EAGLES PRESEASON ENDS WITH A THUD-BENGALS CLOBBER BIRDS 30-13

Eagles fourth-year quarterback Tanner McKee talks to reports after 30-13 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. McKee has not had a good camp. Photo by Al Thompson

It's hard to know what Eagles coaches were able to learn during the Eagles preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals Friday night.

The Birds (0-3) lost 30-13. Canton will not be calling for the game footage.

The quarterback position was not at its best with Tanner McKee playing into the third quarter going 12 of 22 for 55 yards and an interception (tipped ball). McKee was sacked twice.

Dameon Pierce did rush four times for 44 yards.

The backup offensive line continued to look organized, but the offense only managed to score three measly points in the first half.

The game was a complete dud until Andy Dalton entered the game in the third quarter. His play may have kept himself off the chopping block.

Will one drive save his job? The 16-year veteran sounded positive after the game.

“We did move the ball pretty,” Dalton said. “It was good to get a touchdown drive in there. There are some things we need to correct. But I felt comfortable out there. We did some good things. Obviously, we want to win these preseason games, but I think we had some positives.”

Dalton was not impressive in both preseason starts and did not spark optimism with his play during training camp practices.

But he did look sharp during his third-quarter 11-play, 71-yard drive that was capped off with a five-yard pass from Dalton to training camp hero Carson Steele.

Eagles quarterback Andy Dalton has not had a good camp and could only come up with one good drive in three preseason games. Photo by Terence Lewis.

“Every week we get more comfortable in the offense,” Dalton said. “I've been in an offense like this before. But each offense has its own nuances and different things.

“For me personally, with the offense as a whole, we've taken strides and gotten more comfortable with it every day.”

Steele, who scored the Eagles lone touchdown and led the Eagles preseason with 14 receptions for 136 yards and two scores, was asked if he did enough to make the 53-man roster.

“I do,” Steele said at his locker after the game. “Just being able to show my ability, catching passes out of the back field and not just being a running back, running the ball and stuff like that. I had great blocking up front...spreading things out, having great QB's, getting the play calls out, motion...stuff like that.”

Steele said he was disappointed in the preseason ending with zero victories.

“At the end of the day, you always want to win, preseason and all” said Steele, who rushed 21 times for 59 yards in the preseason. “There are other NFL teams watching, but the Eagles took a chance on me. Hopefully I'll get my opportunity to show I can make a difference. If not, hopefully another team can pick me up and can go from there.”

The score at the half was 9-3. While the Birds did not score much, the offensive line looked stable.

Second year interior lineman Jake Majors, who was a standout center for Texas, said he felt positive after the game.

Eagles second-year center/guard Jake Majors says he believes he has shown enough to land a roster spot. Photo by Terence Lewis.

“Obviously the game of football starts up front,” Majors said at his locker after the game. “So, being able to set the foundation for the offense. I thought the game was good. I'm proud of the guys that went out there and gave their all.

“I'm just blessed to be part of this group. To be able to play this game of football with these veterans and guys that I've met. It was a good game.”

Does he feel he put enough on film to gain a spot on the 53-man roster?

“I believe so,” Majors said. “I'm very confident in myself. There is no such thing as a perfect player. Again, I am very grateful to a be a part of this organization. It's in the good Lord's hands. I've done my part.”

McKee has not had a great camp and has been up an down during preseason games, was keeping a positive approach. He said he's used to competition.

“I'm growing every day, the competition's been great,” McKee said at his locker after the game. “I feel like every year you're competing with somebody for your spot, you're competing to prove you belong.

“Especially for me being a sixth-round draft pick, it was not automatic I was going to make the team. So, each year you are trying to prove yourself

Eagles rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon, a first-round selection out of USC, struggled as a receiver and as a punt returner in his first preseason game against the Bengals. Photo by Terence Lewis.

ROOKIE RECEIVER OFF TO A TOUGH START

Rookie first round pick wide receiver Makai Lemon finally made it into a preseason game.

It was underwhelming to say the least.

The former USC standout caught three passes for three yards in his preseason debut.

McKee throw a ball to Lemon over the middle in the first half that was a little behind him but catch-able.

Lemon miss-timed the ball and tipped to a defender for an interception.

His punt return debut wasn't much better.

Lemon want back for a punt return 1:29 left in the third. “Poison” is word that could have helped the rookie on the play.

Initially Lemon saw the punt was not catch-able and signaled to his teammates which side of the field the ball was headed.

But when the ball hit the ground, it did what footballs do sometimes. It took a weird bounce and was suddenly headed Lemon's way.

Instead of just getting out of the way, Lemon tried to field the ball even with several Bengals special teamers baring down on him.

Lemon mishandled the ball and struggled to get control. Luckily the former USC standout did get control before he was tackled.

Head coach Nick Sirianni talked about Lemon's lemon of a debut.

“Few opportunities, but we'll look at it, and there's going to be ups and downs for every player,” Sirianni said. “There's going to be good plays, bad plays. Obviously, he's going to want that catch back on third down to be able to hang onto that. Not cause a turnover that obviously led to points.

“We've seen some good things throughout his practices where we are feeling good about his development. He's got to continue to develop, a young player and we know we're going to be able to count on him this year.”

Note: Safety Andre' Sam was shaken up on a play with 2:26 left in the third quarter. He was down for a few minutes but made his way with a little help to the cart that took him off the field and to further medical evaluation.

Before the injury, Sam was having a standout game, recovering two fumbles and making a strong push for a spot on the 53-man roster.

Sirianni on Sam after the game. The team has not given an update on Saturday.

“We'll see. I haven't talked to the doctors yet, but he was playing his butt off, that's for sure.”

Email Al Thompson at al.thompson@footballstories.com

Some information in this article is from www.footballdb.com.