5 Eagles Who Must Show Up In Week 2 of Preseason vs. Patriots

After two productive joint practices earlier in the week, there is still unfinished business for the Eagles in Foxborough in the form of Saturday's preseason game.

Aug 19, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee (16) throws a pass during training camp at Gillette Stadium. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

After two productive joint practices earlier in the week, there is still unfinished business for the Eagles in Foxborough in the form of Saturday’s preseason game.

While the practices were for the key contributors, Saturday night is for the back end of the 90-man offseason roster and the second of three opportunities to impress GM Howie Roseman and the coaching staff in a live environment.

Here are the five players who need to produce against Pats:

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QB -- Tanner McKee

It’s been a difficult offseason to date for McKee and this could be his final opportunity to wrest the backup job from veteran Andy Dalton. If form holds true, McKee is likely to get the start after Dalton had that opportunity in Baltimore.

While dealing with competition and learning a new offense, McKee has looked hesitant far too often this summer and needs to show command of the operation first and foremost. If McKee can accomplish that, the confidence should return and his natural arm talent should bubble back up to the surface.

WR -- Darius Cooper

DeVonta Smith and Makai Lemon are expected back in team drills next week, something that highlights Cooper’s status as the No. 5 or 6 receiver. A strong summer for Cooper lost some of its momentum with a poor performance against the Ravens in the preseason opener. This is his opportunity to put the train back on the tracks.

TE -- Eli Stowers

Stowers is in no danger from a roster perspective but his slow summer has made him an odds-on favorite to be an inactive early in the season. The talented Vanderbilt product has three weeks to turn that sentiment around before the season opener against Washington on Sept. 13.

Pinata Doll

Eagles CB Kelee Ringo. | Ed Kracz/Eagles on SI

CB -- Kelee Ringo

Vic Fangio explained the much-maligned Ringo’s current status this week. 

“He's been everybody's piñata doll for a while,” Fangio said of Ringo. “ I kind of sense he could be coming [on]. We'll see.”

Ringo’s special teams acumen gives him a leg up over the other back-end CBs on the roster so he only needs to stay away from the big mistakes on the outside to make the initial 53. In Baltimore he made up for an ugly DPI with an end-zone interception. Fangio would prefer more discipline and consistency.

S -- Andre’ Sam

Never underestimate the ego with NFL decision-makers. From a meritocracy standpoint, Sam is the Eagles’ fourth safety behind Drew Mukuba, Marcus Epps and Michel Carter. However, Roseman may prefer to lean into seventh-round pick Cole Wisniewski or undrafted free agent Maximus Pulley. 

In other words, Sam can’t falter if he wants to make the initial 53.