After breaking down the performances of the Philadelphia Eagles' rookie class in Week 1 of preseason action, we're back at it again.
Here's our analysis of how the rookies fared in the 24-21 Week 2 preseason loss to the New England Patriots,
Eagles rookie report card from preseason week 2 against Patriots
Makai Lemon, WR - First Round
Lemon returned to the practice field this week, but worked in a limited capacity. He was inactive.
Grade: Incomplete
Eli Stowers, TE - Second Round
Stowers had a quiet evening, as Andy Dalton and the Vandy rookie couldn't connect on a five-yard pass attempt in first-quarter action. Dalton did him no favors in the sequence. Later on, Tanner McKee and Stowers also couldn't make it happen on a short incompletion, though Stowers did look a bit better in the run-blocking phase.
Grade: C
Markel Bell, OT - Third Round
A week after registering a stout performance against Baltimore, Bell kept the momentum rolling with several punishing blocks. Once he engaged on run plays to his side, the play was over. Running back Will Shipley feasted with 11 carries for 56 yards in first quarter action, and the run-blocking prowess of Bell was a driving factor in the ground game's efficiency. The towering rookie continues to impress.
Grade: A
Cole Payton, QB - Fifth Round
As Philadelphia tries to finalize its backup QB situation, Dalton and McKee battled it out, with Payton only appearing in the team's last series. While he finished 1-for-1 for 10 yards, he fell victim to a sack and fumble on the ensuing play to cap the evening.
Grade: C+
Micah Morris, OG - Sixth Round
Just as he did in his preseason debut, Morris performed well in his second round of live action. He had a nice sequence on a screen pass to Carson Steele and looked solid in his pass pro work. His motor and overall consistency, which had sometimes drawn concerns at Georgia, have been strong all preseason. Morris continues to perform well and absolutely looks the part of a solid NFL guard.
Grade: B+
Cole Wisniewski, S - Seventh Round
Back to full health, Wisniewski made his official debut, notching an early solo tackle on special teams, before seeing live action on several pass plays. As advertised, the rookie safety looked good in run support. Coverage-wise, it was a different story. Late in second quarter action, Kyle Williams beat Ambry Thomas for a 65-yard trip to pay dirt. You'd like to see a bit better reaction time - and closing speed - by Wisniewski, who had deep help responsibilities over the top there.
Grade: C+
Uar Bernard, DT - Seventh Round
Bernard showed some activity and a bit of push on the interior, but nothing noteworthy. Certainly a more subdued performance than his fellow IPP teammate Joshua Weru.
Grade: C
Other rookies to note:
Kapena Gushiken (Safety - A) was once again active and aggressive. The Ole Miss alum notched a pair of tackles on the opening defensive series, including a nice stop for only a one-yard gain in run support. He was also hyper alert, instinctive, and consistent in coverage on the evening. His odds of making this roster only seem to strengthen as the days stack, and his stellar practice performances continue to translate into smooth live-game showings this preseason.
Joshua Weru (Edge -A)Â had a nice pressure off the edge on Tommy DeVito late in the second quarter, but two plays later, sold out for the pass, motored towards the backfield from out wide, and saw a running back zip right past him for a sizeable gain. He rebounded with some stops down the stretch, and also finished with one tackle for loss, showing tenacity in the run defense phase. The play of the night for Weru came on a third-and-seven for New England, as he came crashing off the edge for his first-ever sack. With such unrefined potential, you love to see the fearlessness and relentless effort, as he's learning in real time on every single snap.
Maximus Pulley (Safety- C+) showed some toughness and anticipation in run support in second half action. He was a bit quieter tonight than his last time out, but he was solid once again.
Meanwhile, Deontae Lawson (LB-B ) followed up his five-tackle preseason Week 1 effort with another 5 tackles against New England. Due to Philly's considerable depth at ILB, it's a battle at this point for Lawson to make the active roster, but don't count him out just yet.
Read more: Injury to surging corner thins out Eagles CB depth at training camp
Zion Wilson (DL-C) had an impressive tackle early on and added a noteworthy stop alongside Weru late in the third quarter, but looked slow in the pass rush phase. Simply put, he has to show more to stick. Ditto for David Blay Jr, (DL- C), who mustered just two tackles. His pass rush skills have to surface for him to emerge within a crowded defensive line unit.
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