The best part about Week 4 of the preseason is it’s the end. All 32 teams are in action tonight, though we use the term “team” loosely because you won’t see m/any starters. The quality of these games is always poor, and by now I’m sure we’ve all had our fill of glorified scrimmages that don’t count toward the standings.
Sure, there are some players still trying to carve out roles or a space on the roster altogether, but probably not as many as we think. The faster the Eagles get out of New York tonight, the better, for tomorrow word may begin to trickle in on the last round of cuts as Chip Kelly trims the final squad down to 53. So if Emil Igwenagu is near and dear to your heart, you might want to tune in and bid thee farewell.
Then the focus turns toward September 9 in Washington, finally.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Philadelphia sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
If you happen to be a die-hard and will be watching, at least you’ll be treated to one last appearance by Nick Foles before the promising second-year quarterback is stashed away on the bench. While Michael Vick was the more explosive of the two passers during the preseason, Foles has been impressive as well, completing 21 of 25 attempts for 208 yards and run for one touchdown. His approach has been more dink-and-dunk, but the offense has moved just fine that way.
On the other side of the ball, it appears at least one likely starter will play in Nate Allen. Allen hasn’t exactly wowed this summer, and could certainly use the extra work, and that’s if the second safety spot opposite Patrick Chung isn’t up for grabs. Rookie Earl Wolff seems to be the guy pushing Allen, but he has a ways to go to show the coaching staff he’s ready. Not sure either player will get enough on tape against backups to flip the depth chart, but it’s a situation to monitor nonetheless.
Some other position battles to keep an eye on include the fight for fifth wide receiver spot, which seems like it’s down to Greg Salas and Russell Shepard, and a three-way duel for two backup interior linebacker positions between Casey Matthews, Jake Knott, and Emmanuel Acho. Keep in mind, special teams will be crucial in the decision-making process for these jobs. It’s also possible the Eagles will look for upgrades on the scrap heap once cuts are made around the league.
Which brings us back to this being a largely meaningless affair, but the NFL’s regular season is still a week away, and the Phillies should have their loss in the books well before kickoff, so you might as well. Preseason football is a guilty pleasure, and we promise not to tell.