Taking Stock of Eagles Preseason: Week 4 vs. the Jets

Well the Eagles have officially concluded the preseason with a 27-38 loss to the New York Jets. Don't let the 1-3 record discourage you yet, as the Eagles' starters saw no action and a lot of time was taken up by certain players who will no longer occupy a roster spot come Saturday. Regardless of the score, there were numerous bright flashes as some of the younger players shined, giving it their all in their last chance to make the team. And now, a brief rundown of who's stock is on the rise and who's stock is falling in this final installment of "Taking Stock."

Stock on the Rise:

Brandon Gibson- Of the final four receivers battling for the final two roster spots, Gibson once again managed to rise above the rest. He led the team in both receptions and yards (4 rec for 45 yds), including an 18-yard deep grab off a Kevin Kolb bomb.

Tony Curtis- In his Eagles debut, Curtis allowed the doubters about the tight end position to breathe a tiny sigh of relief. He looked impressive against the Jets' first and second-string defenses, racking up four catches for 40 yards and a touchdown. Stat-wise, it was bar none the best performance by an Eagles tight end this preseason.

More after the jump...

Eldra Buckley- Buckley certainly proved he deserves a spot on this team after tonight. He gained 36 yards off of 9 attempts and was an absolute star during third-and-short situations.

Moise Fokou- Fokou once again led the team in tackles, far outstripping any other defensive player with seven takedowns and two assists. Although he did have an illegal horsecollar penalty called on him during a punt return, he did admittedly prevent a touchdown. Fokou's outstanding play and tenacious ballhawking abilities have certainly earned him a spot on the final roster.

Jason Babin- Coming into training camp as the odd man out at defensive end, Babin has made enormous strides towards earning a spot on the final roster, recording his third sack in four games. He once again showed a knack for putting pressure on the quarterback and always being in on plays. If the battle between Babin and Bryan Smith comes down to tonight's performance, Babin will almost certainly have the edge.

Stock Falling:

Lorenzo Booker- In what was likely his final performance in midnight green, Booker made fans' stomachs turn with his inability to move the football. He was especially ineffective with catching the ball out of the backfield, totaling -1 yards off of three receptions. With Buckley's continued good performance, it is likely that Booker will be packing his bags come Saturday.

Dimitri Patterson- After a very promising training camp in which he was slated to be the fifth cornerback ahead of Jack Ikegwunou, Patterson contributed zero stats during tonight's game. What will likely be the deal breaker though, is Patterson's injury incurred during the first half of the game. While it is likely just an ankle sprain, Patterson was a bubble player to begin with. Ike and Trae Williams both had acceptable games, combining for 5 tackles and an interception, so it is likely that the Eagles will go with the healthy option if they do decide to keep five CBs on the final roster. Looks like Patterson could be the odd man out.

Reggie Brown & Hank Baskett- For two veteran receivers competing for their jobs, neither player stood out in tonight's game. Brown had zero catches, and Baskett grabbed a dinky three yard pass late in the fourth quarter to cap of a virtually invisible performance. Granted, neither receiver was given much playing time, but with Brandon Gibson continuing to step up, it's hard to make a case for either receiver based on tonight's performance.

Michael Vick- While he did show brilliant flashes and an incredible arm strength, Vick's performance tonight showed that he still has a ways to go before returning to his former NFL shape. His one very memorable 20-yard backfield dance, double fumble, and sack was enough to convince any Eagles fan that there is no quarterback controversy in Philadelphia. That being said, Vick was fairly effective on gadget plays and short yardage situations, scoring a goal-line touchdown in the beginning of the second quarter. At least he'll have until week three now to work on being a QB again.