The NFL season kicks off soon and the Philadelphia Eagles look to have a much improved season. It was a rough campaign for this franchise last year, but the team seems optimistic. It helps they participate in a weak NFC East division, which is a wide-open race for a spot in the playoffs.
To do that, the Eagles will need the best roster possible. There aren't too many bright spots though, as the offensive line is susceptible and the defense is quite mediocre. Even so, there is some healthy competition going on in the wide receiver room and the backfield, which gives the franchise some hope.
However, there are two players on the roster that need to perform at a high level to keep their roles. Both of them are on the offense, so it'll be interesting to see how it plays out throughout the regular season. With that said, here are two Eagles' first-stringers in danger of losing their starting jobs.
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Eagles first-stringers to watch
Greg Ward
It seems like the third wide receiver spot was destined to belong to Greg Ward. However, Quez Watkins burst onto the scene after stepping up his game. In fact, Ward has been rather quiet throughout training camp and the preseason, whereas Watkins continues to flash his talents at a consistent rate.
Greg Ward is currently listed as one of the starting wide receivers. However, based on what we've seen, Quez Watkins should be winning that job outright. He's been fantastic so far and gives the Eagles a nice look in three-receiver sets. This should be an easy decision for Nick Sirianni and the coaching staff, as Greg Ward has nearly disappeared.
Even so, Ward should be the fourth or fifth receiver on the depth chart and could be involved on special teams. Many believed Ward was the favorite to win a starting role, but Watkins surprised everyone with his spectacular play.
Jalen Hurts
Jalen Hurts will be the starting quarterback to start the year. However, the Eagles' front office traded with the Jacksonville Jaguars for Gardner Minshew on Saturday. He serves as a much better backup quarterback, which means Joe Flacco could be a victim of the chopping block when the team finalizes the roster.
This trade raises the question, how short is Hurts' leash as the starting quarterback? The coaching staff has continuously shown they don't necessarily trust Jalen Hurts to be the starter, even though he looked solid with his opportunities so far. On the other hand, Gardner Minshew has been a solid quarterback during his time with the Jaguars. He has a great touchdown-interception ratio and is a capable quarterback under center.
We'll see how it plays out, but there is a real chance Minshew sees some playing time this year. The coaching staff isn't sold on Hurts' abilities which is why they brought in a solid depth piece. This is a situation to keep an eye on, as the Eagles could be in for yet another quarterback change.
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