Three players to watch in Eagles' first preseason game

The Philadelphia Eagles will travel to face the Baltimore Ravens on Friday night. Most starters won’t play, giving young players a chance to shine. Here’s three to keep an eye on.

TE Grant Calcaterra

Calcaterra has only nine catches and 120 yards since joining the team as sixth-round pick in 2022l but the 25-year-old tight end has been one of the biggest surprises in camp.

According to si.com’s John McMullen, the 25-year-old tight end has seen extensive work in 12 personnel packages with some reps coming in 11 personnel formations in place of Dallas Goedert, the team’s starting tight end who had high praise for his teammate.

“He's one of the people that just knows what he's supposed to do, knows where he's supposed to be, when he's supposed to be there,” Goedert said, per McMullen

New offensive coordinator Kellen Moore echoed those sentiments when talking to the press in late July. 

“He has a great awareness and understanding of the game,” Moore said.

The team also has tight ends Albert Okwuegbunam Jr. and C.J. Ozumah on the roster but neither are having a very good camp. Philadelphia also claimed undrafted rookie tight end Kevin Foelsch off waivers over the weekend, but the former New Haven Charger has little chance of making the 53-man roster. 

All things considered, Calcaterra should see plenty of action at M&T Bank Stadium on Friday night.

WR Johnny Wilson

With Parris Campbell dealing with a groin issue in camp, the No.3 receiver position is wide open for a player like Wilson. The sixth-round rookie stood out during a recent practice by snagging a touchdown catch against cornerback Kelee Ringo in tight coverage. 

Wilson worked with quarterback Jalen Hurts in the offseason and has been getting a fair share of first-team reps in practice. At 6-foot-6 and 231 pounds, he’s ideally suited for red zone work but wide receivers coach Aaron Moorehead sees Wilson as more than just a big body.

“Obviously his size, but the way he was able to bend,” Moorehead told reporters. “Most big guys can’t bend. They’re stiff, which is why it’s harder to play wideout in the league. He can bend, he’s not a stiff guy, he’s got great catch radius, he’s tough.

Cracking the starting lineup will be tough for Wilson, but with continued progress and a strong showing on Friday night, he could earn meaningful snaps in the regular season.

LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

Starting linebackers Zack Baun and Devin White are both having strong camps, so neither should see much time in the team’s first preseason game. Trotter’s father may be in the Eagles Hall of Fame, but as one of three fifth-round picks in 2024, the young linebacker should still be considered a project at this point.

Trotter Jr. had 191 tackles, 12 sacks, four interceptions and three forced fumbles in three years at Clemson and earned First-team All-ACC honors in 2023. Prior to the draft, ESPN”s Mel Kiper said Trotter would become “a whale of an NFL player” on the network’s ACC PM show.

He’s seen more first-team reps in recent practices and could push Nakobe Dean, the team’s third-round pick in 2022, for playing time.