Former Radnor standout WR Tim Wilson had three catches for 28 yards against the Jets. Photo by Mike Corsey

The Eagles gave their fans the most memorable postseason in franchise history last year. Then follwed that up with arguably the most forgetable preseason in franchise history.

The Eagles entered their final scrimmage with a record of 0-3, not scoring in five straight quarters.
That rude streak continued through halftime against the Jets at the Linc.

The Birds scored just three points in the third quarter. The question was would the Eagles score at least one touchdown for the home crowd?

The answer didn’t come until there was just 3:26 left on the clock in the fourth quarter.

Joe Callahan, who had come back in the game at the start of the fourth quarter–the South Jersey native had started the game then was replace by Christian Hackenberg for the second and third quarters-led the Eagles on an 11-play 68-yard drive that ended with Callahan hitting Matt Jones with a four-yard touchdown pass to give the Birds a 10-9 win and the only win of the preseason.

A key player in the second half was former Radnor standout wide receiver Tim Wilson. the 5-foot-9, 170 pounder had not been targeted or caught a pass in during the Eagles first three preseason games and the
first three quarters of the Jets finale.

Wilson wanted badly to get some catches on tape to show other teams as the numbers at his position here were stacked against him. He finally got his opportunity in the fourth quarter and made the most of it.
“I feel like I performed well (tonight),” said Wilson, who ended up with three catches for 28 yards. “All I needed was the opportunity and some playing time, and that’s what I got. I thank God for that opportunity. It was fun. I just went out there, I was relaxed and had fun and we got the win at the end of the day.”

His first catch was not much, just a little six-yard dump pass by Callahan.

His second reception was an NFL-level catch. Wilson was in the slot and at the snap got a great jump. He was wide open in the middle of the field, just to Callahan’s right.
The ball was off and Wilson had to make a diving one-handed grab to make the 15-yard catch.

“It was awesome,” Wilson said at his locker after the game. “I was running, I was wide open. I wanted to get some yards after the catch but at the end the day, it was a little behind me, so I just had to make the catch.”

Rookie seventh round pick Jordan Mailata, the Eagles great experiment at left tackle turned in another solid performance. He will probably compel the Eagles to find a roster sport for him.

Putting the 6-8, 346-pounder on the practice squad is probably not an option. He was asked if he thought he’s made the team.

“I don’t know,” Hailata said after the game. “Like I said there were a lot of negatives as well as positives. My job was to try and make it hard for the coaches and I gave everything tonight. If they’re happy with what I’ve put in then we’ll see what happens. I still have a lot to work on and they understand it, too, so we’re on the same page. We’ll see what happens.”

Here are some other incidents from the game:

* Center Jon Toth did not help his cause in game four. With a six minutes left in first quarter, he made a bad snap to Callahan…it was very wide right to thequaterback. Toth had a number of bad blocks throughout the night…

* WR DeAndre Carter is making coaches decision hard after his 19-yard catch in a tight space in first quarter. The the throw from Callahan was a bullet. He also caught an 18-yard pass in second quarter. He was targeted three other times and did not connect but the two he caught looked impressive.

* Halapoulivaati Vaitai started the game at left tackle. The story is Vaitai got married in offseason and did little to stay in shape. With the way Australian rookie Jordan Mailata has played in the preseason, the former TCU star better get in shape fast or he could be gone. Mailata is almost certain to get a roster spot. The Eagles gave up three sacks against the Jets.

* DeAndre Carter made a stake at special teams with a nice play downing the ball at the Jets seven-yard line after an Eagles Cameron Johnston punt.

* Linebackers Joe Walker and LeRoy Reynolds were flying around the ball with tackes and breaking up passes. Walker has a nice third-down breakup of Jetes receiver Tre McBride at about the 12:30 mark of second quarter. It had to be a buzz kill when Walker was hit a with a 15-yard penalty on a late hit on QB John Wolford 6:59 left in the third quarter.

* Christian Hackenberg started his career with the Eagles with series only Stephen King would like.

He was sacked on his first play as an Eagle. Hackenberg was then called for a five-yard delay-of-game penaty on same drive.

Then the former Penn State standout threw an interception that was a pick-six if not for a penalty, capping off arguably the worst drive of his pro career.

He threw another brutal pick with about three minutes left in first half. The turnover set up what looked like a sure touchdown for the the Jets but the Birds defense pulled off a goal line stance with
Aziz Shittu making a big stop on fourth and goal from the one.
Hackenberg also had fumble at the end of third quarter.

The third-year signal caller came to life for a few snaps in the second half rushing five times for 66 yards. Hackenberg finished 7 of 16 for 69 yards.

* Safety Tre Sullivan had nice interception of Jets quarterback John Wolford at Eagles four-yard line with 6:37 left in first half.

* Elliott missed a 33-yarder in Cleveland last week but drilled a 55-yard shot to end a seven-quarter scoreless drought. Go figure.