Back At It

PHILADELPHIA – The Eagles, following a scheduled off day, returned to the NovaCare Complex practice fields to resume training camp. Day 11  featured 11-on-11s, 7-on-7s, 1-on-1s, and a situational sequence, as well a special teams and developmental period. On Sunday, the team will hold an open practice at Lincoln Financial Field.

As for Saturday’s status report, WR A.J. Brown (hamstring), WR Elijah Cooks (shoulder), G Kenyon Green (shoulder), LS Charley Hughlett (neck), RB Montrell Johnson Jr (hamstring), TE Cam Latu (knee) and DT Byron Young (groin) didn’t practice.

Cooks and Green, injured in the preseason opener, were present as spectators.

Limited for the Eagles were LB Zack Baun (back), G Landon Dickerson (knee) and WR Terrace Marshall (knee). Baun returned to practice after missing six and was withheld from team drills, participating only in individuals.

Former Eagles on hand to watch practice included Fletcher Cox, Ndamukong Suh and Brandon Brooks. Jay Glazer of FOX Sports was also in attendance.

The practice, categorized as “yellow,” covered a tick over 90 minutes. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio addressed the media prior to practice.

Let’s get to the practice observations:

ITB PHOTO/ANDREW DICECCO: The Eagles returned to practice Saturday at the NovaCare Complex after their first preseason game Thursday.

* Following the stretching period, I honed in on the punt returners, which included (in order) Ainias Smith, Giles Jackson, Avery Williams, Taylor Morin and Jahan Dotson. Smith showcases such burst once on the move. Looking to see if he can build off his 46-yard return against the Bengals.

* I then pivoted to a neighboring field to observe some of the OL/DL 1-on-1s. Among the notable reps were consecutive encounters between LT Jordan Mailata and OLB Jalyx Hunt. Hunt won the first rep, beating Mailata with speed, turning the corner for what would have been a “sack.” Mailata responded with power, re-routing Hunt wide on the ensuring rep.

I thought veteran OL Matt Pryor showed well during this period, notably on a rep in which he held off rising second-year DT Gabe Hall, who was working his moves throughout the sequence. Pryor was unable to contain fifth-year pass-rusher Patrick Johnson, however, who demonstrated active hands to disengage and slip past.

Rookie OT Myles Hinton logged a positive rep, getting a paw on the inside shoulder of veteran Ogbo Okoronkwo (more on him later) to keep him at bay.

I should also highlight little-known DT Jacob Sykes, who last season played in the UFL with the San Antonio Brahmas. Sykes, signed just before the start of camp, easily blew past rookie OL Hollin Pierce and later flashed some quickness in splitting a double team. He’s further down the depth chart, to be sure, but a player potentially worth keeping an eye on in the two remaining preseason games.

* The Eagles then broke into 11-on-11s, which revealed a CB tandem of Quinyon Mitchell and Kelee Ringo. While Ringo struggled Thursday against the Bengals, my presumption going into Saturday’s practice was that he would begin the team period with Ringo on the 1s. Veteran Adoree’ Jackson also mixed in. Newly acquired CB Jakorian Bennett, in his first practice with the team, logged reps with the second and third unit. That’s always subject to change, of course, especially once fully onboarded from a defensive standpoint.

There were no officials on hand Saturday, but Ringo would’ve likely been flagged for what looked like an early arrival over the top on a short Jalen Hurts pass to WR DeVonta Smith.

If you’ve been keeping score, that now makes six practices of Jackson beginning with the first team and five for Ringo.

* Up first at linebacker were Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and rookie Jihaad Campbell. Well-traveled OLB Josh Uche opened with the first team, as Hunt left early into the session and didn’t return.

* Second-year DB Cooper DeJean again moonlighted at safety in base before shifting down when the defense went to its nickel look, bringing on Sydney Brown to team with Reed Blankenship. Rookie Drew Mukuba repped with the second team as he continues to get up to speed. Curious to see if he starts mixing in with the first unit.

* Fourth-year TE Grant Calcaterra has seen a lot of targets this summer and has quietly had a nice camp. Calcaterra rebounded from the dropped pass Thursday night by serving as an outlet on several short completions, including one in the right flat in front of Ringo.

* Fresh off his impressive preseason debut, rookie WR Darius Cooper mixed in with the first unit. In the aftermath of snaring a low reception over the middle during 7-on-7s from Jalen Hurts, the franchise quarterback was noticeably pleased with his effort. During a team period, however, Cooper was unable to bring in a Tanner McKee pass along the right sideline. Jackson had coverage on the play, but the pass was catchable.

* I’ve recently noted positive developments from second-year WR Johnny Wilson, who accounted for 73 yards on three receptions against the Bengals. Wilson made the notebook once again after reeling in a well-placed mid-range pass in traffic. Really nice ball from Hurts. Wilson seems to be playing with a lot more confidence of late compared to earlier this summer.

* The Eagles also implemented a situational period backed up at the goal line, with all three units afforded one opportunity. It went as followed:

First team: Jalen Hurts sailed a pass in the right flat to RB Saquon Barkley. Despite Barkley’s efforts, the pass grazed off his outstretched fingers and fell incomplete.

Second team: Tanner McKee stared down his intended receiver, WR Terrace Marshall, which was perfectly read by CB Eli Ricks, who jumped the route and corralled the interception for a pick-6. Following the play, Ricks punted the ball into the sky in celebration.

Third team: Dorian Thompson-Robinson tried to rifle a pass to rookie WR Taylor Morin, but CB Tariq Castro-Fields got a hand in to break it up.

* With 7-on-7s taking place on a far field, I pivoted to a neighboring field for a closer look at another series of OL/DL 1-on-1s. Here’s some highlights:

Tyler Steen vs. Jalen Carter

Physical, wildly entertaining rep on both sides, as neither gave an inch. It was close, but I gave the edge to Steen.

Brett Toth vs. Moro Ojomo

Using leverage, Ojomo beat Toth, but lost his footing at the end of the rep.

Hollin Pierce vs. Ty Robinson

Robinson beat Pierce soundly with a nifty swim move. Robinson also defeated Laekin Vakalahi and fellow rookie Drew Kendall during the period.

Darian Kinnard vs. Gabe Hall

Hall exploded out of his stance and converted speed-to-power to win the initial rep. Kinnard on the ensuing rep showed impressive technique in mirroring Hall’s every move, shutting him down.

Kendall Lamm vs. Ogbo Okoronkwo

Okoronkwo won the first rep with a spin-move. Lamm simply had no chance. On the ensuing rep, Okoronkwo won with speed to blow by Lamm for the would-be sack. The veteran pass rusher also had a nice rush during an early team period, flushing Hurts, who ultimately rolled right and checked it down to Calcaterra.

* The final period of practice featured a developmental period, where Thompson-Robinson and rookie Kyle McCord traded reps in piloting the offense. Thompson-Robinson, by the way, is clearly ahead of McCord at this time. Some highlights from the period included a short reception to the left from TE E.J. Jenkins – his first of two catches during the sequence – in the face of tight coverage from rookie LB Lance Dixon. Rookie WR Giles Jackson also pulled in a catch over the middle with rookie CB Brandon Johnson in coverage.

To cap the drive, on a situationally based 1st-and-10 from the 10, Thompson-Robinson fired a pass into the back of the end zone to Morin, who managed to get both feet down for the touchdown. Thompson-Robinson followed it up with another connection to Morin – with Bennett defending – on a slant for the two-point conversion.

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