Both first team units will see the field for a series or more depending on how the initial showing goes.
The Baltimore Ravens have already ruled out franchise quarterback and reigning league MVP Lamar Jackson for their preseason opener and four-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry for the entire exhibition slate of games. As for their first opponent, the Philadelphia Eagles are taking a different approach to ramping up for the 2024 regular season.
According to a report from Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Eagles intend to play their starters on both sides of the ball for a series against the Ravens on Friday night at M&T Bank Stadium per team sources.
#Eagles plan is to play their starters for a series in tonight’s preseason opener at the Ravens, team sources said.
Could be more depending upon how the series goes.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) August 9, 2024
If Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and his staff aren’t satisfied with the opening series by either or both units, they could see a little more action early on in the game. While some teams opt not to play key starters or any player of significant consequence outside of rookies in the preseason in recent years, there are still those who want to give their veterans and other proven players their first taste of live action before the regular season rolls around.
Philadelphia has new coordinators on offense and defense for the second year in a row after both play-callers from last year flopped in their attempt to replace Shane Steichen and Jonathan Gannon who went on to become the head coaches of the Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals, respectively. Replacing their replacements will be renowned defensive minds Vic Fangio and Kellen Moore who is viewed as one of the bright young offensive coaches in the game.
The Eagles have a lot of new pieces on the team that they will want to get a look at and further integrate into the fabric of their respective units. On offense, they signed two-time Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley away from their division rival New York Giants and third-year pro Cam Jurgens has the daunting task of following in the gigantic footsteps of future first-ballot Hall of Fame center Jason Kelce who retired this offseason.
Defensively, they have some talented young rookie defensive backs—Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean—they’d like to get acclimated and some young former first-round defensive linemen—Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter—who need to work on their conditioning after fading down the stretch last season.
As for the Ravens, this is actually great and probably welcomed news for head coach John Harbaugh and his staff because it means young players who they will be counting on to step into larger roles and starting jobs in 2024 will get to compete against the best their opponent has to offer for at least a series or more. It will be especially beneficial for youngsters such as second-year inside linebacker Trenton Simpson who is replacing 2023 Pro Bowler and second team All Pro selection Patrick Queen in the starting lineup as well as the young offensive linemen vying to fill one of three vacancies on the starting blocking unit.