Tuesday Tune-Up

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles hit the practice field for the final time ahead of Wednesday’s scheduled walkthrough before Thursday’s preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Late Monday evening, the Eagles struck a trade, sending DT Thomas Booker IV to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for CB Jakorian Bennett.

Bennett, 24, was selected one pick before Eagles CB Kelee Ringo in the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s appeared in 24 games (11 starts) and his resume includes 11 pass breakups. He’ll add to the competition at cornerback between Kelee Ringo and Adoree’ Jackson.

Bennett, who was spotted at practice wearing a gray, team-issued Eagles shirt, was issued No. 49 (for now). Late in practice, when the team broke up into position groups, he was standing near DBs coach Christian Parker.

As for Booker IV, who made the team out of camp last summer and appeared in all regular-season games and postseason contests, he was in the midst of another solid camp. With the Eagles always striving to improve the roster wherever possible, the depth at defensive tackle — including rookie Ty Robinson and second-year pro Gabe Hall — made the transaction a logical one.

As for Tuesday’s status report, LB Zack Baun (back), WR A.J. Brown (hamstring), RB Montrell Johnson Jr. (hamstring), and DT Byron Young (groin) didn’t practice. Brown missed his third consecutive practice after sitting out the second half of Friday’s session.

My understanding (re: Baun, Brown) is there’s no long-term concern. They’ve been out at practice every day since their respective injuries.

Limited for the Eagles were S Lewis Cine (hamstring), LS Charley Hughlett (neck), OL Trevor Keegan (back), WR Terrace Marshall (knee), CB Mac McWilliams (quad) S Drew Mukuba (shoulder) and OL Matt Pryor (shoulder).

Mukuba logged his first team-drill work since Day 3 of camp and Marshall returned following an extended layoff. McWilliams was also a participant.

Spotted former Eagles defensive end Trent Cole at practice. Cole, a fifth-round pick in 2005, has the second-most sacks in team history (85.5).

The practice, categorized as “yellow,” covered just shy of 75 minutes. Head coach Nick Sirianni addressed the media prior to practice.

Let’s get to the practice observations:

ITB PHOTO/ANDREW DICECCO: Eagles defensive backs do a drill in warmups before practice.

* The opening team drill was a 7-on-7 period, which featured veteran CB Adoree’ Jackson opening with the first team opposite Quinyon Mitchell. Again, if you’re keeping score, Jackson now has a 6-4 advantage over Ringo, who also mixed in with the 1s.

Versatile DB Cooper DeJean lined up at nickel, with Reed Blankenship and Sydney Brown rounding out the secondary as the two safeties.

The linebackers were Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Jihaad Campbell, with second-year OLB Jalyx Hunt also joining the group.

* While it’s fair to say it’s been an uneven camp for second-year WR Johnny Wilson, the rangy wideout pulled in an impressive catch in traffic and followed it up with a Velcro-like block on a defender on a check-down, springing RB A.J. Dillon down the left sideline for a touchdown. Wilson on Monday had a couple of grabs in tight coverage, so perhaps he coming on a bit.

Other highlights from 7-on-7s:

* Jalen Hurts rifled a heater to WR DeVonta Smith, who uncharacteristically bobbled the ball upon arrival, at the goal line before securing it and crossing the pylon. Trotter Jr. was closing quickly.

* Rookie LB Smael Mondon Jr. had plaster-like coverage on RB Saquon Barkley in the back of the end zone, forcing an incompletion.

* Hurts connected with TE Dallas Goedert, who had position on Mukuba, in the back of the end zone, attacking the catch point and reeling in a spectacular catch that accentuated Goedert’s athleticism and body control.

* QB Tanner McKee delivered a dime to rookie WR Darius Cooper on a fade route touchdown. Cooper beat the rookie Mac McWilliams on the play. McKee’s deep passes through 10 practices have been on the money. Cooper, by the way, has shown up and made his share of plays during camp. Keep an eye on him Thursday night.

* With OG Matt Pryor limited, the primary second team offensive line configuration was as followed (L-R): LT Myles Hinton, LG Brett Toth, C Drew Kendall, RG Darian Kinnard, RT Kendall Lamm. Lamm had exclusively been operating at the second unit LT.

* I mentioned the earlier check-down to RB A.J. Dillon, and I’m not sure how often it’ll reveal itself during the regular season, but the veteran flashed some wiggle on another catch-and-run, this time during 11-on-11s, snaring a short pass to the right side and turning up field for a nice gain.

* On that same series, Jalen Hurts attempted a deep pass down the right sideline to Barkley — running a wheel route — but the pass was off the mark. Barkley had position on EDGE Nolan Smith, as one might expect.

* S Andrew Mukuba, partaking in his first set of team drills since sustaining a shoulder injury on Day 3, tallied an impressive pass breakup on a Tanner McKee pass over the middle to TE Kylen Granson.

* The Eagles in the middle of practice conducted a red zone period that began with QB Jalen Hurts threading the needle for a touchdown to Saquon Barkley, running a Texas route, between Kelee Ringo and Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

* Next up was Tanner McKee, who dumped off a pass in the right flat to RB Will Shipley, who surged ahead before S Andre’ Sam tagged him a few yards short of the end zone. Going back to the well, McKee again dialed up Shipley, who had a step on OLB Ochaun Mathis on the right side, for the pitch-and-catch touchdown.

* The first team again took the field, with Jalen Hurts completing a pass to Saquon  Barkley for a short pickup. Hurts, in what was perhaps the play of the day, fired a laser into the back of the end zone for a touchdown to WR Jahan Dotson, who was running a deep crosser (Azeez Ojulari bore down off the right side, but it’s debatable whether it would have been a “sack.).

After practice, Hurts admitted how fired up he was on that particular play, adding that the defense was in Cover 0. The two-point conversion, however, was no good.

* It’s worth noting the blossoming chemistry that’s manifested this summer between Hurts and Dotson, who has been heavily targeted in the passing game.

* Hurts did have a some passes he’d like to have back, though. During an 11-on-11 period, he had eyes for Dotson, firing a pass into tight coverage that was bobbled and nearly picked off by Ringo, whose momentum sent him careening toward the left sideline. Ringo bowled over an official, who eventually stood up and was able to complete his day’s work. Thankfully.

Hurts wouldn’t be as fortunate on another throw later in the session, with TE Dallas Goedert losing his footing as the pass sailed his way. S Cooper DeJean was left waiting all alone to the end zone to secure the easy interception.

On the play prior, Hurts took advantage of a mismatch, with Smith blowing past OLB Josh Uche down the right sideline and hauling in what looked to be a 25-yard touchdown.

* Another strong showing from third-year DT Moro Ojomo, who stormed through the line to stuff Barkley during an early team period and defeated an OG Brett Toth block to get to Hurts for a “sack.” The term that Landon Dickerson and Jalyx Hunt each used to describe Ojomo is “twitchy.” Ojomo’s blend of quickness, leverage and long arms makes him a daunting assignment.

* Third-year WR – and training camp darling – Elijah Cooks keeps showing up. While it’s been CB Eli Ricks getting the better of Cooks in their recent matchups, Cooks, with Ricks closing in, hit the third-year corner with an inside-out move, leaving him in his wake as the 6-foot-4 wideout scooted up the left sideline for the touchdown.

* Tanner McKee, on the ensuring play, fired a pass over the middle to Cooks, who used his frame to shield Mac McWilliams for the successful two-point play.

*Rookie free agent LB Lance Dixon has found his way into my notebook on multiple occasions. Quick and rangy, Dixon has flashed in coverage, but more so attacking the line of scrimmage as a blitzer. The Toledo product has gotten reps with all three units this summer. He’ll likely get plenty of run this preseason, and the reps will be key for Dixon in terms of development. Keep an eye on No. 41 — on offense (Darius Cooper) and defense (Dixon).

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