Three Eagles Players That Stood Out After The First Preseason Game
The Eagles had a successful first preseason game despite losing to the New York Jets 24-21. Philadelphia’s starters looked were already in mid-season form and easily outperformed New York’s starters. Here are the three Eagles’ players that stood out the most after the game.
Jalen Hurts
Hurts was perfect in his 2022 preseason debut. He went six for six passing the ball for 80 yards and a touchdown pass. Hurts escaped the pocket for a third and five conversion and drew a 15-yard penalty on a hit out of bounds. Hurts also had a touchdown run called back due to a holding penalty. Overall, there were no complaints to report on the play of Jalen Hurts. He played extremely well against the Jets starters and only had to play one series.
All eyes are going to be on Jalen Hurts in 2022. He had an up and down 2021 season, but still got the Eagles to the playoffs with a winning record. His first preseason game give Eagles fans a lot of optimism moving forward.
Kyzir White
Linebacker Kyzir White had a great start in his Eagles preseason debut. He made one tackle and a huge interception. The Eagles were leading 7-0 in the first quarter when White read a Zach Wilson pass and picked it off. He returned the ball 27 yards which led to an Eagles touchdown. This allowed the Eagles to take a 14-0 lead.
Kyzir White is expected to make an immediate impact to the Eagles’ defense. He led the Chargers in tackles last year and added in two forced fumbles and two interceptions. The Eagles struggled generating pressure and forcing turnovers last season, so the free agent pickup of Kyzir White looks promising so far.
Cam Jurgens
Rookie center Cam Jurgens scored a 75.3 grade by Pro Football Focus in his preseason debut. He was able to beat opposing defenders one on one, make pre-snap reads, and get down the field on running plays. Jurgens was dynamic and athletic just like Jason Kelce.
Jurgens will get a lot of opportunities with the first team as Kelce recovers from elbow surgery. Kelce is expected to be back by the September 11th season debut, but if not, Jurgens looks ready. The former Nebraska center looked outstanding in the game and should anchor the offensive line for years to come after Kelce retires.
In Conclusion
It looks like the Eagles rookies and free agent pickups are already showing their worth through training camp and the beginning of preseason. It is also great to see Jalen Hurts take another step in his development. Though it was just the first preseason game, the Eagles are looking like a team that should be able to compete at a high level this upcoming season.