Injuries Plague Eagles in Preseason Tie With Browns

The Eagles sparred with the Cleveland Browns on Thursday evening at Lincoln Financial Field and ended with an 18-18 tie.

The principal goal of the preseason for a player would be to stay healthy, but the Eagles sustained four injuries to players during the game. Injuries to WR Tyrie Cleveland and DT Moro Oromo were serious enough that they had to be carted off on stretchers. Also sustaining injuries were LB Nolan Smith and WR Olamide Zacchaeus. Neither returned to the game.

According to Reuben Frank of NBC Sports Philadelphia, Cleveland retained movement in all of his extremities as of the end of the game. No news was yet available regarding Oromo’s injury.

The game featured Marcus Mariota and Tanner McKee at quarterback, with each getting a half of the game. Of the two, McKee seemed to impress more. McKee was 10 for 18 in pass attempts for 147 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Mariota was 9 for 17 in pass attempts for 86 yards and an interception. Neither quarterback seemed particularly stellar, but McKee’s passes seemed to be in better places for his receivers to grab them and they simply could not reel them in.

The Browns started their first drive by marching down the field before Nakobe Dean forced a fumble that was recovered by K’Von Wallace at the Eagles’ two yard line. The Eagles took over there, but after Mariota threw an incomplete pass to Grant Calcaterra, Kenneth Gainwell couldn’t get out of the end zone and the Eagles surrendered a safety.

During the first half, the Eagles lost the first down and time of possession battles. The Eagles got just five first downs compared to the Browns’ ten, and the Browns held the football for over 21 minutes in the first half compared to the Eagles’ eight. In the second half, the time of possession was a lot closer, with the Browns still winning the battle by holding the ball for nearly 17 minutes. Each team had 11 first downs in the second half.

The second half was also when the Eagles scored their two touchdowns of the game. McKee handed the ball off to Trey Sermon who ran the ball 33 yards on a great read and lane opening for a touchdown on the opening drive of the third quarter. Late in the fourth quarter, McKee connected with TE Brady Russell for the other touchdown.

Of the running back corps, only D’Andre Swift did not participate in the game. All other running backs contributed to the game.

To be fair to Mariota, he always seemed to be under pressure as the Eagles’ second team offensive line couldn’t fend off the Browns’ defense,

The Eagles defense generally impressed all night, though tackling needed some work on certain plays. In addition to Dean’s forced fumble recovered by K’Von Wallace, Sydney Brown hustled to strip Austin Watkins of his touchdown. Overall, the defense shone during the game today, and this tracked with practice reports.

Birds Nest Media spot checked two of Ty Zentner’s punts for unofficial hang time. The first was 4.74 seconds of hang time while the second was 4.95 seconds. Arryn Siposs didn’t punt at all during the game.

The Eagles have a day off tomorrow before practicing on Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday in anticipation of Thursday’s preseason game versus the Indianapolis Colts.