Eagles rookie Lemon's preseason debut

Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon had a difficult NFL preseason debut against the Cincinnati Bengals, catching three passes for just

Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon had a difficult first NFL game action in the team's preseason finale against the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday night. Lemon, the sole projected 2026 starter who played, finished with three catches for three yards on five targets.

He had a pass go through his hands for an interception and muffed a punt, though he recovered it. After the game, Lemon took accountability for the turnover, according to the source.

A Challenging Start

The performance followed a summer where Lemon missed half of the Eagles' spring practices and the majority of training camp with a hamstring injury. The team reportedly wanted him to see game action before a potential Week 1 debut against the Washington Commanders. With limited practice participation and a lack of standout moments in those sessions, the preseason game was seen as a key opportunity.

Quarterback Tanner McKee, who largely struggled, did not help matters. McKee threw short of Lemon on the first target and could have placed a later pass better, though the source notes Lemon also did not generate much separation on the play.

Readiness Questions Raised

Based on observations from the summer, the source states that wide receivers Darius Cooper and Elijah Moore currently inspire more confidence as WR3 options than Lemon does. If beating Washington is the top priority, the source argues one of them should start alongside DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks when the regular schedule begins.

There were specific examples of confusion: Lemon ran into Elijah Moore on a play during the game, and in a practice rep this week, he did not know he was supposed to be on the field. You can check the latest team squad information for the full roster context.

However, the source does not think that benching Lemon is necessarily likely. He has been working with the starters since returning from injury, and the Eagles have been making an effort to force-feed him touches in practice, albeit with not much success reported.

A Path for Patience?

The source suggests patience with Lemon could pay off, with short-term struggles potentially subsiding as he improves during his rookie season. Many may compare his path to Cooper DeJean, who also missed much of the 2024 training camp before struggling in that year's preseason finale.

The source offers a few points on that comparison: DeJean is a great player who is probably more the exception than the norm; the coaching staff did not trust DeJean with regular playing time until Week 6 of that season; and DeJean's layoff may have been less detrimental than it is for a rookie receiver missing time to build chemistry with his quarterback.

Ultimately, the source concludes it is entirely too early to write off Lemon's career. The Eagles reportedly need him to be ready for a meaningful role in the offense sooner rather than later, but until more is seen, having reservations is considered fair.

Source: Yahoo Sports