Big Play Day

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles on Monday logged their second of three consecutive practices leading up to Thursday’s preseason opener, the session action-packed with team drills, situational periods, 1-on-1s and special teams.

As for Monday’s status report, LB Zack Baun (back), WR A.J. Brown (hamstring), S Lewis Cine (hamstring), RB Montrell Johnson Jr. (hamstring), OL Trevor Keegan (back), WR Terrace Marshall (knee) and DT Byron Young (groin) didn’t practice. Brown missed his second consecutive practice after sitting out the second half of Friday’s session.

(Author’s note: Well after practice had ended, I spotted Cine, on the opposite end of the practice fields by himself, partaking in cone-centric agility work.)

Limited for the Eagles were LS Charley Hughlett (neck), CB Mac McWilliams (quad), S Drew Mukuba (shoulder), EDGE Nolan Smith Jr. (concussion) and FB Ben VanSumeren (ankle). Mukuba was again withheld from team drills, as was McWilliams.

(Author’s note: Following Sunday’s practice, the Eagles signed LS Christian Johnstone and waived CB B.J. Mayes in a corresponding move. Johnstone, issued No. 37, is a rookie free agent who at Appalachian State snapped in 65 games.)

Smith Jr. left practice early, as did fourth-year G Kenyon Green, who was spotted puking on the field when working early with his position group.

The practice, categorized as “green,” covered around one hour, 45 minutes. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio addressed the media prior to practice.

Let’s get to the practice observations:

ITB PHOTO: Eli Ricks catches a pass during Eagles training camp practice.

* Referring back to the long snapper note for a moment, I noticed Hughlett sporting a neck roll. Not sure if that’s always been part of his practice attire or if it had anything to do with his recent injury. It certainly looked as if the veteran was snapping gingerly, as several of his early reps appeared to lack velocity. Something to keep an eye on. Johnstone, on the other hand, looked sharp in his opportunities.

* Before coming together for the first team period of the morning, the Eagles conducted a period of 1-on-1s, with the OL/DL on the middle field and WR/DBs on another. Here’s what I saw from the latter:

WR Darius Cooper vs. CB Kelee Ringo

Cooper won on a nifty inside-out move, creating separation from Ringo for an easy completion over the middle.

WR Ainias Smith vs. DB Cooper DeJean

Smith slipped past DeJean down the far sideline, but the pass was overthrown.

WR Jahan Dotson vs. CB Eli Ricks

To my eye, Ricks played this one perfectly, running stride for stride with Dotson along the right sideline and attacking the catch point to negate a completion. The referee, however, saw it differently, as Ricks was flagged for defensive pass interference. Much to his disbelief.

WR Elijah Cooks vs. CB Adoree’ Jackson

Cooks used his frame well here to shield Jackson and hauled in the slant from Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

WR Giles Jackson vs. CB Brandon Johnson

Running a Go route, Jackson had position on Johnson, but failed to reel in the throw from Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

WR Johnny Wilson vs. CB Parry Nickerson

Jalen Hurts rifled an on-the-money deep shot down the left sideline into the breadbasket of Wilson with Nickerson trailing.

WR Darius Cooper vs. CB Kelee Ringo: Part II

Hurts tested Ringo deep, and the third-year CB failed to get his head around. He was called for a defensive pass interference.

WR DeVonta Smith vs. CB Quinyon Mitchell

This matchup was highly entertaining. This time, Mitchell swarmed Smith, running a slant, and got a hand in to deny the completion.

WR Jahan Dotson vs. CB Eli Ricks: Part II

Dotson pulled away from Ricks, who appeared to stop mid-route, continuing up the right sideline to run under the throw.

WR Taylor Morin vs. CB Brandon Johnson

The rookie wide receiver won early on an inside release, creating plenty of separation to pull in the throw over the middle.

WR Elijah Cooks vs. CB Adoree’ Jackson: Part II

QB Tanner McKee dropped a perfectly placed deep strike into the bucket to Cooks, who had a step on the veteran corner. Really nice ball from McKee.

* While Adoree’ Jackson had been first up at cornerback in five of the Eagles’ eight practices, Ringo got the nod on the ninth day. The rest of the first team secondary included fellow cornerbacks Mitchell and Cooper DeJean (slot), along with Reed Blankenship and Sydney Brown at safety.

* At linebacker, without Baun, the Eagles again opened with second-year pro Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and rookie Jihaad Campbell, who gently wrestled TE Harrison Bryant to the ground during a team period, bringing a discernible edge to a young-infused defense.

Fellow rookie Smael Mondon Jr. also mixed in. Mondon Jr., at one point during 11-on-11s, surged downhill to tag RB Saquon Barkley, highlighting his play recognition and physicality. Rookie LB Lance Dixon, by the way, has made the notebook on more than a few occasions due to his pressure generated as a blitzer. With the third team, Dixon stormed through the line to force an errant incompletion from rookie QB Kyle McCord.

*Little bit of a shakeup at first team OLB to start, as Nolan Smith and veteran Josh Uche (aligned on the right side) — not second-year pro Jalyx Hunt — were the bookend pass rushers.

* The second team offensive was comprised of (L-R): LT Kendall Lamm, LG Brett Toth, C Drew Kendall, RG Darian Kinnard, RT Matt Pryor. Kinnard and Pryor continue to flip-flop.

* The defensive play of the day belonged to Mitchell, who jumped a McKee pass to secure his second interception of camp, highlighting Mitchell’s instincts and developing ball skills. This occurred during a period in which the second team offense was tasked with moving the ball against the first team defense. Mitchell, by my count, registered at least a pair of pass breakups.

* QB Jalen Hurts showcased both touch and accuracy on several throws. Among those that stood out were a tight window throw to WR Johnny Wilson with Mondon Jr. closely defending. Hurts also connected with Smith on a long crosser in front of Mondon Jr. and DeJean. Another highlight came on a mid-range throw to TE Kylen Granson, who found the soft spot in the zone in front of Mondon Jr. and Blankenship.

* Reserve quarterbacks, at least those further down the depth chart, don’t typically get a ton of reps, but Dorian Thompson-Robinson largely made the most of his. Operating with the third team, Thompson-Robinson heaved a deep pass down the left sideline to rookie WR Giles Jackson, who blew past CB Parry Nickerson. The throw was well-placed, but the catch was even better, as Jackson showcased concentration and ball-tracking ability to haul in the pass. Barkley, among others, ran out on the field to greet Jackson in what was a really nice moment for a young receiver with minimal opportunities.

Thompson-Robinson, perhaps testing his luck, also tried to fit one in in the back of the end zone to TE E.J. Jenkins, but the pass was a tad too high. Good coverage on the play by second-year S Andre’ Sam, whom DC Vic Fangio said has performed well through the early part of camp.

* The Eagles ran a series of situational sequences, affording each unit an opportunity. The outcome went as followed:

First team: A defensive player (didn’t see who) jumped offsides, rendering it a win for the offense. Jordan Mailata, in particular, was thrilled with the outcome.

Second team: The second unit generated some push up the middle – including Jihaad Campbell, who shot the gap – and DT Thomas Booker IV gets a hand up to deflect a McKee pass. Booker IV, by my count, had a couple pass deflections Monday morning.

Third team: Thompson-Robinson throws wide of WR Ife Adeyi on the far sideline.

* Another day, another handful of pass breakups for third-year CB Eli Ricks. Matched up against rookie WR Darius Cooper during an early team period, Ricks charged on the ball to collect an impressive breakup. Later in the session, as chronicled in Sunday’s practice notes, Ricks and Cooks were matched up. McKee attempted to thread a needle into tight coverage, but Ricks got a hand in to deny the completion. That’s been a fun battle to watch.

* QB Kyle McCord had some nice moments, including an impressive throw to TE Kylen Granson between LB Lance Dixon and OLB Patrick Johnson and a bullet on a slant to WR Darius Cooper as CB Tariq Castro-Fields attempted to get a hand in late to impact the completion. Castro-Fields is a feisty, albeit handsy, defender.

* The team went live with the third team late in the session.  Kyle McCord checked it down to rookie RB ShunDerrick Powell along the far sideline, though LB Dallas Gant attempted to impede his progress by hanging onto his jersey as he scooted past for a few more yards. The next play saw a swarm of Eagles defenders converge on Powell, with Gant leading the charge, limiting him to a minimal gain.  Rookie S Maxen Hook delivered a pop on Powell following a short gain on the ensuring play and was visibly fired up. McCord then hit rookie WR Taylor Morin for a touchdown on a quick slant with Castro-Fields defending.

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