Patriots preseason win over Eagles ended 24-21 in Foxborough, with backup quarterback Tommy DeVito sparking New England early (8 of 15 for 151 yards, 44 rushing yards) and a serious opening-play injury to Eagles rookie Ja’Quinden Jackson that resulted in him being transported to a hospital for evaluation, the Portland Press Herald reported. Read the Press Herald coverage here: Press Herald: Patriots score late to earn preseason win over Eagles.
Game recap — Patriots preseason win over Eagles (24-21)
New England leaned on reserves after starters sat following joint practices. DeVito provided a decisive first-half spark highlighted by a 69-yard touchdown to Kyle Williams. The Patriots later closed with a long drive engineered by Behren Morton that culminated in a 37-yard touchdown catch by Nick DeGennaro, which ultimately proved to be the game-winner.
Philadelphia’s reserve signal-caller Tanner McKee threw two touchdown passes, including a 20-yard strike to Carson Steele that temporarily put the Eagles ahead late. The contest featured a mix of unusual moments: a medical emergency on the opening kickoff, a roughing-the-passer penalty that erased an interception, and several special-teams swings that affected field position throughout.
Key plays and scoring summary
Scoring and pivotal plays included:
- Opening kickoff: Ja’Quinden Jackson was injured and taken from the stadium for evaluation.
- DeVito to Williams: 69-yard touchdown reception that flipped momentum in the first half.
- Morton 73-yard drive: Late-game march capped by a 37-yard TD to Nick DeGennaro.
- McKee late surge: Two TD passes, including a 20-yard connection to Carson Steele with 3:39 remaining.
- Penalty swing: A roughing-the-passer flag on Gabe Jacas erased an interception that would have changed the sequence in the second quarter.
Quarter-by-quarter flow
The opening sequence was dominated by the on-field medical incident. Play paused for an extended period while Jackson was tended to and prepared for transport, which shifted the game’s early rhythm and focus. Both teams then proceeded with planned reserve rotations.
In the first quarter, DeVito steadily moved the Patriots with a mix of designed runs and downfield shots. His 69-yard touchdown to Kyle Williams came on a play that stretched Philadelphia’s defense and set the tone for New England’s backups. The Eagles answered with short fields and efficient drives on limited snaps from Andy Dalton and later McKee.
The middle quarters featured alternating possessions and situational football. A second-quarter defensive takeaway for New England was wiped out by a roughing call, which proved costly for momentum. Into the fourth, McKee connected on a 20-yard TD that put Philadelphia ahead, but Morton’s late 73-yard drive and DeGennaro’s reception swung the scoreboard back to the Patriots.
Tommy DeVito, reserves and QB review
Tommy DeVito started and played the first half for New England, finishing 8 of 15 for 151 yards and adding 44 yards on the ground. DeVito’s longest contribution was the 69-yard touchdown to Kyle Williams, which served as the game’s most explosive play.
Behren Morton took over later, leading the decisive 73-yard scoring drive and handling punting duties—three punts for a 44.3-yard average and one touchback. Morton’s multi-role night (quarterback and emergency punter) underlined how preseason depth work can require versatility from reserve players.
Tanner McKee provided the Eagles with a late spark, throwing two touchdown passes and challenging New England’s backups down the stretch. The overall QB rotation highlighted the gap between situational execution and sustained scoring drives that coaches will evaluate before final roster cuts.
Injury update: Ja’Quinden Jackson carted off
The most serious incident occurred on the opening kickoff when Ja’Quinden Jackson was injured on a tackle and removed from the field by ambulance. The Eagles said Jackson had strength and movement in his extremities and that he was transported to a hospital for further evaluation. That is the team’s reported account and was detailed in the Press Herald’s game coverage.
Patriots Report notes the Eagles’ statement and the transport as reported events; they are not medical diagnoses. We will update this story with official team medical bulletins and further reporting as it becomes available.
Other notes: penalties, turnovers and special teams
A pivotal officiating call came when Patriots edge rusher gabe jacas was flagged for roughing the passer after a hit that initially produced an interception by Kindle Vildor. The penalty negated the turnover and extended the Eagles’ possession, shifting field position and momentum.
Andy Dalton worked a limited series that helped sustain a short scoring drive; Will Shipley contributed with a short rushing touchdown in the rotation of reserve ballcarriers. Special teams played a recurring role all night—punt averages, coverage, and field position decisions were factors in both teams’ late-game strategy.
Roster context: christian gonzalez, practice absences and what to watch
Several projected starters were held out after joint practices. Cornerback christian gonzalez did not play as he continues to recover from a minor issue and remains in contract discussions with the team. That situation was reported by the Press Herald as ongoing; we note the absence for context rather than to draw contractual conclusions.
Coaches will use the remaining preseason game and practice reps to finalize roles and evaluate how backups like Morton and DeVito might fit into the regular-season QB depth chart if needed.
What’s next for the Patriots
New England travels to Cleveland for its final preseason contest, with coaches expected to make final roster decisions in the days that follow. Monitor official updates regarding Ja’Quinden Jackson’s condition and Christian Gonzalez’s status; Patriots Report will follow those developments and any roster moves leading into cutdown day.
Source attribution
This article is grounded in coverage from The Portland Press Herald and Associated Press reporting. Primary source: https://www.pressherald.com/2026/08/22/patriots-score-late-to-earn-preseason-win-over-eagles/. Patriots Report will update with further team releases and verified reports as they become available.
