Josh McCown Impresses In Eagles' Storm-Shortened Loss To Ravens
PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP) -- After signing with the Eagles last week, backup quarterback Josh McCown was thrown into the fire Thursday night. The 40-year-old showed exactly why the Birds pried him out of retirement in the 26-15 loss to the Ravens.
After a sluggish start, McCown finished 17-24 for 192 yards and two touchdowns close to two quarters of action.
The game was stopped by the NFL with 11:43 remaining in the fourth quarter because of lightning after a short delay.
Carson Wentz again sat out for the Eagles, but several starters saw their first action this summer and McCown made his debut after ending his brief retirement to play his 18th season.
Ravens' QB Trace McSorley will be too valuable for special teams with performances like this.
The rookie quarterback threw for 203 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a score, helping the Ravens beat the Eagles for their 16th straight preseason win.
With Ravens starter Lamar Jackson watching from the sideline and Robert Griffin III still out with a thumb injury, McSorley solidified his roster spot. The sixth-round pick from Penn State has also been practicing on special teams throughout training camp.
McSorley threw TD passes of 28 yards to Michael Floyd and 7 yards to Jaleel Scott. He scored on a run from 4 yards out.
The teams held joint practices on Monday and Tuesday, giving both starting quarterbacks plenty of reps against the opposing defense in a controlled setting.
McCown tossed a 20-yard TD pass to J.J. Arcega-Whiteside and a 9-yarder to Alex Ellis in the third quarter.
McCown was signed after the Eagles lost backup Nate Sudfeld and No. 3 quarterback Cody Kessler in the first two games. Kessler returned from a concussion suffered last week and was 3 of 5 for 34 yards.
THE STREAK
The Ravens haven't lost a preseason game since Sept. 3, 2015, against the Atlanta Falcons. They've won 35 of the last 44.
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FIRST THINGS FIRST
Arcega-Whiteside's TD catch was the first of the preseason for the rookie out of Stanford. Arcega-Whiteside is the first player born in Spain drafted by an NFL team.
GETTING DEFENSIVE
Baltimore's starting defense has not allowed a point on eight of 10 drives this preseason. The Ravens haven't faced a starting quarterback.
SEEING YELLOW
There were 24 penalties, including 17 in the first half. The Eagles committed 15.
INJURIES
Ravens: WR Marquise "Hollywood" Brown was back on the field for the first time since suffering a Lisfranc injury at the end of his junior season with Oklahoma. The Ravens drafted Brown 25th overall. He caught three passes for 17 yards.
Eagles: RB Corey Clement and S Rodney McLeod played for the first time since sustaining season-ending knee injuries last season.
UP NEXT
Ravens: At Washington next Thursday night.
Eagles: At New York Jets next Thursday night.
(©Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)