Sudfeld gets little help, then gets hurt

PHILADELPHIA >> It was the start of the preseason, which was appropriately greeted with mutual yawns from season ticket holders and team sideline leaders alike.

While the fans didn’t turn out in droves for the Eagles’ 27-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans in the preseason opener at Lincoln Financial Field Thursday, coach Doug Pederson underscored the importance of the game by not allowing those fans who did attend to see many of the players they came to see.

At the top of the list, of course, was starting quarterback Carson Wentz, and judging by what would transpire on the field just before the first half came to an end, there could be a fair argument to keep Wentz off the field altogether in the remaining three preseason games.

Wentz’s top backup, Nate Sudfeld, suffered a possibly broken wrist with less than 30 seconds remaining in the half. This after Sudfeld had spent nearly 30 minutes of action looking like a very qualified NFL backup quarterback. Now that falls, at least for a while, on the shoulders of veteran Cody Kessler, the USC product who had some spotty appearances for Cleveland and Jacksonville the past three seasons.

In the second half against the Titans, Kessler’s best work came when he ran for his life. He managed to avoid injury, a real plus at this time of year.

Sudfeld is thus gone for an undetermined period of time. Cameras showed him dropping his helmeted head to the turf as he tested the wrist before rising and jogging off the field toward the injury tent. The unfortunate play came after Sudfeld almost went the distance in the first half, completing 10 of 18 passes for 177 yards. That included a 75-yard touchdown pass to Marken Michel, which helped pump Sudfeld’s rating up to 107.9.

He’ll have plenty of time to appreciate that slice of success while waiting out his pending rehab.

As for making any significant progress on drives, neither Kessler nor Sudfeld had a ton of help.

Except for a long field goal by Jake Elliott, the only significant contribution by an Eagles non-QB skill player came on Michel’s 75-yard catch and dash of Sudfeld’s perfectly placed pass for a touchdown with 11:24 left in the second quarter, giving the Birds a 10-7 lead at the time.

Michel, reportedly a pleasant surprise during OTAs and mini-camps, would easily lead the team in yards receiving with that one catch. Maybe it’ll be memorable for him, because as one of a dozen wide receivers still in camp, he has about as much chance to stick as one of those unknown Democratic presidential pretenders hoping to qualify for the next debate has to win.

Making sort of an impact at catching the ball was tight end Dallas Goedert, who had three catches for 50 yards in the half on five targets.

Running back Josh Adams caught all three balls in which he was targeted rumbling 18 yards in the process. Better than the three yards on three rushes he had.

JJ Arcega-Whiteside also was a popular Sudfeld target, and managed to catch two passes for 23 yards. If anything, what offensive progress the Eagles made was a testament to their depth at the wide receiver position, as to pass catchers DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor were all given the night off.

For safety reasons, if for nothing else.

As for the Eagles’ ground game, however, there wasn’t much going on there.

Top running backs Jordan Howard and Miles Sanders both played, but neither found much room to work their magic. Howard had three trips for seven yards, Sanders had three for only three yards. As for mandatory boxscore info... The Eagles got on the board first via Jake Elliott’s 53-yard field goal with 1:45 left in the first quarter, no small feat for a first preseason game. The Titans couldn’t cash in under starter Marcus Mariota, but did strike on a 1-yard pass from Ryan Tannehill to tight end MyCole Pruitt 11:44 before the half for a 6-3 lead.

Just 20 seconds later, on a second play from scrimmage, Sudfeld heaved one downfield and it fell into Michel’s arms and he easily carried it in for what became a 10-6 Birds lead. But Tannehill, the former Dolphins starter, hit tight end Anthony Firkser for a 23-yard score, then pass to Darius Jennings for a conversion that made it 14-10 Titans lead at the half.

By the intermission, however, all the Eagles would be worried about was their backup quarterback. No surprise since Wentz has retired from successful seasons for the Eagles early the past two Decembers.

With Kessler at the controls into the fourth quarter and rookie Clayton Thorson after that, the Eagles essentially went nowhere offensively in the second half. Their most productive player was running back Wendell Smallwood, who carried four times for all of 11 yards.

Meanwhile, third Titans quarterback Logan Woodside was having his way with a barely-there Birds defense, completing touchdown passes of 25 yards to receiver Cody Hollister, and 17 to Tanner McEvoy in the fourth quarter.

Thorson’s first pass completion went to Tennessee free safety JoJo Tillery, who intercepted the nicely overthrown pass to seal the meaningless game.

••• As for a partial list of top Eagles uninvited for this game...

For the offense, Wentz, receivers DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor and tight end Zach Ertz; offensive tackles Lane Johnson and Jason Peters and center Jason Kelce watched from afar.

For the defense safety Malcolm Jenkins was inactive, along with pass rushers Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox, who is still looking to return to camp from offseason foot surgery.

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Ross Tucker debuted Thursday night on the Eagles’ preseason TV network, teaming with-play-by-play announcer Scott Graham and Eagles Insider Dave Spadaro.

Unfortunately, the Wyomissing grad who played parts of four seasons in the NFL was nursing a case of laryngitis, which limited him to a loud whisper.

Fortunately, Tucker, an offensive lineman by trade, has three more games to compete at full strength.

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In the press box, just before the national anthem the Eagles offered up a shout out to media members who passed away, including Brian Freeman, who worked at the sports department of the Delaware County Daily Times.