There wasn't much to celebrate about the Philadelphia Eagles' preseason opener. Andy Dalton couldn't generate a first down during his three series. Tanner McKee moved the offense slightly better but failed to find the end zone.
The Eagles' first eight possessions produced just 76 yards. Philadelphia entered the fourth quarter trailing the Baltimore Ravens by a 17-0 margin.
Then Cole Payton got his chance. The fifth-round pick didn't completely solve the Eagles' offensive problems, but he did something neither of the quarterbacks ahead of him on the depth chart could accomplish Saturday night. He gave Philadelphia a spark. Payton completed four of nine passes for 37 yards and a touchdown, while adding 45 rushing yards on three attempts. His passing
numbers were hardly spectacular, but the rookie's mobility immediately changed the feel of the offense, even if the game was out of reach.
Cole Payton gave the Eagles something to build on.
Payton's most important contribution came on the Eagles' second-to-last possession. Payton repeatedly extended plays with his legs before eventually connecting with Erik Ezukanma on a 6-yard touchdown pass in the back corner of the end zone.
That drive accomplished something the previous three quarters couldn't. It put points on the scoreboard for the Eagles.
Payton also made arguably the most exciting offensive play of the night before the touchdown. Facing fourth-and-3, he tucked the ball and picked up 17 yards with his legs, keeping the possession alive and showing the improvisational ability that helped make him an intriguing prospect during his time with the North Dakota State Bison.
That doesn't mean Philadelphia suddenly has a quarterback controversy. It does mean Payton gave the coaching staff something to evaluate. Payton has provided some up-and-down moments in camp, but there's certainly something there if the Eagles want to invest in him.
Dalton's experience was the reason he received the first opportunity. The veteran has more than a decade of NFL starting experience and was given a chance to operate the offense before McKee took over. McKee, meanwhile, entered the preseason as the incumbent No. 2 after spending last season establishing himself as a developmental option the Eagles trusted. Neither separated himself. Payton did something different. He created something out of nothing.
That matters for a young quarterback who still has plenty to learn. Some of his plays came outside the structure of the offense, and there will be plenty on film for the Eagles to correct. A developmental quarterback can't simply rely on athleticism to survive against NFL defenses, but preseason football is also about identifying traits worth developing.
Payton showed mobility. He showed composure when the offense needed a spark. He extended a fourth-down play and then finished the only Eagles touchdown drive of the night. For a player making his first appearance in an NFL game, that's a meaningful beginning.
The Eagles still have time to sort out their quarterback hierarchy behind Jalen Hurts, and Payton remains the long shot in that competition. Still, after a night when the veterans struggled to generate much of anything, the rookie may have walked away with the performance that gave Philadelphia the most to think about.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Cole Payton gave the Eagles a spark in a difficult preseason opener
