The buzz is back. NFL fans have waited all summer for live football, but as Week 1 of the 2025 preseason kicks off Thursday night, the bigger question isn’t about wins or losses. It’s who actually takes the field. Will stars like Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley show up, or is this game all about the next man up? If you think these preseason matchups are predictable, think again, because both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Cincinnati Bengals are about to show fans why you always tune in, even in August.
Who Will Play for the Philadelphia Eagles Against the Cincinnati Bengals in the Preseason Opener?
Fans from both the Eagles and the Bengals are itching to see action as their teams kick off preseason on Thursday night. In most cases, though, preseason games are less about seeing your favorite stars and more about evaluating the guys battling for roster spots. With only so many jobs available on the 53-man roster, these games often decide who stays and who goes.
Devonta Smith — top-tier body control 🤌pic.twitter.com/j4Y6bhzPx4
— SleeperEagles (@SleeperEagles) August 5, 2025
Heading into Thursday, there’s already a split in approach between the two clubs. Reports say Bengals head coach Zac Taylor plans to give many of his starters some reps. Meanwhile, Philadelphia fans are left guessing about Nick Sirianni’s plans. The big question: Will star quarterback Jalen Hurts or running back Saquon Barkley hit the field even for a series?
Earlier this week, Sirianni dodged a direct answer when asked about his plan for the opener. His vague response has NFL insiders thinking that if any Eagles starters do play, their night will end early. Guys like Hurts, Barkley, DeVonta Smith, and Landon Dickerson have plenty of game experience together. Most recently, that chemistry paid off in a big way at the end of the 2024 campaign, when they rolled past the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59.
What Are the Key Position Battles to Watch for the Eagles?
With the starters likely seeing limited action, the real drama is deeper on the depth chart. According to NBC Sports, several Eagles players are worth watching Thursday night as their preseason opener unfolds.
Backup quarterback is one area to monitor. Jalen Hurts is firmly entrenched as the starter, with Tanner McKee, a 2023 sixth-round pick, locked in as the backup. But the QB3 spot? That’s still up for grabs. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, a former Cleveland Brown, appears to have the upper hand in camp, but Kyle McCord made some noise during his time at Syracuse and now has fans hoping he can edge ahead for the final quarterback roster spot.
At running back, all eyes are on Will Shipley, Philadelphia’s 2024 draft pick. He mostly played behind Saquon Barkley and Kenneth Gainwell last year, but with Gainwell gone, Shipley hopes this preseason will let him show what he can do.
Receiver is another hotly contested depth race. The Eagles have a solid top three with Smith, A.J. Brown, and Jahan Dotson. However, a hamstring injury has kept Brown sidelined, opening the door for depth guys to show out.
Elijah Cooks, undrafted in 2023, has impressed in camp with a series of big catches and quickly turned into one of the feel-good stories of the summer. On the other side, Darius Cooper, an undrafted rookie in 2025, may not have generated as much noise as Cooks, but he’s making the most of his opportunities in practice, quietly building his case for a roster spot.
