Dickerson Carted Off At Open Practice

PHILADELPHIA – The Eagles, in front of an impassioned crowd of 60,000, practiced under the lights of Lincoln Financial Field, with the proceeds for the admission supporting the Eagles Autism Foundation. The session, segmented into 10 different periods, featured a blend of 11-on-11s and special teams work.

The defense sported white jerseys with lime-green numbering and the offense donned green jerseys with lime-green numbering.

The defensive line owned the night, penetrating along the interior and collapsing the pockets, forcing some maneuvering from the quarterbacks.

As for Sunday’s status report, WR Elijah Cooks (shoulder), G Kenyon Green (shoulder), LS Charley Hughlett (neck), RB Montrell Johnson Jr (hamstring) and DT Byron Young (groin) didn’t practice.

LG Landon Dickerson sustained an injury late in the session. His teammates kneeled as he remained down on the field, thought Dickerson eventually made his way to the sideline with assitance. He was favoring his right leg and would eventually head inside on a cart. We’ll soon learn more.

Limited for the Eagles were LB Zack Baun (back) and WR A.J. Brown (hamstring). Both were withheld from team drills.

The open practice clocked in at two hours and 10 minutes. Head coach Nick Sirianni addressed the media prior to practice.

Let’s get to the practice observations:

ITB PHOTO/ANDREW DICECCO: Jalen Hurts throws a pass during warmups at the Eagles’ open training camp practice at the Linc.

*Before breaking into 11-on-11s, the Eagles rolled out the kick return and coverage team for a single rep, with RB Will Shipley and WR Darius Cooper back deep as the returners. Cooper fielded the short kick and headed toward the right sideline before being tackled by CB Brandon Johnson around the 35-yard line. Cooper logged another productive return later in the session. Interesting to see Cooper, who dazzled in the preseason opener, earn a look as a returner. The more you can do…

* The defense opened in base, with Cooper DeJean aligned opposite Reed Blankenship at safety. Once pivoting to nickel, DeJean again came down, bringing on Sydney Brown as his replacement. The second team safety tandem included Tristin McCollum and rookie Drew Mukuba. Second-year pro Andre’ Sam also mixed in.

* Up first at linebacker were Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and rookie Jihaad Campbell.

* The first-team cornerback deployment featured Quinyon Mitchell and Adoree’ Jackson, with Kelee Ringo and Eli Ricks first up with the second team. Newly acquired CB Jakorian Bennett soon tagged out Ricks, joining Ringo with the second team. Late in the session a notable development occurred, with Bennett logging some first-team reps opposite Mitchell. That was fast.

* The second-team offensive line was comprised of the following (L-R): LT Kendall Lamm, LG Brett Toth, C Drew Kendall, RG Darian Kinnard, RT Matt Pryor.

* The defensive play of the night transpired around the midway point of practice, with the first-team offense backed up to begin an 11-on-11 period. LB Jihaad Campbell stormed through the line for a “sack,” slipping past RB Saquon Barkley and forcing Jalen Hurts to hastily unload a pass in traffic that was picked off by OLB Nolan Smith, who returned it a short distance for a pick-six.

Conversely, Hurts was also involved in what likely qualifies as the offensive play of the evening, delivering a perfectly placed pass down the right sideline from about 25 yards out into the breadbasket of WR DeVonta Smith – running a Go route – for the touchdown. Smith had a step on Cooper DeJean, and Hurts pounced. Brown came in late over the top.

* Big night, and summer, for third-year DT Moro Ojomo. He collected a would-be “sack” of Jalen Hurts early during a team period, but the play continued as Hurts hoisted a prayer along the right sideline to Saquon Barkley that fell incomplete. Ojomo, disruptive throughout the two-hour session, also collected a pass deflection on third down during a team period.

* CB Quinyon Mitchell has had some memorable battles with WRs A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in the past, but Sunday night belonged to the ascending second-year pro, who bottled up Smith. Jalen Hurts tried to fit one in to Smith deep down the left sideline, but Mitchell, providing suffocating coverage, negated the throw. Hurts later tried to rifle another to Smith on a slant, but Mitchell broke on the throw and denied the completion. Any rep where Mitchell matches up against Smith and Brown is must-see.

* After an outing against the Bengals that he’d probably like to flush, I thought CB Kelee Ringo had some nice moments in coverage. QB Tanner McKee attempted a fade to WR Terrace Marshall, but Ringo’s blanket coverage prevented the completion. Ringo also provided sticky coverage on a McKee deep pass to Darius Cooper, getting a hand up to deny the completion. He also had decent position on what ended up as an incompletion over the middle to WR Johnny Wilson. The pass from McKee was high, but Ringo was in position to affect the play.

* During an 11-on-11 period, S Andrew Mukuba trailed on consecutive reps, but wasn’t victimized. On the first play referenced, Tanner McKee attempted a corner route toward the left sideline to TE E.J. Jenkins, but Jenkins was unable to reel it in. Then McKee heaved a deep shot to rookie WR Taylor Morin, who had a step, but he was also unable to come down with the reception.

* Taylor Morin did, however, turn in a solid showing, registering a pair of touchdowns from McKee. The first was a short toss to the right corner of the end zone, with rookie CB Brandon Johnson trailing. The other occurred a bit later, when Morin bested fellow rookie Mac McWilliams in nearly the same spot on a corner route during a red zone drill. Morin reeled in one of the more memorable catches of the evening, showcasing strong hands and concentration to pull in a McKee pass with CB Parry Nickerson draped all over him. Morin, who also boasts punt return chops, has quietly had a nice camp. Could be a prime practice squad candidate.

* Following a preseason debut that can be chalked up to a learning experience from which to grow, rookie LB Smael Mondon Jr. resumed his training camp production with a handful of notable moments. The Georgia product knifed into the backfield to tag Tanner McKee and exhibited some aggressiveness, delivering a pop that sent RB Will Shipley staggering backwards when meeting in the hole.

*Early in the session, S Tristin McCollum caught my attention. The rangy third-year safety impressively fired downhill, shooting the gap and tagging RB Will Shipley and also played a corner route to WR Terrace Marshall perfectly to force a third down. McCollum has a flair for making plays due to anticipation and instinct.

*K Jake Elliott converted field goals of 39 and 47 yards, respectively.

*The special teams period featured an entertaining gunner/blocker drill. A few highlights:

Blocker: CB Kelee Ringo

Gunner: WR Darius Cooper

Ringo won the rep, keeping Cooper far away from the returner. Cooper, however, wouldn’t quit on the play, finishing the sequence by sprinting down field to tag the returner. It’s also worth noting the Eagles are giving Cooper a look at gunner.

Blocker: S Lewis Cine

Gunner: S Andre’ Sam

Sam won at the line, beelining it downfield like a bullet to greet returner Avery Williams. Impressive rep. Curious to see if Sam gets a long look in that role over the next couple weeks.

Blocker: CB Jakorian Bennett

Gunner: S Drew Mukuba

Mukuba got an early jump on Bennett, who lost leverage, slipping past him to swarm returner Jahan Dotson.

Blocker: CB Tariq Castro-Fields

Gunner: CB Mac McWilliams

McWilliams got an outside release, but Castro Fields recovered, showcasing technique and Velcro-like hand placement to lock up the rookie. Castro-Fields won’t make the 53, but he’s come on a bit of late.

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