Philadelphia Eagles: Devonta Smith has solid debut versus the Patriots

Devonta Smith had a couple hiccups in his preseason debut, but played overall solid for the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Philadelphia Eagles got shut out in their second preseason game against the New England Patriots, losing 35-0. It wasn’t all doom and gloom, as fans and analysts got to see the first live NFL reps for rookie WR Devonta Smith.

Smith, the 10th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, dealt with a minor injury that kept him out of the first preseason bout with the Steelers, but was all systems go on Thursday night. Unfortunately, Jalen Hurts was ruled inactive with an illness, and fans wouldn’t get to see the duo reunite on the field.

Smith took the entirety of first half reps with backup quarterback Joe Flacco. The results were a bit tough at the start, with Smith dropping a pass over the middle from Flacco to start his night. Smith gained separation quickly with a good shuffle release and a crisp move at the top of his stem, but the throw was a little late and contact jarred the ball loose. Smith’s second target was via a back shoulder throw, and his adjustment was a fraction too late, resulting in another drop.

Smith got things going with a good catch short over the middle, using another good shuffle release and great hand usage to clear contact in his stem. He made a nice move to round things out and nearly gain a first down after the catch. His night finished with just two receptions for 19 total yards.

Despite those two catches and a couple drops, it was still a very good outing for Devonta Smith. He showcased his ability to create initial separation with ease all evening long, and would’ve potentially had a big play with his first target without the late throw. Working on timing with back shoulder fades will take time, but with Smith’s skills, he will get the hang of things. Nerves probably played a factor as well, but the game won’t be too big for Smith going forward. Building reps with Hurts next week will be a good confidence boost for both heading into the Philadelphia Eagles regular season, and Smith has nothing to worry about. His natural skills as a route runner make him NFL-ready.