Philadelphia Eagles snap counts: Position battle updates after Preseason Week 1

While the score may not matter when it comes to NFL preseason football, it's still interesting to take a look at not only how players performed but how often they played. Here are some snap count observations from the Philadelphia Eagles 34-28 loss to the Chicago Bears on Friday night. (Recap)

Starters

Leading up to this matchup, head coach Chip Kelly said he only planned on playing the starters for 10 to 15 snaps depending on how the game went. The Eagles went a little over that number but generally stayed on pace: most full time starters played only about 18 snaps (24%).

Safety battle

Veteran safety Nate Allen started the game on the first team defense and ended up playing 42 snaps because he stayed in the game with the second team defense. Second year safety Earl Wolff only played 24. Those snaps came playing on the second team defense with Allen. It's clear the veteran still has the lead in this battle until Wolff does something to separate himself from the pack. (Pun intended.)

Kicker non-battle

The Eagles competition that isn't really a competition continues not to be a competition. Alex Henery (9 special team snaps) handled all the kickoffs and extra points for Philadelphia. Undrafted free agent rookie kicker Carey Spear AKA Murderleg was active but he didn't even play.

Backup Offensive Line

This was the primary Eagles backup offensive line on Friday night.

OT Andrew Gardner - 41

OT Lane Johnson - 41

OG Dennis Kelly - 41

OG Matt Tobin - 41

C David Molk - 41

Rookie Draft Picks

OLB Marcus Smith II - 46

CB Jaylen Watkins - 42

WR Jordan Matthews - 37

WR Josh Huff - 34

DE Taylor Hart - 31

S Ed Reynolds II - 22

NT Beau Allen - 13

Quarterbacks

Matt Barkley - 24

Nick Foles - 18

Mark Sanchez - 17

G.J. Kinne - 15

Players who played a lot

At least 49% snaps:

Offense

The second string offensive line, as noted above, all played 41 snaps (55%). Jordan Matthews played 37 (50%).

Defense

Roc Carmichael played 51 (59%) which was more than any player in the entire game. Marcus Smith II played 46 (53%), Curtis Marsh played 45 (52%), Travis Long played 44 (51%), and both Nate Allen and Jaylen Watkins played 42 snaps (49%).

Players who played but did not play a lot

Offense

Darren Sproles only played 7 snaps (9%).

Undrafted rookie tight end Blake Annen played 7 special teams snaps but did not record a snap on offense.

Defense

Undrafted rookie safety Daytawion Lowe only played 6 snaps (7%).

Played, left early, did not return (Injury)

RB Matthew Tucker (hamstring) - 25

ILB Casey Matthews (lower back) - 17

Didn't Play (Injury)

WR Riley Cooper (foot)

NT Bennie Logan (hamstring)

WR Jeff Maehl (ankle)

RB Chris Polk (hamstring)

ILB Jake Knott (hamstring)

CB Nolan Carroll II (hamstring/groin)

C Julian Vandervelde (back)

Offense Snap Counts

Position	Player	Snaps	Snap%
OT	Andrew Gardner	41	55%
C	David Molk	41	55%
OG	Dennis Kelly	41	55%
OT	Lane Johnson	41	55%
OG	Matt Tobin	41	55%
WR	Jordan Matthews	37	50%
WR	Josh Huff	34	46%
TE	James Casey	31	42%
RB	Matthew Tucker	25	34%
WR	Will Murphy	24	32%
TE	Zach Ertz	24	32%
QB	Matt Barkley	24	32%
WR	Ifeanyi Momah	21	28%
OT	Allen Barbre	18	24%
OG	Evan Mathis	18	24%
OG	Todd Herremans	18	24%
OT	Jason Peters	18	24%
WR	Jeremy Maclin	18	24%
C	Jason Kelce	18	24%
QB	Nick Foles	18	24%
WR	Arrelious Benn	17	23%
QB	Mark Sanchez	17	23%
RB	David Fluellen	16	22%
TE	Brent Celek	15	22%
WR	Damaris Johnson	15	20%
OT	Kevin Graf	15	20%
OG	Josh Andrews	15	20%
OT	Michael Bamiro	15	20%
OG	Karim Barton	15	20%
OG	Donald Hawkins	15	20%
QB	G.J. Kinne	15	20%
WR	Quron Pratt	15	20%
RB	Henry Josey	15	20%
RB	LeSean McCoy	11	15%
WR	Brad Smith	10	14%
WR	Kadron Boone	10	14%
WR	B.J. Cunningham	9	12%
TE	Trey Burton	8	11%
TE	Emil Igwenagu	7	9%
RB	Darren Sproles	7	9%

Defense Snap Counts

Position	Player	Snaps	Snap%
CB	Roc Carmichael	51	59%
OLB	Marcus Smith II	46	53%
CB	Curtis Marsh	45	52%
OLB	Travis Long	44	51%
S	Nate Allen	42	49%
CB	Jaylen Watkins	42	49%
ILB	Najee Goode	38	44%
ILB	Jason Phillips	37	43%
CB	Brandon Boykin	33	38%
ILB	Emmanuel Acho	31	36%
DE	Taylor Hart	31	36%
S	Earl Wolff	24	28%
OLB	Brandon Graham	24	28%
NT	Wade Keliikipi	24	28%
OLB	Bryan Braman	22	26%
S	Chris Maragos	22	26%
S	Ed Reynolds II	22	26%
S	Davon Morgan	22	26%
DE	Alejandro Villanueva	22	26%
DE	Joe Kruger	22	26%
DE	Frank Mays	22	26%
DE	Vinny Curry	21	24%
OLB	Trent Cole	19	22%
S	Malcolm Jenkins	18	21%
CB	Cary Williams	18	21%
CB	Bradley Fletcher	18	21%
DE	Brandon Bair	18	21%
DE	Cedric Thornton	18	21%
OLB	Connor Barwin	18	21%
ILB	DeMeco Ryans	18	21%
DE	Fletcher Cox	18	21%
ILB	Mychal Kendricks	18	21%
ILB	Casey Matthews	17	20%
S	Keelan Johnson	16	19%
OLB	Josh Kaddu	13	15%
NT	Beau Allen	13	15%
NT	Damion Square	12	14%
S	Daytawion Lowe	6	7%

Special Teams Snap Counts

Position	Player	Snap	Snaps%
CB	Roc Carmichael	16	52%
OLB	Bryan Braman	15	48%
ILB	Jason Phillips	15	48%
S	Chris Maragos	14	45%
TE	James Casey	13	42%
WR	Arrelious Benn	12	39%
OLB	Marcus Smith II	11	35%
ILB	Najee Goode	11	35%
S	Ed Reynolds II	10	32%
S	Earl Wolff	10	32%
WR	Josh Huff	9	29%
K	Alex Henery	9	29%
P	Donnie Jones	9	29%
LS	Jon Dorenbos	9	29%
ILB	Emmanuel Acho	9	29%
OLB	Travis Long	8	26%
CB	Brandon Boykin	8	26%
RB	David Fluellen	7	23%
OLB	Brandon Graham	7	23%
WR	Damaris Johnson	7	23%
WR	Brad Smith	7	23%
ILB	Casey Matthews	7	23%
S	Malcolm Jenkins	7	23%
TE	Blake Annen	7	23%
CB	Curtis Marsh	7	23%
S	Nate Allen	7	23%
TE	Emil Igwenagu	6	19%
RB	Matthew Tucker	5	16%
NT	Damion Square	5	16%
WR	Will Murphy	5	16%
TE	Zach Ertz	5	16%
OLB	Josh Kaddu	4	13%
OT	Andrew Gardner	3	10%
C	David Molk	3	10%
CB	Cary Williams	3	10%
CB	Bradley Fletcher	3	10%
DE	Brandon Bair	3	10%
OT	Kevin Graf	3	10%
OG	Josh Andrews	3	10%
CB	Jaylen Watkins	3	10%
S	Davon Morgan	3	10%
DE	Vinny Curry	3	10%
NT	Beau Allen	3	10%
DE	Cedric Thornton	2	6%
OLB	Connor Barwin	2	6%
ILB	DeMeco Ryans	2	6%
OLB	Trent Cole	2	6%
OG	Dennis Kelly	2	6%
OT	Lane Johnson	2	6%
OG	Evan Mathis	1	3%
OG	Todd Herremans	1	3%
OT	Michael Bamiro	1	3%