A new voice and different channel for Eagles final preseason game

The Eagles will take the field for their final preseason game Friday night, but the broadcast will look and feel different for Birds fans.

For starters, the game isn’t airing on NBC10, which has broadcast Eagles preseason games since 2015. Instead, the game will air nationally on CBS, with veteran play-by-player Andrew Catalon calling the action.

In theory, that means Birds fans won’t get a hometown TV broadcast and will also hear about backup Cincinnati Bengals players all night. But Catalon, who also calls Buffalo Bills preseason games, will be joined in the booth by regular Eagles preseason announcer Ross Tucker, so expect a fair amount of focus on the Birds’ backups.

“Doing Bills preseason games for as long as I have, I don’t really focus on the other teams,” Catalon said. “But that’s why I think having Ross is a huge plus for us … You’ll have someone who’s been at Eagles practice every day.”

That’s not to say Catalon hasn’t done his research. The New Jersey native can normally fit the names and information on all the players on a manilla folder, front and back. For Friday’s game, which could see more than 160 players take the field, Catalon will be walking into the booth with a giant poster board with information.

Like everyone else, Catalon is most interested to see rookie defenders Uar Bernard and Joshua Weru, dubbed by defensive coordinator Vic Fangio as the Birds’ “foreign exchange students,” because of how new they are to football.

Their first game was just a few weeks ago against the Baltimore Ravens. Now both hope to land a coveted spot on the Birds’ 53-man roster.

“They’re both tremendous stories,” Catalon said. “I’m fascinated after the game how Howie Roseman’s going to deal with them. Do you expose them to waivers or not?”

Catalon isn’t stressed about the game or working with Tucker for the first time — Catalon has had five different broadcast partners the last six seasons, so he’s used to a shuffling crew. What he’s most worried about is getting from Buffalo to Philadelphia on Friday without major delays.

“I don’t typically travel the day of the game,” Catalon said, “but [sideline reporter] AJ Ross and I will be doing that because we got the Bills-Steelers game Thursday night.”

While Catalon has only ever called a handful of Eagles games, he’s been around Philly a lot the past few months to call the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club and some men’s NCAA championship games at Xfinity Mobile Arena alongside Steve Lappas. He’s also not trekking too far away following the game.

“My parents live down in Point Pleasant,” Catalon said. “So I’ll be at the Shore not too long after that final horn sounds.”

Friday’s game will be free to stream on the Eagles app and PhiladelphiaEagles.com if you live in the Philadelphia or Cincinnati TV market.

The game will also stream on any so-called skinny bundle that carries CBS, including YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV. Most offer a free trial. You can also stream it on Paramount+, the network’s subscription streaming service.

CBS3 is also available for free in and around Philadelphia using a digital antenna.

Fans can also stream the game on NFL+, the league streaming service. It’ll set you back $6.99 a month, though there is a free seven-day trial.

Staff writers Jeff McLane, Olivia Reiner, Ryan Novozinsky, and Jeff Neiburg will be covering the action live on GameDay Central. Notes and observations about the game will be at Inquirer.com/Eagles. Don’t forget to subscribe to our free Sports Daily newsletter.

» READ MORE: Eagles-Bengals: Live coverage of final preseason game

NFL teams have been able to keep their rosters at 90 players throughout the preseason. But that will end Sunday, with the Eagles and every other team must cut their rosters down to 53-players.

In addition to the 53-man active roster, the Eagles will be able to carry up to 16 players on their practice squad.

» READ MORE: Eagles 53-man roster projection 4.0: A few changes — and a trade — after another preseason game