PHILADELPHIA − The reason both quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Deshaun Watson, not to mention the rest of the perceived starters, sat out the preseason game between the Eagles and Cleveland Browns on Thursday is an easy one.
The starters on both teams got all the work they needed during the joint practice sessions during the week. That was where both teams could be physical − as evidenced by the shoving matches Tuesday − in a controlled setting, without some third-string defensive lineman taking out a quarterback during the game.
That was only reinforced during the game with several injuries.
As for the game, rookie Tanner McKee took over for Marcus Mariota to start the second half. He led the Eagles on two touchdown drives, including a game-tying TD and two-point conversion midway through the fourth quarter.
But after the Browns missed a field goal, McKee had one final chance to lead the Eagles to victory. McKee, however, took a sack on 3rd-and-10 with less than a minute left, forcing the Eagles to punt.
The Browns didn’t score either and the game ended in an 18-18 tie.
McKee finished 10-for-17 for 148 yards with a TD pass. For the second straight game, he outplayed Mariota, who completed 9 of 17 passes for 85 yards and an interception in the first half.
But it was a costly game for the Eagles in regards to injuries, no doubt part of the reason why Eagles coach Nick Sirianni rested his starters for the second straight preseason game. No doubt, that will be the case in the finale next Thursday against Indianapolis.
First-round pick Nolan Smith left the game in the first half with a shoulder injury. His injury wasn’t considered serious. That wasn’t the case for cornerback and special teams ace Zech McPhearson, who was carted off with an ankle injury, as well as for wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland, who suffered a neck injury and was also carted off.
Rookie defensive tackle Moro Ojomo also had to be carted off because of a neck injury. The Eagles reported that both Ojomo and Cleveland had movement in all of their extremities.
Tanner McKee keeps moving Eagles in 2nd half
McKee’s stats would have been better, but he had at least four passes dropped. Still, he led a touchdown drive on his first possession. In the fourth quarter, his 35-yard pass to Tyree Jackson in the fourth quarter got the Eagles to the Browns’ 10.
But the Eagles couldn’t score on the drive as Deon Cain couldn’t hold McKee’s pass in the back of the end zone on 4th-and-goal from the 3.
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McKee immediately led the Eagles on a touchdown drive on his first drive.
McKee completed both of his passes, for 27 yards. His first pass went to Joseph Ngata for 12 yards to the Eagles’ 42. After Trey Sermon’s 10-yard run, McKee then completed a bubble screen to Devon Allen, who turned that into a 15-yard gain down to Cleveland’s 33 yard line.
On the next play, Sermon ran up the middle, bounced off a tackler and went all the way into the end zone. That gave the Eagles a 10-8 lead with 11:59 left in the third quarter.
Eagles’ Nolan Smith, Zech McPhearson injured
The Eagles suffered two key injuries early in the second quarter. Smith went to the locker room with a shoulder injury while Zech McPhearson, who deflected a pass that was nearly intercepted, left in a cart with an ankle injury.
McPhearson’s injury is far more serious. The special teams ace was ruled out for the game. He was not able to put any weight on his right leg.
Smith, the Eagles’ first-round pick (No. 30 overall), was listed as questionable to return, but he watched the second half from the sidelines.
Smith was playing well, too. On one play, Smith bent his way around Browns’ 374-pound tackle Dawand Jones and reached for QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, nearly sacking him. Thompson-Robinson escaped from Smith, but Kentavius Street was there for the sack.
Street, coincidentally, also dropped the ball that McPhearson deflected. McPhearson had been working most of training camp at nickel corner, perhaps as a backup to Avonte Maddox.
Mariota struggles badly in 1st quarter
Mariota wasn’t effective in the first quarter as he got the start for the second week in a row. He often threw high to receivers.
Mariota was 3-for-9 for 32 yards in the first quarter. He also threw an interception when he overthrew Grant Calcaterra with the Eagles at midfield after Rashaad Penny picked up a first down on a 16-yard run.
The Eagles’ only points came on Jake Elliott’s 56-yard field goal after Mariota threw a bit high to Olamide Zaccheaus, who couldn’t hold the pass. Zaccheaus left with a shoulder injury after the play.
Eagles 1st possession results in a safety; Browns lead 2-0
The Eagles appeared to dodge a bullet when Browns running back John Kelly fumbled on 1st-and-goal from the Eagles’ 1. Nakobe Dean forced the fumble and K’Von Wallace recovered it, giving the Eagles the ball at the 2.
But after an incomplete pass, Kenny Gainwell, getting his first action of the summer, was tackled in the end zone for a safety. That gave Cleveland an early 2-0 lead.
Mariota starts at QB, Nakobe Dean also playing
Mariota got the start in place of Hurts. Linebacker Nakobe Dean was the only perceived starter to play after sitting out last week’s game with an injury.
Other notable players in uniform included defensive linemen and rookies Jalen Carter, who made the tackle on the first play of the game. Also, all of the running backs played except for D’Andre Swift.
Rashaad Penny, coming back from an injury, is the only one of the main four running backs to play in both games.
Haason Reddick has thumb surgery, report; will he return for opener?
Edge rusher Haason Reddick wasn’t going to play in the preseason games anyway. And now he won’t after he reportedly had thumb surgery this week.
Reddick, who had 16 sacks last season, suffered the injury at some point during practice Monday with the Browns. He didn’t practice Tuesday, and likely won’t for at least a few weeks. An NFL source said the Eagles are confident that Reddick will be ready to go for the regular-season opener on Sept. 10 against the New England Patriots.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl.
