It's beginning to look like Tim Tebow will be a member of the Eagles once the regular season kicks off.
According to ESPN's Dianna Marie Russini, head coach Chip Kelly has grown "increasingly excited" about Tebow's work in training camp, and that if he doesn't make any "major errors," he will earn a spot on the team.
Source says Chip Kelly is increasingly excited by Tim Tebow. If Tebow doesn't make major errors, he will earn spot on team. #eagles
— Dianna Marie Russini (@diannaESPN) August 20, 2015
Tebow and Matt Barkley have been competing for the Eagles' third-string quarterback job this training camp. Barkley looked impressive in last Sunday's preseason game, finishing 12-of-20 for 192 yards, but threw an interception on a tipped pass. While the interception wasn't necessarily his fault, he almost threw another one and his turnover track record isn't necessarily in his favor. In four career games, Barkley has turned the ball over seven times (four INTs, three fumbles).
Tebow looked solid in his first drive leading the Eagles' offense last Sunday, but fell victim to a lack of protection from the Eagles' fourth-stringers. He finished 6-of-12 for 69 yards and a rushing touchdown late in the game, but was under pressure on nine of his 15 drop-backs.
As NJ.com's Eliot Shorr-Parks has noted, Barkley has thrown five interceptions in training camp team-drills while Tebow has only thrown one.
Smith to miss 2-3 weeks: Former first-round pick Marcus Smith is expected to miss 2-3 weeks after injuring his hamstring during Thursday's practice. He will likely miss the rest of the preseason due to the injury.
Marcus Smith said he thinks he'll be out be 2-3 weeks. #Eagles
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) August 21, 2015
Smith had made strides to earning the third OLB job and payed 46 snaps in last Sunday's preseason game. While this is certainly a set-back, to what extent has yet to be determined.
"[Smith] really was taking some growth steps and coming along," defensive coordinator Billy Davis said. "This is a setback. (But) we don't know how long the setback is."
The Eagles are severely thin at OLB after Travis Long suffered an ACL injury during the first day of camp. In Smith's absence, linebacker Brad Smith and defensive end Vinny Curry will see time at OLB.
