Eagles vs. Colts Preseason Preview: Reunion or Boxing Match?

The Philadelphia Eagles must reduce their roster to 53 players by Tuesday, but first they're hosting the Indianapolis Colts in the preseason finale.

The Philadelphia Eagles close out their preseason schedule against the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday evening at Lincoln Financial Field. 

After a lively joint practice on Tuesday that ended with a fight between the two teams, Philly and Indy will get to settle things on the scoreboard.

What was supposed to be a nice reunion in the City of Brotherly Love quickly turned chippy. Nonetheless, the opposing sideline will feature new Colts head coach Shane Steichen, who was the Eagles' offensive coordinator in 2021 and 2022. He’s making his return to Philly after helping lead the team to the Super Bowl last season, and he brings with him Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew, who had been with the Eagles for the past two seasons.  

Sirianni will also be facing his former team. He was the Colts’ offensive coordinator from 2018-2020.

This matchup is highlighted by a deeper look at a few preseason standouts and a high-profile Eagles rookie class that includes first-round selections in defensive tackle Jalen Carter and EDGE Nolan Smith. Both Carter and Smith are assimilating quickly to the NFL and making a case to contribute. 

The Eagles are still searching for their first preseason win. However more notable, Philly's many roster hopefuls try to earn their spot before Tuesday, Aug. 29, when every NFL team must reduce its roster to no more than 53 players. Philadelphia's 16-player practice squad will then begin to form.

As of Wednesday evening, it has not been revealed what Sirianni has planned in regard to playing his starters, most notably quarterback Jalen Hurts. … so while we assume Hurts sits, we will monitor.

Another intriguing storyline ... Colts star running back Jonathan Taylor, who requested a trade in July, has been away from the team this preseason due to personal reasons. However, Steichen says Taylor will rejoin the team to make the trip to Philly. Taylor's hometown of Salem, N.J. is only about a 45-minute drive from Lincoln Financial Field.

RECORDS: Philadelphia Eagles (0-2 preseason) vs. Indianapolis Colts (1-1 preseason)

ODDS: Philadelphia is a 3.5-point favorite vs. the Colts.

GAME TIME: Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, 8 p.m. ET

LOCATION: LINCOLN FINANCIAL FIELD, Philadelphia, Penn.

TV/RADIO: Amazon prime Video, SportsRadio 94WIP

THE FINAL WORD: Through two preseason games, Carter is growing at a pace that makes Philadelphia defensive coordinator Sean Desai pretty happy.

“I think he keeps growing and taking steady, incremental steps to keep growing and developing as a player and as a person,” Desai said. “[Defensive line] coach [Tracy] Rocker is doing a tremendous job developing that way. We’re continuing to stay on him with the details. He knows that he’s got to keep refining those. I think he’s taking ownership of that and he’s growing.”

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