The Philadelphia Eagles’ second-round pick, tight end Eli Stowers, hasn’t just failed to impress in training camp; he’s looking “unplayable” and likely to be a gameday inactive as the NFL season kicks off in a few weeks. That’s a brutal assessment for a 23-year-old taken so high, and it’s coming straight from the PhillyVoice’s Jimmy Kempski, who has watched the rookie closely.
The Rookie’s Rough Road in Philly
Stowers came into the league with some collegiate hype, especially after his final season at Vanderbilt. He put up 769 yards and four touchdowns in the SEC, proving to be a reliable option for coach Clark Lea. You’d expect that kind of production to translate, or at least show some flashes, in an NFL camp. But the word out of Lincoln Financial Field is that Stowers hasn’t really stuck out. Kempski’s review pulls no punches, saying Stowers hasn’t picked up on either side of his tight end duties, whether he’s blocking or receiving. This isn’t what anyone wants to hear about a player drafted to contribute right away.
Kempski’s take is pretty stark: “Unfortunately, throughout camp Stowers hasn’t shown much to get excited about as a receiver or as a blocker.” He went on to say that Stowers hasn’t “exhibited the explosive traits that are in his body,” and has “sometimes looked tentative as a blocker.” What’s even more concerning is the receiving game, with Kempski noting Stowers “simply hasn’t made catches further than, like, 10 yards down the field.” That’s a huge problem for any tight end, let alone one picked to be part of the future offense.
A Preseason Performance That Backs Up the Doubts
It’s one thing for analysts to talk, but the preseason numbers for Stowers just hammer home the point. In the Eagles’ opening preseason matches, his only numbers came against the Baltimore Ravens, where he logged a meager 12 yards. And against the New England Patriots? He didn’t even make a catch on his two targets. Those are not the stats of a player who’s fighting for a roster spot, let alone proving his worth as a second-round investment.
The consensus from Kempski is clear, and it paints a grim picture for Stowers’ immediate future. If he can’t show more than this, coach Nick Sirianni will be looking at Grant Calcaterra and Johnny Mundt to back up Dallas Goedert in his offensive schemes. It’s a tough pill to swallow for a team looking for depth and talent, especially when that talent was supposed to be a high draft pick.
The Eagles are heading into the season expecting big things, with established stars like Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley getting ready to roll. The open practices gave the faithful a look at new faces like Makai Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks, and Cole Payton, but it’s Stowers’ struggles that are really making waves. With the regular season just around the corner, Stowers needs to turn things around fast, or he’ll be watching from the sidelines when it counts.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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