith found the end zone at the Linc. Last Thursday, Smith caught a six-yard touchdown from backup Tanner McKee. And on Saturday, the 2024 fifth-round pick scored on a nine-yard connection with potential third-stringer Kyle McCord.
The passing offense was lacking without McKee in there to throw to Smith, Darius Cooper and Co. But the bright spot of the day was Smith, which is important as cutdown day nears. Smith is competing with Cooper, Terrace Marshall Jr. and others for a spot on the 53-man roster. Smith just has to keep making plays.
CB Jakorian Bennett
The Eagles entered camp hoping either Kelee Ringo or Adoree’ Jackson would step up and take ownership over the opening at cornerback opposite Quinyon Mitchell. That did not happen, prompting Howie Roseman to trade for Raiders cornerback Jakorian Bennett.
Saturday was Bennett’s first action in front of fans, and he was solid. One play in particular stood out, as the 24-year-old corner chased down a Browns receiver on a deep crossing route and dove for an acrobatic pass breakup. Bennett later picked up an injury and returned, so that was less than ideal for a while. But Bennett showed that — amid iffy play from Ringo and Jackson — he’ll be a player worth considering for the CB2 job in Week One.
EDGE Azeez Ojulari
After losing Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham, the Eagles were looking for some high-upside depth at edge rusher. So, they signed Ojulari to a one-year, $4 million deal in March. Through three weeks of training camp, he had been a relative disappointment. But the former New York Giant might have changed the narrative over the last few days.
Building on a solid showing in Wednesday’s joint practice, Ojulari annihilated Gabriel on a blindside sack. Ojulari is still very much on the roster bubble. But his performances this week were at least a sign of life from the 2021 second-round pick.
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