The Ravens continued their preseason success with a 26-15 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in a lightning-shortened outing at Lincoln Financial Field.
Here's a deeper look at how the game affected the stock of several players ahead of next week's cutdown to the 53-man roster:
QB Trace McSorley
The rookie got extended action because the Ravens decided to give starter Lamar Jackson the night off. McSorley took reps with the first-team offense for the first time this preseason, and he made the most of his opportunity. He threw a beautiful 28-yard touchdown pass to Michael Floyd in the second quarter where he hit the veteran receiver perfectly in stride for the score. He then orchestrated another touchdown drive right before halftime, capping it off with a scoring strike to wide receiver Jaleel Scott. McSorley also showed some toughness and versatility with a 4-yard touchdown run earlier in the game where he didn't shy away from contact with a trio of Eagles defenders. The outing was McSorley's best of the preseason, and he finished the night 19-of-28 passing for 203 yards and two scores. As the Ravens have to make a decision about whether to keep three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, the sixth-round pick helped his cause on Thursday.
WR Marquise "Hollywood" Brown
The Ravens finally unveiled their shiny new toy. After spending the last eight months working his way back from a Lisfranc injury, Brown took the field for his first NFL action. The Ravens didn't waste any time getting him involved, as the first offensive play was a 7-yard out route clearly designed to go to Brown. The speedy rookie finished with three catches for 17 yards, and he also caught a two-point conversion that got wiped out by a penalty. Brown didn't look hobbled by the foot or intimidated by the NFL stage, and getting him back in the lineup bodes well going into the regular season.
WR Jaleel Scott
The second-year wideout is on the roster bubble, but he showed just how dangerous he can be in the red-zone with a touchdown right before halftime. Scott scored on a 7-yard fade route when he jumped over the defensive back to pluck the ball out of the air. The Ravens would love to see the 6-foot-5 target emerge as a viable target in the red-zone, and Thursday's touchdown was an example of what he can do in that area of the field. Scott finished the game with two catches for 11 yards, which may be enough to get him on the active roster.
WR Michael Floyd
A player competing with Scott for a roster spot is the veteran Floyd. He also had a strong outing against the Eagles and caught three passes for 54 yards, including the 28-yard score from McSorley. Floyd stacked and beat the defender on the play and then ran under the pretty pass from McSorley. Floyd is a former first-round pick with eight years of NFL experience and 25 touchdowns under his belt, and plays like that touchdown show he still has gas left in the tank.
WR Miles Boykin
The rookie third-round pick had the longest play of the night with a 44-yard catch-and-run from McSorley. He caught the pass along the sideline and then turned upfield with a nice burst after the catch. It was exactly the kind of play the Ravens envision the talented Boykin adding to this offense. The downside of Boykin's night was when he dropped a first-down catch later in the game. The dropped pass was slightly underthrown by McSorley, but it was still a play Boykin expects to make. Boykin has major potential, and the next step in his development is becoming more consistent.
OLB Tyus Bowser
The Ravens are looking for players to step up in the pass-rush department, and Bowser came up with a sack early in the game on quarterback Josh McCown. The former second-round pick forced his way into Philadelphia's backfield on several occasions and collected a pair of tackles for loss to go along with the sack. He also forced a holding call in the third quarter with a powerful pass rush. Head Coach John Harbaugh praised Bowser after the game and the good showing Thursday night could help him as the Ravens trim down the roster.
RB/RS Tyler Ervin
The fourth-year running back entered training camp as a long-shot in a crowded backfield, but his ability as a returner makes him an intriguing roster candidate. The Ravens gave him opportunities at punt returner, and he did spring one return for a 21-yard gain. Ervin is competing with defensive back Cyrus Jones for the punt returner job, but Jones seems to have the edge given his success last year and role on the defense. Ervin would likely need a big showing in the preseason finale to unseat him from that role.
OLB Shane Ray
The former first-round pick by the Denver Broncos came to Baltimore this offseason hoping to resurrect his career. He played deep into the second half and had a quiet night against the Eagles, unable to come up with any sacks. Ray has a half sack in the three preseason games. He is competing with Bowser and Tim Williams for roster spots and playing time, and that could be one of the most difficult decisions come cutdown day.
