Bengals, Eagles sit starters for preseason finale

Sunday’s 53-man cutdown raises the stakes for reserves

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 281 min read

What happened: Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee remain in Philadelphia’s QB2 competition behind Jalen Hurts, while Cole Payton has also earned preseason work. Cincinnati turns to Josh Johnson and Sean Clifford for Friday’s 8 p.m. ET kickoff at Lincoln Financial Field.

Why it matters: The finale is the last game evaluation before both clubs reduce their rosters to 53 players Sunday. Philadelphia also has a backup-quarterback decision to make entering the regular season.

By the numbers: McKee completed 16 of 22 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns in his previous outing. Cincinnati scored 27 points against the Chicago Bears last week, while Philadelphia allowed 24 points in each of its first two preseason games.

What to watch: Watch how Dalton and McKee split the quarterback snaps and which reserves earn extended work before Sunday’s cuts.

Sources

Yahoo MLB 2026-08-28T21:43:50.253265+00:00

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NFLPreviewCincinnati BengalsPhiladelphia EaglesChicago BearsAndy DaltonCole Payton

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