Two of the most impressive backups thus far at training camp for the Philadelphia Eagles will have their shot to showcase their development throughout the preseason.
And they're both making some serious noise at the pivot.
Backup linemen Willie Lampkin and Drew Kendall, who each offer versatility at both center and guard, should be set for significant playing time in this pre-season battle to help determine who will be starting center Cam Jurgens' top backup once regular season action kicks off.
Eagles linemen Willie Lampkin and Drew Kendall are competing while building chemistry
For the duo, who have turned heads amid equally impressive training camps, mutual admiration runs high. Toiling away in the summer heat has brought out the best in each of them, and as two of the youngest members of the offensive line room, per Dave Zangaro, the competition is strong, while the camaraderie is even stronger:
“Willie’s a beast. Willie’s great,” OL Drew Kendall said. “He’s fun to work with too. He’s a great guy, brings a lot of energy. He’s been fun. It’s been fun to kind of do that with him together. I think he’s having a great camp.”
Checking in at 5-foot-11, 290 pounds, Lampkin, a former wrestling standout, has been using his compact and powerful stature to give defenders headaches all camp long.
"Willie’s a great player,” defensive tackle Byron Young said. “He’s gotten a lot better since he first got here. He’s a pest in the run and the pass game because he’s so short. He was a wrestler when he was in high school, so he understands how to stay low. Even though he’s so small, he can engulf you whenever you run right down the middle of him. And he has great hands, great feet. He’s going to be a really good player.”
Meanwhile, Kendall has come out blazing in training camp, too. Battling with the likes of Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis each day, the second-year lineman has taken his game to new heights. Davis recently named him as one of his top sleepers heading into this season, saying Kendall is shaping up to be a great player.
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For Lampkin and Kendall, each snap this preseason will go a long way toward shaping how this depth chart will evolve under new offensive line coach Chris Kuper and the coaching staff. Competition among teammates has been fierce for two weeks in practice and running, and now it's showtime this evening.
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