Encouraging signs from Philadelphia’s 2019 NFL Draft class.

" />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesBleeding Green Nation homepageHorizontal - WhiteBleeding Green Nationa Philadelphia Eagles communityFollow Bleeding Green Nation online:Follow Bleeding Green Nation on TwitterFollow Bleeding Green Nation on FacebookLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchBleeding Green Nation main menuFanpostsFanshotsEaglesOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Eagles StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Eagles NewsYahoo Eagles Team PageYahoo Eagles ReportYahoo Eagles Depth ChartYahoo Eagles TransactionsYahoo Eagles PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕Eagles preseason rookie report: Clayton Thorson rebounds http://www.eagleslockerroom.com/authentic-fletcher-cox-jersey , Miles Sanders flashesNew,74commentsEncouraging signs from Philadelphia’s 2019 NFL Draft class.EDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:Eagles preseason rookie report: Clayton Thorson rebounds, Miles Sanders flashesTwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailPhoto by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesWelcome to the Eagles rookie report — a weekly check in on Philadelphia’s young talents.Clayton ThorsonA week after Clayton Thorson turned in a forgettable NFL debut, the 2019 fifth-round pick rebounded in the exact way you’d want a rookie quarterback to do so. After Cody Kessler left the Jaguars game early with a concussion, Thorson was forced into playing the rest of the night.Thorson responded with an unspectacular performance, which is actually a good thing! He looked calm, decisive and accurate. His touchdown pass was a bit of a lob, but it came on fourth down against a blitz, so you gotta love the kid’s chutzpah. For him to follow up a 0.0 passer rating game with what he did last night should give the staff confidence in him as a developmental starter. Whether he’s ready to be the number two quarterback is still very much up in the air as Cody Kessler and Nate Sudfeld recover from their injuries. The long game with Thorson, at this point Womens Jake Elliott Jersey , has a glimmer of hope on the horizon.Andre DillardAndre Dillard had another night with few mistakes. Folks tried laying blame on Dillard for the hit that took Kessler out of the fame, but Dillard was clearly doing his job by squeezing down to block a blitzing linebacker. Dillard continues to be solid while impressing with his physical tools.Miles SandersDillard took part in a collective offensive line performance for the Eagles that paved the way for Miles Sanders and co. all game. Sanders had exciting 12 and 16 yard runs where the line opened a huge gap for the rookie and Sanders shaked and baked his way down field. Albeit he had six carries, but Sanders showed off wiggle and some hard running. He looks like he’s on a different level than any other Eagles back.JJ Arcega-WhitesideJJ Arcega-Whiteside has been *okay* so far this preseason and is still clearly getting settled into NFL speed. What is notable is that Arcega-Whiteside has been targeted 11 times through two games, seven of those coming last night. It’s clear that the coaches and quarterbacks want to get him the ball, but he will need to start doing more with those opportunities.Shareef MillerOn the defensive side of the ball, Eagles newcomer and third year player Daeshon Hall is making a lot of noise and overshadowing quietly impressive rookie preseasons. Shareef Miller continues to show a lot of promise. He had another sack last night when he spun out of a block and brought down the quarterback! Miller continues looking quick off the ball and has played with an impressive motor. This is encouraging for a team looking for young outside pass rushing talent, but the question remains if he can overtake a Daeshon Hall for a roster spot. T.J. EdwardsAlso on the defensive side, undrafted free agent T.J. Edwards looked really solid last night. Edwards looked great coming downhill against the run. The team needs depth at linebacker and Edwards is playing himself into a roster spot....As the team heads into their “dress rehearsal” game next week, they have to be happy with how their raft class has performed so far. It will be notable as to which rookies are heavily featured with the starters for the upcoming preseason game. Chris Long retired Saturday night, signing off on a brilliant 11-year career (on and off the field) with a red cup and a sunset.But as you’d expect with a player so thoughtful Derek Barnett Jersey , it was far from an easy decision.The former Rams, Patriots, and Eagles defensive end told Peter King of NBC’s that the decision was “complicated.”“I learned to never make a decision based on just one thing,” Long said. “The decision to retire was complicated. It was based on health, which is still very good, and family, we have two small children, and football fit, which includes a chance to win and my role and geography.“Philadelphia is where I wanted to play a couple more years. I love Philadelphia. But as a player I learned the most important thing to me is Sunday, and having a chance to be a big part of it. It seemed like player-coach was kind of the role that was going to be carved out for me—maybe playing 10 http://www.eagleslockerroom.com/authentic-ronald-darby-jersey , 12, 15 plays a game. I’m a rhythm player. I need to set people up, I need to be in the flow of the game. If I sit on the bench for three series, I can’t get rhythm, and I’ll get cold and maybe I’ll hurt myself. Some people think that’s great—play less and you won’t get hurt. Man, I want to play ball. In Philadelphia, it didn’t seem there was much of a chance to compete there.“But they were honest with me the whole time. I appreciate the honesty. I’ll always love Philadelphia and the Eagles, but I didn’t want Week Four, Five, to come around and people think Womens Chris Long Jersey , Whoa, where’s Chris? Did Chris retire? I’d rather do it this way than just fade out. And I didn’t want to start over again across the country somewhere.”Long could have easily found another place to play, and another place that would have given him the expanded role he wanted. Instead, he chose to walk away, into what is doubtless going to be a retirement as productive as his football career was.