‘A Great Competition’

PHILADELPHIA – Training camp in South Philadelphia is officially underway, ripe with storylines and widespread optimism as the team now turns its attention to expectations of a fruitful season.

The assembled roster, furnished with an intriguing blend of established veterans, youthful upside and elite playmakers, convened Wednesday to begin laying the groundwork on both sides of the ball, along with becoming versed in the ideologies and concepts of the team’s new coordinators, offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

While the team-building process and teaching phases are ongoing, the wheels are in motion to navigate the Eagles toward their ultimate goal.

With that, here are some of the notable talking points from the Eagles’ first practice:

ITB PHOTO/ANDREW DICECCO: Third-year pro Nakobe Dean is primed to compete for a starting LB job.

Nakobe Dean Endorsements

Almost as if taking a moment for reflection before hitting the practice field, Nakobe Dean paused before jogging onto one of the NovaCare Complex fields and joining his teammates.

For Dean, his anticipated breakout in 2023 was hindered by a pair of foot injuries that relegated the second-year linebacker to just five games.

Now, the 23-year-old finds himself in a precarious position entering his third season, having logged only 182 defensive snaps in his lone season as a starter on the heels of a rookie season in which he played exclusively on special teams.

Enigmatic and polarizing to some, Dean has unfairly been tagged as injury prone, though there is hardly enough evidence at the pro level to support that distinction.

Make no mistake, though. Dean must first prove to a new defensive staff that he’s capable of shouldering a prominent defensive role and must produce on the field.

While it might appear that Dean is at a crossroads so early in his career, the confidence in him shown by head coach Nick Sirianni has hardly waned despite the expected summer-long competition between Dean and free-agent addition Zack Baun.

“That’s going to be something – that’s going to be a great competition to play out,” Sirianni said. “I believe we added some great guys in free agency and the draft. I’m really excited.”

Sirianni said he and Howie Roseman, the team’s executive vice president of football operations, get excited talking about the imminent battles at the linebacker spot and that they “feel really good about the guys that have been added and the guys back from last year” competing over the next few weeks.

“Now, Nakobe came back in great shape. Worked his butt off,” Sirianni added. “He said to me yesterday, ‘Are we putting the pads on tomorrow?’ when I walked past him. I know he’s ready. I know he’s ready mentally. I know he’s ready physically. I’m excited to see him and I’m excited see that position as a whole.”

Baun, who saw the bulk of first-team work during spring OTAs, also saw the lion’s share of the snaps opposite starter Devin White on the opening day of training camp.

It’s worth noting, though, that Dean worked in with the first team at various points during the 70-minute practice session, appearing fluid in his mobility.

Undoubtedly motivated after having his second season stripped away, Dean was active, flowing to the football and playing with urgency. Operating at full capacity, Dean should not be counted out, making the two-player showdown one of training camp’s most compelling marquee matchups.

“I think for us, we have tremendous confidence in Nakobe,” Roseman added. “That’s why we drafted him. That doesn’t change. Sometimes it’s because of how much you liked him throughout the process and bringing him here. We are really excited about him. He has the right mentality.

“There is no question in my mind what his contributions were to one of the best defenses in the history of college football. I know that just from watching the tape. I know that from talking to the coaches. And then the opportunity is there.

“The opportunities at that position, I think we’re excited to see what that brings. Obviously, it’s a position that in Philadelphia we understand comes under a little bit more of the microscope – and that’s probably warranted.”

Lane Johnson’s Linemates

The byproduct of Jason Kelce’s retirement was right tackle Lane Johnson becoming the elder statesman of the Eagles’ offensive line.

The bedrock of a group that’s annually among the NFL’s best, Johnson will be looked to as a stabilizing presence on a line brimming with modifications.

To Johnson’s left on the first day of camp was second-year pro Tyler Steen, a converted tackle now deemed the frontrunner to start at right guard.

At the center of the action is Kelce’s successor, Cam Jurgens, who slides over from right guard to his natural position. Johnson spoke about Jurgens’ adaptation.

“It was good,” Johnson said after practice. “I’ve had some reps with [Cam] before. A little different without Kelce gone. A little bit different cadence, timing, but getting used to it and I thought he did really well. Communication was good, and I think that’s probably most important as far as getting a new group together, is communicating.”

As for Steen, who played sparingly as a rookie, his place atop the depth chart isn’t necessarily etched in stone. While Steen remains the favorite to seize the starting role and should greatly benefit from a full year playing the position and Stoutland’s tutelage, Mekhi Becton, a tackle by trade, could make it a legitimate competition.

Becton, for his part, has moonlighted at guard and looked fairly natural doing so.

Still, Johnson considered Steen’s first day on the job as a success, while also putting his initial showing into perspective.

“It was a good first day,” Johnson acknowledged. “Obviously, it’s hard to run block without pads on, but I think once we get pads on we’ll be able to tell more. But, obviously, he’s a lot stronger than what he was last year, so physically developed and had a good first day.”

ITB PHOTO/ANDREW DICECCO: Prize free-agent signing Saquon Barkley heard a lot of cheers at his first Eagles training camp practice.

Saquon Barkley Dazzles

Upon taking the practice field, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley was greeted by an eruption of adulation from the crowd on hand.

The ovation would continue throughout practice, seemingly every time the former Giants ball-carrier touched the football.

“I definitely heard it,” Barkley said. “It was a little excitement with me being here, the crowd and since coming to Philly it’s been nothing but love and a lot of support from everyone within the building, the fans, so I’m excited.

“Obviously in OTAs I got to put the jersey on, but now it’s finally here to put a jersey on and come out here and get things started for what hopefully will be a great season.”

According to Barkley, the first thing he said to wide receiver A.J. Brown after taking in the initial turnout and outpouring of support was that he “can’t believe they pay us to do this, to come out here and play football.”

While his sample size has been very small, Barkley showcased the explosion and athleticism many had anticipated since he signed to a lucrative free-agent contract.

Barkley, for his part, did not disappoint, showcasing springiness as a runner as well as his natural receiving prowess out of the backfield. He even snared a shovel pass on one during team drills.

Barkley was far more active Wednesday than during spring practices, when he largely served as a decoy, not only putting on display his multifaceted skill set but also laying the foundation of what can be expected during the regular season.

When healthy, Barkley is one of the NFL’s premier running backs. And in this offense, surrounded by playmakers, Barkley should be able to reclaim that distinction.

“I’m bought in,” he said. “My mindset when I came here is I decided to come to this team because I knew the team could help me for my legacy, for my career, and I know we have an opportunity to go out there and win games.

“There might be games where I gotta sit back and watch A.J. Brown do what he do, or DeVonta Smith. Whatever it takes, that’s what it’s about. I’m about buying in and doing whatever it takes to win games.”

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.