After a spirited joint practice on Tuesday, the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots are set to clash in their second preseason game at Gillette Stadium on Thursday night. As the Eagles continue to fine-tune their roster, here are two players from Philadelphia to keep an eye on:
WR Britain Covey
The Eagles have been on the hunt for a reliable No. 3 receiver since Nick Sirianni took the helm as head coach in 2021. With past attempts to fill the position through players like Julio Jones, Quez Watkins, and Olamide Zaccheaus not panning out, the team remains exposed behind their star duo, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Covey, known for his quickness and agility, has the opportunity to make a strong case for himself as a valuable depth option in the receiving corps. His performance in the upcoming game could be pivotal in securing a spot on the roster and providing the Eagles with the depth they need at the wide receiver position.
New addition Parris Campbell initially looked like the frontrunner for the No. 3 receiver spot, but a groin issue has limited his participation in camp. This has opened the door for Britain Covey to step up. Covey made the most of his opportunities against the Ravens last Friday, catching all four of his team-high targets for 25 yards. According to Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com, Covey was on the field for 38 snaps, the third-most among Eagles wide receivers.
Though Covey has just four catches for 42 yards in his two seasons with the team, he led the league with 417 yards on punt returns last season. His recent performances suggest he could be making a strong case to become the Eagles’ third receiver, adding valuable depth and versatility to the lineup.
### WR Britain Covey
According to multiple reports, Britain Covey has been sharing most of the WR3 reps with rookie Johnny Wilson during Tuesday’s joint practice, and he has been catching everything thrown his way in camp. Last week, Covey showcased his playmaking ability by beating teammate Avonte Maddox for a long completion in practice. On Tuesday, he impressed again, using a stutter step to blow past Patriots cornerback Isaiah Bolden, as reported by Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
### LB Nakobe Dean
Nakobe Dean is another player to watch closely. On Philadelphia’s unofficial depth chart, Dean is listed alongside Zack Baun, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., and Devin White as starting linebackers. However, in Tuesday’s practice, Dean was given first-team reps right from the start.
Previously, White and Baun were the ones who typically began practices with the first team. Dean’s inclusion in the first-team reps alongside Baun later in practice highlights the strides he’s making under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
Dean’s rookie season was challenging—he played only 3 percent of the team’s defensive snaps in 2022 and missed 12 games due to an ankle injury. However, on Tuesday, he made an impact by reaching Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett on a blitz and breaking up a pass intended for tight end Austin Hooper in the end zone, which allowed Baun to intercept the ball.
The Eagles had high expectations for Dean when they drafted him in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. While his journey has been tough so far, a strong showing in Thursday night’s game could solidify his place in the starting lineup and help him fulfill the potential that made him a Butkus Award winner in college.
### WR Britain Covey
According to multiple reports, Britain Covey has been sharing most of the WR3 reps with rookie Johnny Wilson during Tuesday’s joint practice, and he has been catching everything thrown his way in camp. Last week, Covey showcased his playmaking ability by beating teammate Avonte Maddox for a long completion in practice. On Tuesday, he impressed again, using a stutter step to blow past Patriots cornerback Isaiah Bolden, as reported by Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
### LB Nakobe Dean
Nakobe Dean is another player to watch closely. On Philadelphia’s unofficial depth chart, Dean is listed alongside Zack Baun, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., and Devin White as starting linebackers. However, in Tuesday’s practice, Dean was given first-team reps right from the start.
Previously, White and Baun were the ones who typically began practices with the first team. Dean’s inclusion in the first-team reps alongside Baun later in practice highlights the strides he’s making under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
Dean’s rookie season was challenging—he played only 3 percent of the team’s defensive snaps in 2022 and missed 12 games due to an ankle injury. However, on Tuesday, he made an impact by reaching Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett on a blitz and breaking up a pass intended for tight end Austin Hooper in the end zone, which allowed Baun to intercept the ball.
The Eagles had high expectations for Dean when they drafted him in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. While his journey has been tough so far, a strong showing in Thursday night’s game could solidify his place in the starting lineup and help him fulfill the potential that made him a Butkus Award winner in college.
### WR Britain Covey
According to multiple reports, Britain Covey has been sharing most of the WR3 reps with rookie Johnny Wilson during Tuesday’s joint practice, and he has been catching everything thrown his way in camp. Last week, Covey showcased his playmaking ability by beating teammate Avonte Maddox for a long completion in practice. On Tuesday, he impressed again, using a stutter step to blow past Patriots cornerback Isaiah Bolden, as reported by Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
### LB Nakobe Dean
Nakobe Dean is another player to watch closely. On Philadelphia’s unofficial depth chart, Dean is listed alongside Zack Baun, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., and Devin White as starting linebackers. However, in Tuesday’s practice, Dean was given first-team reps right from the start.
Previously, White and Baun were the ones who typically began practices with the first team. Dean’s inclusion in the first-team reps alongside Baun later in practice highlights the strides he’s making under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
Dean’s rookie season was challenging—he played only 3 percent of the team’s defensive snaps in 2022 and missed 12 games due to an ankle injury. However, on Tuesday, he made an impact by reaching Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett on a blitz and breaking up a pass intended for tight end Austin Hooper in the end zone, which allowed Baun to intercept the ball.
The Eagles had high expectations for Dean when they drafted him in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. While his journey has been tough so far, a strong showing in Thursday night’s game could solidify his place in the starting lineup and help him fulfill the potential that made him a Butkus Award winner in college.
