The Eagles held their first practice of training camp on Wednesday at the Jefferson Health Training Complex. Here were my observations from Day 1:
Read more Ex-Comcast employee’s lawsuit says they were pied in the face and tied to a chair for low sales
Healthy Birds
The Eagles announced that outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list just before practice. He apparently strained a pectoral muscle while lifting prior to camp. Greenard isn’t expected to be out long-term, but starting him on PUP allows the team to save a roster spot if he’s going to miss more than a month in the regular season.
It’s unclear if the injury had anything to do with his recovery from December shoulder surgery. Greenard didn’t practice much in the spring after he was acquired via trade during the draft. He’s learning a new defense, but he’s been around the block a few times and shouldn’t be held back once healthy.
The Eagles were otherwise full-go. I don’t recall them being as healthy entering camp in all my years on the beat. Every player passed Tuesday’s conditioning test, as coach Nick Sirianni suggested before practice. Linebacker Jihaad Campbell (shoulder), wide receiver Makai Lemon (hamstring) and several other players who were limited in the spring were back in action.
Campbell, by the way, switched his jersey number from 30 to 11. That should end all talk of the former Eagles wide receiver who previously wore the double ones. Right?
Positional battles
There’s really only one “starting” spot up for grabs and it technically isn’t a full-time job: safety. Cooper DeJean is expected to “start” at safety in base personnel alongside Andrew Mukuba. DeJean was there again on Wednesday. Marcus Epps filled the primary nickel role, however, with a splash of Michael Carter II at times.Those two appear to be the frontrunners. General manager Howie Roseman won’t be shy about trading for an upgrade if needed.
There are some intriguing competitions further down the depth chart. Jonathan Jones was the first cornerback up when starter Quinyon Mitchell took a breather during team drills. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Smael Mondon were the backup inside linebackers behind Zack Baun and Campbell.
A handful of receivers will be vying for the snaps that became available when A.J. Brown was finally traded to the Patriots. DeVonta Smith is the bona fide WR1, but new faces like Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown and Lemon, along with returnees like Darius Cooper and Johnny Wilson will be contending for playing time.
Line ‘em up
The first unit offensive line is set, but swing tackle along with a few other backup spots are up for grabs. New O-line coach Chris Kuper will work some reserve linemen at various positions to create versatility. Here’s how the units looked on Wednesday:
A few notes:
Jordan is new after the Eagles signed the veteran guard at the conclusion of minicamp in June. Bell was back in the lineup after sitting out the last day of minicamp. He and Fred Johnson are presumably battling for the swing tackle role, although Kuper could have both active on game days. Hollin Pierce and Jaeden Roberts were with the third unit at left tackle and left guard, respectively, during the period for developmental players.
Mannion mirror
New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion continued to implement many of the concepts we saw from the Kyle Shanahan-Sean McVay scheme he brought to the Eagles in the spring: a lot of under center sets, play-action and motion. I’d estimate that more than half of the plays came with the quarterbacks lined up under center.
Jalen Hurts has improved from under center since entering the NFL, but he hasn’t done much of it, at least compared to rest of the league. There will be more of him turning his back to the defense on play action and naked bootlegs. An early awkward pass across Hurts’ body to Lemon illustrated that there will be some growing pains.
Hurts to be…
There will be an adjustment period for all involved, but mostly Hurts. He’s endured other previous changes in play calling and scheme with varying results. The offense wasn’t sharp during the spring practices open to reporters. That came as little surprise, and neither should struggles during the summer.
Hurts’ first pass of camp was a wobbler to Wicks that Mitchell nearly intercepted. But he had some strong moments in the later team portions with good ball placement on a toss to Wicks with cornerback Riq Woolen in coverage and a strike to a crossing Smith just over Mitchell.
Read more Akira Suwa, award-winning photojournalist at The Inquirer, has died at 84
The catch of the day came during 7-on-7s when Hurts hooked up with Cooper. The receiver got behind DeJean out of the slot and made a diving grab over the middle.
Run it back
The Eagles won’t be in full pads until the fifth practice of camp on Tuesday, but they were able to incorporate more of the run game into team drills. Some of the biggest changes on offense will come with the move to more wide-zone blocking. Lane Johnson said the new system is “O-line friendly” and should theoretically place less stress on the group in pass blocking situations.
Running back Saquon Barkley took the first handoff of camp and ran behind Johnson off tackle. He was met near the line of scrimmage by Baun on his next carry. Backup Tank Bigsby’s first touch came on a rush up the middle after Steen climbed to the second level. Could we see more of Bigsby as the inside complement to Barkley this season?
Hunting season
Greenard’s absence pushed Jalyx Hunt into the starting spot at right outside linebacker opposite Nolan Smith Jr. Hunt will likely play as many snaps as the other two this season. There’s an argument to be made that he should get more playing time than Smith. Nevertheless, he took advantage of his opportunities with Greenard out.
Hunt shot into the backfield unblocked and forced Hurts to check down to Cooper on one play-action pass that came from under center. He blew up tight end Dallas Goedert with an edge rush and Hurts had to hurry a dump to Bigsby that wasn’t caught. And he beat Mailata on back-to-back rushes — one with an inside move and the other from the outside — that blew up pass plays.
Sloppy go droppy
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio enters his third season at the helm with little turnover on his side of the ball. He’s always evolving and will introduce new ideas, but the core of his unit remains intact. The defense should have the upper hand in competitive periods, especially with the offense still ironing out details.
Mannion’s unit had a couple of false starts from Mailata and Dickerson. Brown lined up illegally at one point. Defensive tackle Jalen Carter, fresh off his contract extension, was flagged for offsides at one point. He slipped by Steen for a would-be tackle of Barkley in the backfield earlier in the session.
Goedert dropped an early pass, but rebounded later on a short crossing route. Hurts and Barkley had a miscommunication on a botched handoff.
Back it up
Quarterbacks Tanner McKee and Andy Dalton continued to split second unit snaps, much as they did in the spring. McKee’s first completion during 7-on-7s went to rookie tight end Eli Stowers. Dalton hit Wilson over the middle with a pass only the 6-foot-6 receiver could reach.
Trotter had a couple of run stops, one time seemingly filling a gap out of nowhere to stop Bigsby in his tracks. Former Texans running back Dameon Pierce was relatively quiet in the spring, but he had a nice cutback on an inside rush.
Extra points
Rookie quarterback Cole Payton had his ups and downs in the spring, but he continued to display a willingness to throw downfield a month later. He ripped a pass to receiver Quez Watkins during 7-on-7s, and found receiver Britain Covey on a deep corner route. … Second-year defensive tackle Ty Robinson was relegated to snaps during the developmental period. Not a good sign. … Lemon fielded punts behind Covey and Elijah Moore. … The Eagles return Thursday for practice and will have a closed-to-reporters walkthrough on Friday.
Whether a 2026 draft choice, a veteran addition, or a rookie free-agent hopeful, we’re telling you more about each player’s potential role this season. We rolled out two players per day in a mostly unscientific order that balanced offense and defense, bigger names with mysteries, and locks with longer shots to be chosen for the 53-man roster.
Read more Phillies blow a six-run lead to get swept out of Miami
- QB Andy Dalton, DB Kapena Gushiken
- LB Arnold Ekibetie, OL Jaedan Roberts
- WR Elijah Moore, RB Dameon Pierce
- T Markel Bell, EDGE Joshua Weru
- G Michael Jordan, LS Rocco Underwood
- TE Eli Stowers, S Maximus Pulley
- LB Jonathan Greenard, T John Ojukwu
- TE Stone Smartt, LB Deontae Lawson
- TE Johnny Mundt, DE Ta’Quon Graham
- S Cole Wisniewski, RB Elijah Mitchell
- WR Makai Lemon, CB Shaun Wade
- CB Jonathan Jones, WR Samori Touré
- DE A.J. Epenesa, G Micah Morris
- QB Cole Payton, S Tucker Large
- S J.T. Gray, TE Dae’Quan Wright
- WR Hollywood Brown, DT Zion Wilson
- CB Riq Woolen, WR Erik Ezukanma
- DT Uar Bernard, FB Carson Steele
- WR Dontayvion Wicks, OLB Jose Ramirez
- EDGE Keyshawn James-Newby