After a joint practice with the Patriots on Thursday, Philadelphia Eagles DT Jordan Davis called Willie Lampkin a ‘bowling ball of knives.’
The Philadelphia Eagles are holding joint practices with the New England Patriots as Week 2 of the NFL preseason kicks off this evening, and one moment from Thursday’s session in Foxborough, Massachusetts, has already caught attention around the league. Defensive tackle Jordan Davis offered a memorable, unfiltered assessment of a teammate who has given him fits in the trenches all summer.
Davis was describing Willie Lampkin, a second-year center and guard whose story has become one of the more compelling narratives of Eagles training camp. Lampkin went undrafted in 2025, signed with the Los Angeles Rams, and battled knee and ankle injuries before the Eagles claimed him off waivers. He spent his entire rookie season on injured reserve, but this NFL preseason has been different.
At 5-foot-11 and roughly 280 pounds, Lampkin is undersized for an interior lineman. Davis said Lampkin’s build, combined with rare quickness and leverage, creates real problems even for a defensive tackle his size.
He made the remarks to reporters, including NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Dave Zangaro, following Thursday’s practice ahead of Philadelphia’s Week 2 preseason game against the Patriots on Saturday. Zangaro shared the exchange on X, formerly Twitter, capturing the interesting comparison the pass-rusher, now entering his fifth NFL season, used to praise his teammate.
“Jordan Davis calls Willie Lampkin a ‘bowling ball of knives.’”
The comparison continues a long tradition of vivid NFL nicknames reserved for compact, forceful players. With roster cutdowns approaching, praise like that from an established Eagles star is especially meaningful for a fringe hopeful fighting for a spot.
The second-year lineman already showed off his versatility, starting at center and playing right guard in Philadelphia’s preseason opener vs. the Baltimore Ravens. With joint practices wrapping up and final roster decisions closing in, Davis’s blunt endorsement gives Lampkin real momentum in his bid to earn a spot on the Eagles’ 53-man roster.
The Philadelphia Eagles are holding joint practices with the New England Patriots as Week 2 of the NFL preseason kicks off this evening, and one moment from Thursday’s session in Foxborough, Massachusetts, has already caught attention around the league. Defensive tackle Jordan Davis offered a memorable, unfiltered assessment of a teammate who has given him fits in the trenches all summer.