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They also got all the playing time last night in a 27-20 loss to the New York Jets at Lincoln Financial Field as the Eagles ended the preseason at 2-2.
Like Jets quarterback Brett Favre, the Eagles' starters did not play.
Quarterback Kevin Kolb worked just the first half for the Eagles, completing 13 of 21 attempts for 138 yards. A.J. Feeley played the second half.
Coach Andy Reid said Kolb is "playing good football. I would even take it to the first couple of weeks in camp where he struggled with a couple of things, worked through that, and came out in a positive way."
Reid said he feels good with the second-year pro as Donovan McNabb's backup.
"We have a good situation there," he said. "Kevin is ready to play. And A.J. has already proven he can play. That's a real positive thing right now. I have no problem putting Kevin in a game right now. He'll do a good job."
Although it was a preseason game, Kolb said it was special.
"It was huge; it was my first start," he said. "Although it's just the preseason, and the starters weren't there with me, it's still big for me. It breaks me in slowly to hopefully what I am going to be one day.
"The biggest thing now is to not regress. I've gotten progressively better; I just can't regress when I'm sitting on the sidelines. I have to make sure I get plenty of reps in practice and keep my part."
Jets running back Jesse Chatman (93 yards rushing, 87 yards receiving) spent a lot of the night eluding Eagles defenders. His 2-yard scoring run in the final quarter was the difference, with help from Quintin Demps' muffed punt turnover that set up Chatman's touchdown.
"I wasn't in good position to make a catch," Demps said. "I've got to learn from that and move on."
Feeley's 3-yard touchdown toss made it 20-20 in the final quarter. His best throw of the night was a 54-yard pass to Michael Gasperson on that drive.
Kolb took the Eagles 40 yards in eight plays before David Akers made it 3-0 with a 40-yard field goal on the Birds' first drive. Kolb made a nice throw deep to Gasperson, who caught the ball out of bounds in the end zone - one foot in.
The 23-year-old Kolb is feeling more comfortable in his second season.
"The group we have out there right now I really like," Kolb said. "I don't know if it's the twos or what it is, but it seemed like everyone we had in there had great continuity. Everyone works hard, and that's all you can ask of those guys."
Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said Kolb had been "impressive in most situations" in the preseason.
"There are a couple of things there that we are working on, and I think we've got that nailed down," Mornhinweg said. "I think he has a chance to be a pretty good quarterback, so we'll see how he keeps progressing."
The sod wasn't very sturdy last night. Chunks of dirt were kicked up, with receivers and running backs losing their footage on cut moves. That's what happened to Hank Baskett as he made a tough curl-in move deep in Jets territory on the Birds' second possession. Nonetheless, he caught a 25-yard pass from Kolb, setting up a first down at the Jets' 3. Lorenzo Booker ran it in for a 10-0 lead.
Kolb has looked sharp throughout camp working with all the receivers. He threw for 77 yards (7 of 10) in the opening quarter alone while Brent Celek had three receptions for 29 yards.
"Experience - that's the biggest thing there," Mornhinweg said about Kolb. "He's been through a full year, and going into your second year, most players are a little bit more comfortable with the system. . . . He can anticipate the upcoming events a little bit better."
Defensively, Jerome McDougle, who has been impressive and seems to have made this squad, picked up a half-sack in the first half with Bryan Smith. They, along with linebacker Joe Mays, had a strong game, Reid said.
The Birds' reserves had a solid red-zone stand on the 4-yard line, holding the Jets to a 22-yard field goal to start the second quarter.
Notes. Demps, who scored on a 101-yard kickoff return against New England last week, ripped off a 51-yard punt return on the Eagles' first possession in the second quarter. . . . Booker had a decent game (7 catches, 57 yards; 36 yards rushing). . . . Tony Hunt worked the first half at fullback and Jason Davis was in for the second half. That job appears to be Hunt's to lose.
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