Sunday marked the fourteenth Philadelphia Eagles training camp practice ahead of the 2024 season. The Birds were wearing pads for a long session that lasted nearly two hours and featured a scrimmage format. Here’s what I observed at the NovaCare Complex.
EAGLES PRACTICE NOTES
• JALEN HURTS UPDATE:
Hurts did not have great protection with the defensive line getting the most of an Eagles offensive line that was without Lane Johnson for the entire practice and Mekhi Becton for a portion of practice.
The positive: 14 practices in, still zero interceptions thrown. Hurts threw to a wide open Dallas Goedert, who seemed to benefit from either a rub route or a busted coverage. Backed up at the Eagles’ own 1-yard line, Hurts made a quick throw to DeVonta Smith on a slant to create some breathing room to operate. Hurts completed another short pass to Goedert for a first down. On the same drive, he lofted a pass to DeVonta that was caught for a chunk gain and drew awe from limited Eagles fans in attendance. Hurts hit a crossing Goedert, who fought through being taken to the ground as the ball arrived, in the front right corner of the end zone for a touchdown. Hurts had another good touch pass to A.J. Brown for about 15 yards with Isaiah Rodgers just unable to range over to the receiver from his spot in a zone coverage.
The negative: Hurts made an ugly and off target throw to Goedert while running to his left to get away from pressure. Hurts overthrew Brown on a fade pass in the back right corner of the end zone, though Darius Slay deserves some credit for getting his arm up and in the way of Brown’s sight to block the receiver’s ability to fully track the ball. Hurts overthrew Brown again on a pass in the flat. Hurts had a ball thrown to DeVonta Smith in traffic go incomplete with Quinyon Mitchell having good coverage.
The big news is that Mekhi Becton limped off the field to leave practice early. With Tyler Steen (ankle) missing a second straight practice, it was Brett Toth who filled in at first-team right guard.
Lane Johnson (veteran rest day) did not practice. His absence was noticeable.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson (shoulder), Cooper DeJean (hamstring), Grant Calcaterra (shoulder), and Oren Burks (knee) were all listed as limited. CJGJ, DeJean, and Calcaterra all took part in some team drills. I don’t specifically remember seeing Burks in team drills but he may have been.
Gabe Hall (hamstring), Matt Hennessy (back), E.J. Jenkins (knee), Joseph Ngata (ankle), Caden Sterns (knee), John Ross (concussion), and Johnny Wilson (concussion) all missed practice again.
Parris Campbell (groin) was upgraded to full participation.
For the second day in a row, Landon Dickerson appeared to be in some pain/discomfort but was able to finish practice.
Sydney Brown is still on active/PUP.
• LINEBACKER TRAINING CAMP BATTLE: Zack Baun and Devin White were the first first-team linebackers once again. But the Eagles continue to rotate their starting linebackers and it was Nakobe Dean who shined the brightest.
Dean looked so good that I started to wonder if I’ve ever seen a better practice by an Eagles linebacker. He was everywhere out there! Dean put a physical pop on Tyrion Davis-Price on a short run up the middle. He celebrated making a “tackle” on a Saquon Barkley run for little gain. He blew up another run between the tackles that went for no gain. He knocked Will Shipley to the ground immediately after the rookie made a catch in the flat. He got his hand on a Hurts throw to DeVonta Smith in the flat to break it up. Dean also got to Hurts on a blitz for a likely “sack.” There are still questions about Dean dropping back into coverage but there’s little question can make an impact when he’s moving downhill. Dean seemed to play with more swagger and energy than I’ve ever seen from him today. He was playing loose, in a good way.
It was also a good day for Jeremiah Trotter Jr. JTJ initially gave up a catch to Grant Calcaterra but immediately shoved him from behind to cause the tight end to drop the ball. JTJ also deflected a pass at the line and knocked down a short Pickett throw over the middle.
• CORNERBACK TRAINING CAMP BATTLE: Isaiah Rodgers took the first first-team cornerback reps across from Darius Slay in 11-on-11. That’s now 11 days for Rodgers (10 in a row) and three for Kelee Ringo. Neither Rodgers nor Ringo stood out to me in a major way. Quinyon Mitchell stood out in a bad way when he had his ankles broken while trying to get in position for a tackle after DeVonta made a short catch and cut back upfield. Mitchell got some redemption later in practice by covering DeVonta effectively to prevent a Hurts touchdown pass. Cooper DeJean allowed a short catch to Britain Covey but was there to light him up (for non-live tackling practice standards, at least) and send him to the ground.
• QB2 TRAINING CAMP BATTLE: Neither Kenny Pickett nor Tanner McKee looked very good.
Pickett had at least five passes that got deflected by a defender, one of which was close to being an interception but got dropped. Pickett also got chirped by Ben VanSumeren, who flew by right by him (as not to make contact) in the end zone on a blitz. Pickett seemed to believe he got the pass off in time while BVS disagreed. Picked overthrew a wide open Kevin Foelsch down the left sideline for what would’ve been a big gain, maybe a TD. Pickett did have a downfield completion (!) to Ainias Smith (!!), who had to come back to the ball, after scrambling left to get away from pressure.
McKee did not have the offense clicking and he threw two interceptions. The first pick was deflected at the line (not sure by who) and caught by BVS. The second one was a throw in the flat meant for Britain Covey but Parry Nickerson jumped the route and took off for the pick six. A large group of Eagles defenders ran along the sideline with Nickerson to celebrate with him in the end zone and spray him with water bottles. Nice play by the veteran journeyman.
• Speaking of Ainias Smith, good to see he’s been making some catches without dropping the ball. Maybe there’s enough time left for him to convince the Eagles he should stay.
• Josh Sweat logged three “sacks” today. Of course, helps when you’re going up against Fred Johnson instead of Lane Johnson.
• Bryce Huff beat Jordan Mailata for a “sack.” Huff has been more noticeable lately, in a good way.
• Jalen Carter had a TFL on Saquon.
• Brandon Graham looks like he can still play. He’s had moments this summer, including two “sacks” today. Graham totally smoked Darian Kinnard at right tackle for one of those.
• A couple OL vs. DL 1-on-1 notes: Jordan Davis put a good swim move on Cam Jurgens to win a rep. Multiple reporters noted that Thomas Booker IV, who also stood out in the Patriots preseason game, looked good.
• C.J. Uzomah failed to catch a Pickett pass in the back of the end zone on the final play of practice. More often than not, Uzomah has not been a reliable target.
• Jacob Harris made a good leaping catch over the middle on a Pickett pass.
• Brandon Smith deflected a Pickett pass and later nearly had a leaping interception on a Will Grier throw but he couldn’t hold on. I like a Brandon Smith. He would be a nice option to keep around on the practice squad.
• Vic Fangio must’ve been a big fan of today’s long practice since he clearly doesn’t seem to think the Eagles typically get enough work in.
