The Philadelphia Eagles are set to report to training camp on Wednesday to start their journey towards another Super Bowl championship. The Birds are full of star power, but like every championship team before them, it’s the under the radar guys that will help get them over the edge.
With training camp just days away, here are four under the radar players to watch.
Marken Michel
The brother of Patriots RB Sony Michel, Marken, a former CFL player, managed to make an impression during OTAs with a handful of impressive downfield catches. Michel got some work with the first team and has had pretty good chemistry with quarterback Carson Wentz. Michel has an uphill battle to climb, as the Eagles are loaded at wide receiver with Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson, Nelson Agholor and rookie J.J. Arcega-Whiteside having already established a pecking order. Michel will have to outduel Mack Hollins, Shelton Gibson, and Charles Johnson for a spot if the Eagles choose to keep six wide receivers, as well as Braxton Miller and Greg Ward, who has been in Eagles training camp the last two seasons.
Boston Scott, RB
the player once deemed a possible replacement for Darren Sproles, will now battle his idol for a roster spot. Scott, a sixth-round pick by New Orleans in 2018, has long odds to make the 53-man roster, but his value in the return game during minicamp helped those odds.
Clayton Thorson, QB
With Nick Foles now the man in Jacksonville and Carson Wentz’s injury history, the Eagles backup quarterback situation will be one to watch during training camp. Despite all the love for Nate Sudfeld, the Eagles still thought enough of Thorson, to make him the teams fifth-round pick in the NFL Draft. Thorson has solid arm strength, intangibles, good pocket presence, size and the ability to be tough in the pocket. With Sudfeld hoping to play his way into a contract next spring, Thorson could be playing for the Eagles backup quarterback job of the future.
Jordan Mailata, T
With Andre Dillard in the fold as a first-round pick at left tackle, Mailata was quietly moved from left tackle to right tackle this spring. Is the experiment over for the Australian sensation? That remains to be seen. Mailata will have to prove that he has some NFL potential that can translate to game action at some point.
