Eagles vs. Patriots: 10 Takeaways From Preseason Week 2

The Philadelphia Eagles lost to the New England Patriots by a final score of 24-21. While Philadelphia’s starters didn’t play, we learned more about the team’s depth at several positions. Eagles first-year offensive coordinator Sean Mannion also had a stronger showing in his second game. Here are 10 takeaways from Philadelphia’s loss on the road in Foxborough.

Tanner McKee Takes Lead at QB2

Eagles veteran backup quarterback Andy Dalton started Saturday night’s game and put together another underwhelming performance. Tanner McKee led Philadelphia’s offense the rest of the way and while he was far from perfect, the 26-year-old took the lead for Philadelphia’s QB2 job. McKee completed 16-of-22 passes (72.7%) for 173 yards, two touchdowns and a passer rating of 125.8 in a much-improved showing compared to what we saw last week. We’ll see if McKee can maintain his lead, but he seems to be in the driver’s seat right now.

Peyton Hillis Is Somewhere Smiling

The Eagles went with a running back duo of Will Shipley and Carson Steele in Foxborough. It was a showing that likely made former Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis smile, wherever he was. Philadelphia’s new version of the “Exciting Whites” accounted for 173 total yards of offense and also scored two touchdowns. With Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby both sitting out, it was encouraging to see Philadelphia’s backfield continue to contribute. After Steele’s performance in Foxborough, he could have a legitimate case to make Philadelphia’s final 53-man roster.

Darius Cooper Bounced Back

There was a lot of hype surrounding Eagles second-year wide receiver Darius Cooper heading into Philadelphia’s preseason opener. Yet Cooper had a rough drop and failed to carry his success in practice over to last week’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. But the 24-year-old hauled in three of his four targets for 44 receiving yards to help the Eagles get on the scoreboard early. After playing into the game late last week, Cooper started hot and was able to leave the field early in Foxborough.

Willie Lampkin Is Locked In

Eagles interior offensive lineman Willie Lampkin continued his strong training camp and preseason performance against the Patriots. Lampkin helped power Philadelphia’s rushing attack to an impressive start before being pulled from the game, alongside second-year interior offensive lineman Drew Kendall. If it wasn’t clear enough already, it certainly seems like Lampkin is a lock to make Philadelphia’s final 53-man roster following an early exit in Foxborough.

Booth Life of Sean Mannion

After calling plays from the sideline last week, Eagles first-year offensive coordinator Sean Mannion was in the booth against the Patriots. While it could just be a coincidence, Philadelphia’s offense looked far better in Foxborough. Mannion was dialing up a ton of different screen passes that kept New England’s defense on their toes. While the passing offense was weighed down by Dalton’s slow start, Philadelphia’s other two quarterbacks combined to average 8.0 yards per pass attempt against the Patriots. It’ll be interesting to see where Mannion will call plays from next week.

The Vanilla Gorilla Is Alive!

Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio doesn’t hold back when talking to the media. Fangio admitted that Eagles second-year interior defensive lineman Ty Robinson was on “life support” and had come alive in recent weeks. Yet it’s safe to say that the “Vanilla Gorilla” is alive and thriving following a dominant performance against the Patriots. Robinson recorded four total tackles, three tackles for loss, three quarterback hits and two sacks in Foxborough. It was another impressive showing for a player who seemed to be on the roster bubble a few weeks ago.

🚨 WERU! WERU! WERU! 🚨

I’m sorry but I had to. I can’t say Eagles rookie edge rusher Joshua Weru’s last name without thinking of the sounds of sirens blasting in the distance. In all seriousness, the former Kenyan rugby player put together another eye-opening performance as he continues to look far more polished than anyone expected him to be. Weru recorded three total tackles, one tackle for loss and his first sack in the NFL. Weru made Patriots rookie offensive tackle Dametrious Crownover look like he was the one that is new to American football. I had Weru making the team’s final 53-man roster in my latest projection and I feel even better about that after tonight.

Uar Bernard Records First Tackle(s)

Weru wasn’t the only international player that was making plays for the Eagles in Foxborough. Nigerian interior defensive lineman Uar Bernard also recorded his first two tackles in the NFL. While Bernard is far more raw than Weru is at this point, he still possesses a blend of size and athleticism that simply can’t be taught. Bernard powered his way into New England’s backfield early in the game to register a quarterback pressure. It was another encouraging step in the right direction for the 21-year-old.

Watch Out for Shaun Wade

It’s hard to be encouraged by what we’ve seen from Philadelphia’s backup cornerbacks in the preseason. While Eagles cornerback Shaun Wade surrendered a few catches down the final stretch, he often limited any yards after the catch and also forced another fumble. Wade forced a fumble in Philadelphia’s preseason opener and I could see Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni highlighting Wade’s effort during the next team meeting. If Kelee Ringo and Mac McWilliams continue to struggle, I wonder if Wade is a name to watch for. At the least, Philadelphia likely wants him to stick around on the practice squad.

Jose Ramirez: The Next Cameron Latu?

When I was writing my postgame takeaways during the preseason last year, I wrote a blurb for backup tight end Cameron Latu seemingly every time. Latu continued to standout on special teams with his effort and ability to make tackles in that area. Fast forward to 2026 and Eagles edge rusher Jose Ramirez falls in a similar category for me. Ramirez recorded just two total tackles in the final box score, yet it felt like he was constantly making plays, both on defense and on special teams. Ramirez likely won’t make Philadelphia’s final 53-man roster but he could land on the team’s practice squad and eventually force his way onto the active roster as a special teams contributor.