The New England Patriots’ second preseason test against the Philadelphia Eagles kicked off with a literal gut punch, as offensive tackle Marcus Bryant went down with an injury just minutes into the game at Gillette Stadium. This isn’t just an early setback; it immediately highlights those crucial offensive line questions Coach Mike Vrabel and his staff are trying to answer as the August preseason continues.
Patriots Offense Stumbles, Injuries Pile Up
Things went sideways fast for the Patriots’ offense right from the start. Tommy DeVito got the nod under center and his first drive saw an early penalty and a poor pass. A 28-yard short pass to fullback Lan Larison was a flash of something, sure, but then the injury bug bit hard. Right tackle Marcus Bryant, one of the game’s captains along with linebacker K.J. Britt, tight end Jack Westover, wide receiver Efton Chism III, and defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr., was down on the field. Trainers were all over him, and he eventually gave way to Dametriois Crownover. You absolutely hate to see that so early in a game where roster spots are on the line. New England then picked up another penalty and had to punt. The Eagles even muffed that punt but managed to recover it. It’s just a rough way to begin an evaluation period.
Eagles March Down The Field With Ease
On the other side of the ball, the Eagles looked much more organized. Andy Dalton was under center for Philadelphia, and while his stat line of 3 of 7 passing for 44 yards doesn’t scream dominance, running back Will Shipley absolutely carved up the Patriots’ defense with nine carries for 51 yards. Darius Cooper caught all three of Dalton’s completions. The Eagles’ second drive was described as “surgical,” and it wasn’t long before Shipley punched it in for a touchdown. The resistance from the New England defensive line? Not much to speak of on that play. It gave the Eagles a 7-0 lead, which is how the first quarter ended.
This game really hammered home that the final score is secondary to evaluating the roster. The Patriots are off to Cleveland on Thursday to wrap up their preseason slate, and Coach Vrabel still has plenty to sort out before August is over. With those nagging questions on the offensive line and in the secondary, that final exhibition game means every single snap will matter for players fighting to make the cut.
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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