On The Come-Up

The faint sound of footballs feeding through a JUGS machine, followed by the sound of pelting against a pair of gloves, compose the soundtrack before every Eagles training camp practice.

Someone seated under a tent, stationed within earshot of the machine, could basically set a watch to it.

Rest assured, 40-45 minutes before the 10 a.m start, the self-starters will venture over to the field adjacent from the tent, snagging passes from the machine and acclimating to a toasty summer morning.

Honing their craft.

Judging by the sound, without even having to turn your head, you could make the distinction just based on the timing.

Second-year wide receiver Joseph Ngata is the ring-leader this summer, typically the first player to take the field. Sharing Ngata’s ambition, and closely following, is fourth-year running back Kenny Gainwell.

The pair is typically then joined by rookie fifth-round wide receiver Ainias Smith, who was widely expected to become the team’s 2024 training camp darling but hasn’t yet emerged in any impactful way.

GETTY IMAGES: Eagles rookie Ainias Smith spends plenty of time after practice on the JUGS machine but has had some drops.

Smith, who said he aims to catch at least 100 passes on the JUGS machine each day, also lingers after practice, fixating on details and returning to the machine to put in overtime.

While the Smith selection was met with intrigue and optimism, much of the allure had waned by spring practices.

Working his way back from a stress fracture in his left shin – detected by doctors at the NFL Scouting Combine in February – Smith was a minimal participant during OTAs and mandatory minicamp. He seemed to be pressing when he did.

But whether muffing punts or navigating routine drops, Smith always remained accountable, confronting his shortcomings with sudden push-ups and extra work.

The six weeks between spring practices and the start of training camp is typically a time when players look to get away for the final time, to spend time with family, or hone in on teaching points from the spring.

For Smith, however, the Texas A&M product continued to work his way back from the stress fracture, in order to give the Eagles the best version of himself in training camp.

Smith, along with tight end Dallas Goedert and fellow wide receivers John Ross and Johnny Wilson, also got in some throwing sessions with quarterback Jalen Hurts at Channelview High School, Hurts’ alma mater.

He also trained with his father, Maurice Smith Sr., back in his hometown of Missouri City, Tx.

“It was different,” he said. “Trying to get back to running again, trying to get my speed up. It was definitely a little difficult, I’d say, just because I never had to go through this kind of surgery before.

“I had an ankle surgery before, but it was a little bit different with this one. It took out my whole lower leg. So, it was a little different, just trying to get that strength back in my quads and my glutes and stuff like that. But I was working. And now, just trying to continue to stack days.”

Those six weeks during the NFL’s rare idle period were critical to Smith’s leg strengthening, as various methods were implemented to expedite recovery.

And while the changes are noticeable, the 23-year-old rookie added a disclaimer when asked about when he began feeling like himself again.

“Shoot, I’m still working to get that strength back,” he said. “It’s not all the way recovered, I’ll say that. A lot of hamstring curls, leg extensions, squats, doing things like that.

“Trying to get my explosiveness back with jumping and doing little things like that. So, just continuing to work on getting that strength back, continuing to work on getting that speed back. So, it’s an ongoing process.”

For Smith, the learning curve has been particularly steep – especially when compared to sixth-round receiver Johnny Wilson – specifically with how fast things move and the accelerated learning process.

He understands that if he makes a mistake, he can’t repeat them.

His philosophy is simple: continue to work, improve and stack days.

In addition to staying after practice on his own, Smith has also learned through his meetings with wide receivers coach Aaron Moorehead.

He’s also spent plenty of late nights wide awake, immersing himself in the playbook.

But development often takes time, as young players progress at different rates. Not on everyone else’s timeline. Smith hasn’t lacked for confidence, often bouncing back after lengthy inactivity or a negative play.

The rookie hasn’t ducked accountability or shied away from the hard work that accompanies success.

For young players, timing is everything, and it’s those willing to push through barriers that often come out the other side all the better.

The best, and most recent, example would be Friday’s preseason opener at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

Facing a must-have 3rd-and-6 from the Eagles’ 32 with 4:28 remaining in a tie game, quarterback Tanner McKee connected with Smith on a 7-yard completion over the middle to keep the drive alive.

The play showcased Smith’s ability to move on from the past – good or bad – and instead focus on the present.

Earlier in the game, Smith had fumbled a punt out of bounds in the waning moments of the third quarter.

In a Kellen Moore offense, Smith’s skill-set lends itself favorably to excelling on speed motions, option routes and setting up routes for the deep ball.

And in light of a turbulent camp, it’s been Smith’s route-running and blocking that have seen the most growth.

Consistency and reps have eluded Smith throughout camp, and the drops and muffs have plagued him, but that hasn’t deterred him from pushing forward.

Equipped with a strong work ethic and steadfast approach, Smith is focusing on what he can control.

“Just gotta move on,” he said. “Even if you have a good day, go on to the next day and the next point. We had talked about that a little bit in camp. You’re not able to stay too high, not able to stay too low. So, gotta stay a little mellow and just keep working.”

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