The Patriots snatched a tight 24-21 win against the Eagles on Saturday night, but honestly, the score is secondary to what went down on the opening kickoff. Eagles running back Ja’Quinden Jackson went down hard after tackling New England’s Lan Larison and was immediately taken off the field in an ambulance. Talk about a gut punch right out of the gate! The Eagles thankfully confirmed he had strength and movement in his extremities, but he was headed to the hospital for more evaluation. That’s the kind of moment that reminds you this game is no joke, even in preseason.
DeVito’s Dazzling Plays and the Backup Battle Heating Up
While everyone was holding their breath for Jackson, Patriots backup QB Tommy DeVito decided to put on a show. He uncorked a massive 69-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Williams, a serious bomb that had to turn some heads. DeVito played the whole first half, slinging it 8 of 15 for 151 yards and even showing off his wheels with 44 rushing yards, including a sweet 36-yard scramble that set up a 41-yard field goal by Andy Borregales. Man, he looked good!
On the other side, Eagles third-string QB Tanner McKee wasn’t letting DeVito have all the fun, throwing two touchdown passes himself. His 20-yard toss to Carson Steele even put the Eagles ahead late in the game! Not to be outdone, Patriots third-stringer Behren Morton then led a clutch 73-yard drive, capped with a 37-yard TD pass to Nick DeGennaro to seal the win. Eagles backup Andy Dalton had a tougher go, completing just 3 of 10 for 44 yards in his three series. No starters played, which is typical for a preseason game, but these backups definitely made statements.
Rookie Struggles and the Injury Report Nobody Wants to See
Not every play was highlight reel material, though. Patriots rookie edge rusher Gabe Jacas got flagged for roughing the passer on Dalton, wiping out an interception. It’s another tough moment for Jacas, who’s still recovering from left knee surgery this summer and didn’t even participate in rookie or mandatory minicamp. The dude was the last second-round pick to sign, with an injury waiver in his contract; these “growing pains” are getting hard to ignore.
And Jacas wasn’t the only Patriot banged up. Offensive lineman Marcus Bryant left with an ankle injury on the fifth snap and didn’t return. Linebacker Khalil Jacobs was slow to get up after a tackle but thankfully made it back to the sideline. Then LB Chad Muma limped off in the final minute. Yikes! Plus, star cornerback Christian Gonzalez was out recovering from a minor injury amidst contract talks. Health is everything, and this game had way too many guys limping off.
This game was a wild mix of incredible plays and cringe-worthy moments. It’s preseason, so we’re looking at individual performances, and players like DeVito and McKee certainly showed they can make things happen. But for Jacas, the pressure is mounting. The biggest thing, though? We’re all just hoping Ja’Quinden Jackson is alright. That’s the real takeaway here.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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