Eagles rookie report card from the loss to the Buccaneers

The Eagles dropped to 2-4 Thursday night with an uninspiring game against Tampa Bay. With rough showings across the lineups, Philadelphia’s rookies either showed up poorly or barely at all.

DeVonta Smith: C

DeVonta Smith was a non-factor against Tampa Bay, but hardly by his own doing. After catch seven passes in each of the last two games, Smith was only targeted four times against the Buccaneers. Only two were caught. One catch was an impressive grab deep over the middle with defenders all around him, a flash of what Smith could mean to the Eagles offense. Besides that, Smith mostly was dealing with a lack of high quality targets. The passing offense never really got its bearings and it was to the detriment of an Eagles receiver trying to keep up his hot streak.

Landon Dickerson: D

Dickerson had another poor game against Tampa Bay. While it is easy for any offensive lineman to have a down performance against the Bucs defensive front, Dickerson looked overmatched for four quarters. Vita Vea and company truly gave him hell and the offense suffered for it.

This is the second game in a row where Dickerson’s play hurt the team. Hopefully a long week will help the rookie lineman get right.

Milton Williams: D

Despite a highlight where Milton Williams chased down Leonard Fournette, the rookie defensive lineman made very little noise against the Buccaneers. Williams failed to plug up against Tampa’s rushing attack and was a ghost on the rare opportunities he got to rush the passer.

Zech McPhearson: N/A

Besides some special teams snaps, McPhearson did not see the field nor did he have a meaningful impact on the game.

Kenneth Gainwell: D

For some reason, Kenneth Gainwell has been less and less featured in the Eagles offense. After a season low three touches against Carolina last week, Gainwell only had one touch on Thursday night. The rookie running back saw a target deep down the field in the passing game that he couldn’t capitalize on, but other than that he only saw one short pass the whole night. No carries at all. The Eagles’ play calling has been… mysterious ... to say the least. Gainwell somehow not having a role against Tampa Bay is a big head scratcher.

Marlon Tuipolotu: N/A

Healthy scratch.

Patrick Johnson: N/A

Another questionable personnel decision is Patrick Johnson’s diminishing role on defense. Johnson was playing solid football as a rotational outside linebacker but has been fully usurped by Genard Avery in that role.

Tarron Jackson: C

Tarron Jackson barely got on the field, but he did have a nice run stop on one of the few snaps he got. So, there’s that!

Jack Stoll: C

With Dallas Goedert out, Jack Stoll got the nod as the Eagles number two tight end. While his night was hardly flashy, Stoll was solid as a blocker on running downs and passing downs when they kept him in. Of all the lowlights tonight, Stoll’s play was not one of them.