Thursday Night Lights

PHILADELPHIA – The gates to Lincoln Financial Field opened around 4:30 p.m. Thursday, accompanied by a sea of Eagles fans dashing to secure prime seating for an up-close look at the 2024 Philadelphia Eagles.

Under the lights of Lincoln Financial Field and crowd of about 50,000, the Eagles maintained a focused, businesslike approach for the duration of the two-hour plus session.

In injury news, LB Oren Burks (knee), G Landon Dickerson (knee), S Mekhi Garner (hamstring), CB Josh Jobe (concussion), G and Tyler Steen (ankle) didn’t practice.

Dickerson appeared to sustain his injury during Tuesday’s 1-on-1 period, while Garner and Jobe were new additions. Veteran Mekhi Becton continued to work with the first team at right guard.

The versatile Brett Toth – not rookie Trevor Keegan, who filled in for Dickerson on Tuesday – got the nod at left guard. Keegan also worked in with the starters.

Veteran OL Nick Gates, signed earlier this week, worked as the third-team left guard. He’s wearing No. 61.

ITB PHOTO/ANDREW DICECCO: RB Saquon Barkley does a drill with RBs coach Jemal Singleton during the Eagles’ open practice at the Linc.

Let’s get to the observations.

* Jalen Hurts led the first-team offense down the field, highlighted by a deep shot down the left sideline to WR A.J. Brown, who had a step on CB Darius Slay. A short pass to TE Dallas Goedert in the end zone on the ensuing snap put the offense on the board. Hurts, later in the session, threw a pinpoint dart downfield to Goedert in the left corner of the end zone with S Tristin McCollum in coverage. The connection itself was noteworthy, but even more so considering Hurts had pressure bearing down. It wasn’t an entirely clean night for the Eagles’ signal-caller – an errant overshot intended for WR Parris Campbell stuck out – but Hurts largely put on a show. Extremely poised and in full command of the offense.

* Dallas Goedert was heavily featured, corralling three touchdowns and a two-point conversion. The improved chemistry and timing between Goedert and Hurts was apparent during the spring but the connection has evidently been fortified this summer. The offense runs through Brown, DeVonta Smith and Goedert, and under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore the 29-year-old Goedert should be primed for his best season. Moore, known to prominently incorporate the tight end into the passing game, should find creative ways to get the football into Goedert’s hands. If he’s able to stay healthy, this could result in a Pro Bowl season for Goedert.

* Fourth-year RB Kenny Gainwell continues to have a strong summer. To my eye, Gainwell is seeing things quicker and seems more explosive on the move. The Eagles’ No. 2 running back has particularly flashed as a pass-catcher, with Thursday evening being no exception. During the opening second-team series of team period, Gainwell snared a ball in the flat and churned out a decent chunk of yards after the catch, nearly breaking the ankles of LB Nakobe Dean. To cap the drive, RT Fred Johnson cleared a path for Gainwell to scamper into the end zone. For the past two practices, the 25-year-old has been an end zone magnet. It’s also of no coincidence that on both days, it was Dean who struggled to stick Gainwell in coverage. The first-team offense capped its evening with a Hurts-to-Gainwell wheel route for a score – with Dean giving chase.

* Keeping a close eye on the trench play, DT Jalen Carter and OL Mekhi Becton each stood out due to physicality and dominance. On one play, Carter gave the 6-foot-7, 363-pound Becton a hearty shove to back him up and disrupt a Saquon Barkley run. Carter on Tuesday had a strong rep against Becton that made you appreciate his otherworldly strength and power. Becton, on the other hand, paved a truck-sized hole to spring Gainwell for the early touchdown. The battle for positioning along the interior has been a fascinating storyline to see develop.

As for Becton, the 2020 Jets first-round pick continues to appear more comfortable with his new position and, in my estimation, is widening the gap between himself and the injured Steen.

* CB Isaiah Rodgers evened the score with Kelee Ringo, opening on the first team opposite Darius Slay. Both Rodgers and Ringo have each had three days as starters. Based on six practices of data, Rodgers remains my clubhouse leader to start Week 1.

Elsewhere, Zack Baun again started alongside Devin White, with Dean at times mixing in.

* WR Johnny Wilson, the Eagles’ sixth-round rookie, is shaping up to have a role. The 6-foot-6 pass-catcher has consistently garnered snaps with the first-team offense, even repping as an inside receiver, showing enough evidence his snaps are of greater significance than the typical rotational snaps. Though they weren’t able to connect, Hurts tried a fade ball to Wilson, which I suspect will develop with time.

Campbell, Wilson, John Ross and Britain Covey all received snaps with the first team.

Notably, QB Jalen Hurts singled out Wilson during his Thursday video conference and hours later, Nick Sirianni did as well. Wilson would appear to legitimately be in the No. 3 receiver mix.

Sirianni before practice alluded to a committee approach for the slot/No. 3 position:

“As far as the No. 3 receiver, I mean, it can be a lot of different things, but you need different types of skill-sets, and I’m really excited about the skill-sets we have at the No. 3 receiver,” Sirianni said.

“It doesn’t have to be all from one guy, right? It can be Johnny Wilson’s blocking, Parris Campbell’s ability to run with the ball in his hands and do different things with the ball in his hands, could be John Ross‘ speed.

“So, yeah, you’re looking for different things on different plays. Could be Britain Covey’s ability in the slot. Again, not one person has to fill the role of anything.”

* The first interception of training camp belongs to CB Eli Ricks, who picked off QB Kenny Pickett to end practice. Ricks, by the way, is a name I’ve jotted down the last few practices. The 23-year-old does a good job using his length to his advantage while also remaining patient. He appears to be ahead of the players vying for depth roles.

* Paid close attention to second-year LB Ben VanSumeren, working alongside Dean on the second team, during team drills. For as raw as VanSumeren was coming out of Michigan State, the improved instincts and discipline are apparent. For example, on a short pass to the left to A.J. Brown, VanSumeren remained in phase, tagging the wide receiver upon completion. He also has excellent closing speed, again flushing one of the quarterbacks out of the pocket and toward the sideline. Sure, there was a running play up the middle where it appeared VanSumeren was a tick slow to react, but the 24-year-old has come a long way. Perhaps situationally, but I do believe he’ll carve out a role on Fangio’s defense.

* Though a considerable long shot, it’s now been two consecutive practices where I’ve come away impressed with third-year DT Thomas Booker, who plays with continual effort and uses his leverage to his advantage. A 2022 fifth-round pick of the Houston Texans, Booker appeared in 10 games as a rookie and spent last season on the Eagles’ practice squad. Working with the third team, Booker has done well through six practices in providing pressure up front.

* Lane Johnson and Dickerson pulled a jersey switcheroo ahead of practice. Dickerson, sidelined with a knee injury, was donning Johnson’s No. 65, causing initial confusion. Sirianni before practice said, “We don’t foresee Landon being out for too long. He’s going to do what he needs to do to get himself back out there.”

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