The Philadelphia Eagles wrapped up their preseason schedule, falling 30-13 to the Cincinnati Bengals at Lincoln Financial Field.
Preseason Finale Score and Backup Quarterback Struggles
Veteran Josh Johnson threw for 156 yards in the first half, and Evan McPherson kicked a 56-yarder for one of his three field goals as the Cincinnati Bengals capped a perfect preseason with a 30-13 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday night, handing Philadelphia an 0-3 finish.
Neither team played its starters in the final tuneup for the regular season, but there were some roster spots up for grabs. The night’s primary competitive storyline centered on the backup quarterback battle behind Hurts. Tanner McKee struggled in the competition with Dalton to back up Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts, completing 12 of 22 passes for 55 yards with an interception in five ineffective first-half series. Andy Dalton took the snaps after halftime and looked better, completing 12 of 19 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown for the Eagles with a passer rating of 95.1.
Roster Stock Rises for Steele, Gushiken, and James-Newby
Running back Carson Steele continued his strong summer; this kid is fun to watch, and he didn’t hurdle anyone on Friday night but he has been one of the Eagles’ best offensive players in this preseason, continuing to be a great receiving threat out of the backfield with 24 rushing yards and 52 receiving yards and a touchdown. LB Smael Mondon Jr. got the start and made a great play in the first quarter to sniff out a screen pass and get a 6-yard tackle.
NFL teams need to cut down to the 53-man limit by 6 p.m. on Aug. 30, and the Eagles have until 6 p.m. on Sunday to get their roster down to 53 players. Bengals players on the fringe of the 53-man roster have one last chance to stake a claim to a roster spot when they face the Eagles in the final preseason game, and Cincinnati has big decisions to work through as a game against a reasonably deep Eagles team offers plenty of answers and information.
Makai Lemon and Rookie Adjustments Under the Lights
In their third and final preseason game, the Philadelphia Eagles’ backups didn’t look so good, but on the bright side, the preseason is over. Also struggling for Philadelphia was rookie first-round pick Makai Lemon. Heading into this game it felt a lot like Lemon would play a few series, be force-fed a few targets, and then be done for the night, and he did get five targets from McKee, making three catches for just three yards and a bad drop that led to an interception. Lemon also came into the game late in the third quarter for a punt return, and he muffed a shanked grounder, before recovering it and getting immediately tackled, leading to the assessment that while the Eagles were hoping for some more reassurance that they could start Lemon Week 1, they probably will anyway, but, yuck.
Fans gathered at Lincoln Financial Field for the Eagles’ last preseason game on Friday, bringing excitement for the upcoming regular season. Tailgaters celebrated with Eagles-themed food, face paint, and special occasions like birthdays and engagements, turning Lincoln Financial Field into a sea of green ahead of the team’s final preseason game. Supporters celebrated with themed outfits, food, and energetic chants as they looked ahead to the regular season set to begin in just over two weeks, lining up outside the stadium early and trading E A G L E S Eagles!
chants while parents helped kids apply face paint.
Next Steps Toward the Washington Commanders Opener
With the exhibition slate officially in the rear-view mirror, the organization faces an immediate personnel crunch as the Eagles close out training camp in 2026. As the team leaves the preseason feeling positive about their veteran offseason acquisition, Hollywood Brown, who picked up his performance as camp progressed and seems to have solidified his spot on the roster considering how he has looked to reporters throughout the final phase of camp mixed with his veteran experience, the squad is on the right track leading up to the regular season.
The next game counts, and the next game at the Linc will be the season opener against the Commanders on Sunday, Sept 13. Philadelphia opens the 2026 NFL regular season by hosting the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field, kicking off a campaign where the team looks ahead following the preseason finale against the Bengals.
Worth a look
