Eagles’ Tanner McKee, Bengals’ Joe Burrow start preseason in fine form

PHILADELPHIA — In an effort to stave off another sluggish start to the season, the Cincinnati Bengals played many of their starters in Thursday’s preseason opener against the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. And the Birds’ defensive backups found themselves with their hands full.

Quarterback Joe Burrow played the opening two possessions for Cincinnati, which began 1-4 last year and missed the playoffs despite a late push. He marched down the field for a pair of touchdowns. He finished 9-for-10 for 123 yards and a QB rating of 157.5 (0.8 points from perfection), connecting with familiar target Ja’Marr Chase four times for 77 yards and a score.

Chase was working against 23-year-old Eagle Kelee Ringo, who is battling Adoree’ Jackson for the second outside corner spot. Ringo got burned on a short out route when Chase spun back inside after the catch and ran 36 yards to the end zone without being touched.

But on the Eagles’ first possession, second-string quarterback Tanner McKee showed some effective style of his own as he helped the Birds to an eventual 34-27 win.

McKee, who performed well in a couple of opportunities late last season, seemed to pick up where he left off. He commanded the offense on a nine-play, 75-yard drive, capping it with a 1-yard tush push across the goal line — much to the delight of the roaring crowd. The ‘90s song “This is How We Do It” played over the stadium loudspeakers.

The Green Bay Packers and commissioner Roger Goodell led an offseason effort to ban the tush push, but it fell two votes short of the 24 required for such a rule change.

Mckee, who played into the third quarter, completed 14-of-17 passes for 193 yards and two TDs before halftime. He hit Johnny Wilson — who hasn’t had a great training camp — three times for 73 yards while spreading the ball to six other receivers.

Running back Will Shipley rushed seven times for 48 yards and also caught a pass out of the backfield. Receivers Ainais Smith and Darius Cooper caught touchdowns passes.

This article will be updated.

Source: Berkshire mont