McCord and the Eagles hold off Jets
19-17 in preseason finale
[August 23, 2025]
By DENNIS WASZAK Jr
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Kyle McCord led Philadelphia on five
scoring drives while playing the entire game in an uneven
performance, Montrell Johnson had a 15-yard touchdown run and the
Eagles held on for a 19-17 victory over the New York Jets in a
mostly sluggish preseason matchup of backups Friday night.
Well, at least until the final quarter. And then things finally got
a bit entertaining.
With the Jets trailing 19-3, Adrian Martinez directed New York to
touchdowns on consecutive drives, including Donovan Edwards' 1-yard
run with 3:07 left that made it 19-17.
Looking to tie, first-year head coach Aaron Glenn went for a 2-point
conversion for the second straight score, but Edwards was stood up
at the goal line — the play was reviewed and the call on the field
was upheld.
Martinez, the 2024 UFL MVP, and the Jets got the ball back with 2:31
remaining and a chance for the win. On fourth-and-10 from the Eagles
42, Martinez completed a long pass to Quentin Skinner for what
would've been a first down — but offsetting penalties negated the
play.
Given one more chance, Martinez's throw fell just incomplete to a
diving Jamaal Pritchett.
“Probably one of the most exciting preseason games that I've been a
part of,” Glenn said. “The one thing that I'm proud of these men,
they were resilient today. They did not quit. They were excited on
the sideline and they tried to will themselves to win this game —
and that's something we can build off of.”
The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles (2-1) sat big-name players
such as Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith,
while Justin Fields, Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall and Sauce Gardner
were among those on the sideline for the Jets (1-2).
But McCord, the rookie sixth-rounder out of Syracuse who's competing
with Dorian Thompson-Robinson for the No. 3 job behind Hurts and
Tanner McKee, took every snap.
“We talked about that, getting him a full game right there,” Eagles
coach Nick Sirianni said. “DTR's got a lot of tape out there and
we've seen him play a lot as well. But I just thought we needed a
lot more reps there for Kyle for the evaluation process.”
McCord finished 15 of 35 for 136 yards and an interception in a
hardly stellar outing.
“He had some good plays and he had some missed opportunities,”
Sirianni said. “We'll have to watch the tape, but he did some nice
things, ran the show well and played some good situational football
that helped us get some points.”
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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kyle McCord (19) passes in the first
half of a preseason NFL football game against the New York Jets in
East Rutherford, N.J., Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
The only projected starter to play for New York was
rookie right tackle Armand Membou, the seventh overall pick out of
Missouri who was also a college teammate of Brady Cook — who got the
start at quarterback. Membou was called for holding and false start
penalties in the three series he played.
One potential starter for Philadelphia who played was linebacker
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. The Eagles started Brett Toth at left guard and
rookie Drew Kendall, and then flipped the two as Philadelphia looks
for depth at left guard after three-time Pro Bowl selection Landon
Dickerson had surgery on his right meniscus two weeks ago.
Wide receiver John Metchie III, acquired by Philadelphia last Sunday
from Houston for tight end Harrison Bryant, played in the first few
series and had a 14-yard catch on two targets.
Jake Elliott appeared in midseason form for the Eagles, kicking
field goals of 51, 53, 23 and 45 yards. The last two were set up by
turnovers: a strip-sack by Antwaun Powell-Ryland that was recovered
by Mac McWilliams and an interception of Martinez by Lewis Cine.
Harrison Mevis, competing with veteran Nick Folk, was wide right on
a 55-yard attempt for the Jets early in the third quarter.
Lawrance Toafili had a 19-yard touchdown run with 9:12 remaining.
Martinez then ran it in a 2-point conversion to cut New York's
deficit to 19-11.
Martinez finished 7 of 14 for 86 yards and an interception, while
Cook was 13 of 19 for 99 yards and also was picked off.
Injuries
Eagles: Rookie LB Lance Dixon went to the locker room with an
undisclosed injury in the fourth quarter.
Up next
Eagles: Kick off the NFL's regular season by hosting Dallas on Sept.
4.
Jets: Host Aaron Rodgers and Pittsburgh on Sept. 7.
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