11 Eagles players to watch vs Bengals. Can these 2 WRs turn bad rookie seasons around?

PHILADELPHIA − Nick Sirianni didn't make it official, but we'll start with the premise that the Eagles' starters on offense won't play in the preseason opener Aug. 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

That has been the Eagles' pattern beginning in the 2023 season, when Sirianni has put his starters in proverbial bubble wrap for all three preseason games, preferring not to risk injury versus some early-season rust.

It's hard to argue with the results as the Eagles won the Super Bowl last season. So don't expect to see Jalen Hurts or Saquon Barkley on offense.

It's also hard to argue with the opportunity to evaluate several young players and veterans vying for spots on the 53-man roster, or even the practice squad.

That includes second-year wide receivers Ainias Smith and Johnny Wilson, the Eagles' fifth- and sixth-round picks in 2024.

They are among 11 players I'll be watching when the Eagles face the Bengals.

Johnny Wilson and Ainias Smith, wide receivers

Smith and Wilson were already among those getting a golden opportunity in practice with A.J. Brown missing the last five days of practice with a hamstring injury, and with DeVonta Smith missing about a week with a back injury before that.

It has given Ainias Smith and Wilson plenty of reps with the first team offense, something they barely got last season. It showed as both had trying rookie seasons.

"Last year, I was put in a couple of positions that I didn’t have a lot of experience in," Wilson said. "And that was the main thing, just working in the offseason trying to get more experience in the slot, more experience on the outside, and doing different route combinations and blocking techniques, and trying to overall be well-rounded."

Wilson, who's 6-foot-6, 228 pounds, had never played in the slot at Florida State. And he wasn't used as a blocking wide receiver, either.

"I think it's probably underestimated how much Johnny did for us last year on that field," Sirianni said. "One of our better special teams players, a guy that was very powerful (as a blocker) at the point of attack on the number one rushing team."

Ainias Smith has shown much more confidence, too. And he could get the chance to prove it as a punt returner, something he specialized in at Texas A&M, but wasn't trusted there last season. At the very least, getting first-team reps has helped both.

"I think it’s good for them to go against guys like (cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean) and all those guys," DeVonta Smith said. "And also for them to get with (quarterback) Jalen (Hurts), and get with how he calls plays and things like that, and the rhythm that he goes through things.

"You never know what may happen in the season. You might get called up to be in those situations."

Cooper DeJean, safety

Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio didn't rule out using DeJean at safety against the Bengals. The Eagles have used him there in base defense during training camp, to rave reviews. But Fangio also said that the offense hasn't given the defense many opportunities in base because it has often used three wide receivers, thus putting DeJean at nickel.

This would be a good opportunity to see DeJean at safety in some situations, in large part because the Bengals are expected to play their starters, head coach Zac Taylor told reporters. That includes quarterback Joe Burrow and star receiver Ja'Marr Chase.

Jihaad Campbell, linebacker

The Eagles' first-round pick has looked impressive in camp, both at linebacker and the few chances he has gotten at edge rusher. But Campbell has shown some, ahem, over-aggressiveness, with hard hits on players like tight end Dallas Goedert and fullback Ben VanSumeren. There would be no such limitations in a real game, of course.

Sydney Brown, safety

It's highly unlikely that Reed Blankenship will play, and Fangio essentially ruled out second-round pick Drew Mukuba, who's competing with Brown for the starting spot. Mukuba, out nearly a week with a shoulder injury, only returned to team drills on Aug. 5. So Brown, entering his third season, has an early chance to win the job.

Elijah Cooks, wide receiver

Cooks has so far lived up to his "make a play a day" mantra. But that's in practice. The Eagles would love to see it in a game, especially if Cooks is going to challenge Wilson and/or Ainias Smith for a roster spot.

Kenyon Green, guard

Green has had an awful training camp so far. The Texans' first-round pick in 2022, Green came to the Eagles in the C.J. Gardner-Johnson trade and was expected to compete with Steen for the right guard job. Instead, Green has been exclusively at left guard, often on the third team. If Green is going to make the 53-man roster, he needs to step it up.

Joshua Uche and Azeez Ojulari, edge rushers

Both veterans signed one-year prove-it deals with the Eagles last spring to fit in the rotation with Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt. Uche so far has looked better than Ojulari. This will be the first chance to see them in an Eagles uniform.

Ty Robinson, defensive tackle

You can assume that Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, and quite possibly Moro Ojomo, won't suit up against the Bengals. That would give the Eagles a long look at Robinson, their fourth-round pick, who has played well with the second and third units, especially when it comes to deflecting passes.

Celebrate the Eagles' Super Bowl win with our new book

Kyle McCord, quarterback

Tanner McKee, firmly entrenched as Hurts' backup, should get most or all of the first half. Then it'll be time for the two QBs battling for the No. 3 job in Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Kyle McCord.

McCord was the Eagles' sixth-round pick, and he grew up nearby in South Jersey going to Eagles games. No doubt, he'll have a big contingent of family and friends on hand. The preseason games will be big for both quarterbacks.

ShunDerrick Powell, running back

It's assumed that Barkley, AJ Dillon and Will Shipley are locks as the top three running backs. But can Powell or another undrafted rookie, Montrell Johnson, could convince the Eagles to keep a fourth running back. The preseason games will be the true test for them.

Contact Martin Frank at [email protected]. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a new hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: 11 Eagles players to watch vs Cincinnati Bengals in preseason Week 1