Eagles vs. Patriots: 10 Things To Watch For in Preseason Week 2

The Philadelphia Eagles already held two joint practices against the New England Patriots earlier this week. According to those in attendance, the teams split the session, 1-1. Now it’s time for the Eagles to fly into Gillette Stadium and settle the score in Foxborough. Here are 10 things to watch for the Eagles during Philadelphia’s second preseason game.

What’s the Deal at QB2?

Many expected Eagles fourth-year quarterback Tanner McKee to run away with the team’s QB2 spot by now. Yet McKee is still battling with veteran quarterback Andy Dalton as the two continue to split reps with the second-team offense in practice. The preseason opener didn’t provide any clarity for the QB2 picture, in fact, it probably made things worse. Hopefully we’ll learn a bit more in Philadelphia’s second preseason game.

Fueling Up the Tank (Bigsby)

Following last season’s offensive struggles, many were hoping that the Eagles would get Tank Bigsby more involved in 2026. At the start of training camp, it seemed like Bigsby was going to have a bigger role and was turning heads with his play in practice. Yet Bigsby had just two carries for five rushing yards in Philadelphia’s preseason opener. He also missed some practice time due to a toe injury. Hopefully we’ll see the Eagles feed (or fuel) Tank a bit more against the Patriots.

Elijah Moore vs. Everybody Else

The Eagles likely have five locks at wide receiver in DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, Makai Lemon, Darius Cooper and Hollywood Brown. If the Eagles keep six wide receivers on the 53-man roster, Elijah Moore is the current favorite for that spot. Especially after the Eagles surprisingly waived Johnny Wilson on Friday, who has struggled to stay healthy. Yet now Moore is banged up with a neck injury and missed practice time. Could Britain Covey or Erik Ezukanma make a surprise push for Moore’s job due to their return ability? We’ll see.

(S)Tower(s) Stack

My two kids love playing a game called Tower Stack, where they take turns attempting to balance different shaped pieces on a wobbly base. It feels like that’s exactly what Eagles rookie tight end Eli Stowers is trying to do right now. Stowers has laid a few pieces down since arriving in Philadelphia but they aren’t necessarily the flashiest moves that many were hoping to see. Stowers’ base still seems shaky and he could alleviate some of those concerns with a big performance in Foxborough. It would be nice to see Stowers continue to build and head in the right direction against the Patriots.

Can Backup OL Remain Hot?

Prior to the start of training camp, I was concerned about Philadelphia’s offensive line depth, especially along the interior. Yet the strong play of Drew Kendall and Willie Lampkin has really helped ease my concerns in that area. Philadelphia’s backup offensive line reportedly played well during the joint practice sessions against the Patriots and it would be even better if that translated to the team’s second preseason game as well. The Eagles can’t afford to have another season derailed by a banged up offensive line and reliable depth is key to preventing that from happening again

The Cole Payton Experience: Part 2

Philadelphia’s offense was a mess in the team’s first preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. Yet then rookie quarterback Cole Payton entered the game and brought much-needed life to the Eagles offense with his dual-threat ability. While Payton is far from a finished product, he provides more than enough juice and upside to make the second half of preseason games worth watching. The 23-year-old rookie quarterback will likely put on another show when he’s called into action against the Patriots.

Can Ty Robinson Stay off Life Support?

Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio doesn’t hold back when he talks to the media. Fangio was brutally honest when he talked about second-year interior defensive lineman Ty Robinson earlier this week. Fangio admitted that Robinson was on “life support” but that he’s come to life in recent weeks. Robinson played well in Philadelphia’s preseason opener, as he flashed the dominant play that many were hoping to see in spurts last year. It seems like the 25-year-old will have to put together another strong performance to truly earn Fangio’s trust.

Will Jihaad Campbell Suit Up?

The Eagles usually rest their starters during the preseason under head coach Nick Sirianni. Yet in the team’s preseason opener, projected starting linebacker Jihaad Campbell suited up and played a surprising amount of snaps. While some have speculated that Campbell could be competing with Jeremiah Trotter Jr., we’ll get our answer in Foxborough. If Campbell suits up again, that likely means that he is truly competing with Trotter for the starting job next to Zack Baun. If Campbell is inactive and Trotter plays, that likely means the second-year linebacker’s starting job is locked up.

Jake Elliott Needs Opportunities

There’s no secret that Eagles kicker Jake Elliott struggled mightily last season. Yet due to Elliott’s inflated salary, Philadelphia is stuck with him for at least one more season. In the team’s preseason opener, Elliott attempted just one extra point kick and that was it. The Eagles need to put themselves in scoring position a bit more against the Patriots to get Elliott some more reps in 2026. After a strong start in training camp, Elliott reportedly missed a few field goals during the team’s joint practices. Elliott needs more live, in-game opportunities in the preseason.

What’s the Plan at Returner?

One of Philadelphia’s struggles that slipped under the radar in 2025 was the team’s inconsistency in the return game. The Eagles need to find more viable solutions in that area this time around and it would help if someone emerged during the preseason. Erik Ezukanma showed some juice during Philadelphia’s preseason opener, yet he needs to do more to push for a roster spot. Elijah Moore, Britain Covey, Darius Cooper and recently signed cornerback Isaiah Bolden are players that I’ll be watching at returner in Foxborough. Given Philadelphia’s inconsistent cornerback depth, Bolden is someone to keep an eye on if he can also show anything as a returner.