On The Move

PHILADELPHIA – Following a scheduled day off, the Eagles returned to the NovaCare Complex practice fields, kicking off their final three training camp sessions of the summer. Overcast skies and steady rain for much of the morning did little to impact a fast-flowing, high-energy practice that featured 11-on-11s, offensive line and defensive line one-on-ones and special teams work. The team practiced in shorts and shells.

As for Monday’s status report, WR A.J. Brown (hamstring), CB Tariq Castro-Fields (hamstring), S Lewis Cine (groin), G Landon Dickerson (knee) and CB Brandon Johnson (groin) didn’t practice.

Notes: Per usual, Brown was on the practice field taking in practice. At one point, I spotted Brown chatting with GM Howie Roseman. Castro-Fields and Johnson are new additions to the status report. And after practice, I spotted Cine – who has battled injuries this summer – getting some work in on the opposite side of the practice fields.

Limited for the Eagles were G Kenyon Green (shoulder), T Lane Johnson (rest) and CB A.J. Woods (illness).

Note: Green saw an upgrade in his practice status for the first time in a couple weeks.

The session covered 1 hour, 43 minutes. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio addressed the media prior to practice.

ITB PHOTO/ANDREW DICECCO: Lots of depth chart movement at Eagles training camp following the second preseason game.

Let’s get to the practice observations:

* The cornerback conundrum opposite Quinyon Mitchell has been the football equivalent to musical chairs, but Monday’s session brought a pair of interesting twists. Veteran Adoree’ Jackson aligned opposite Mitchell to start, and for the first time this summer, versatile second-year DB Cooper DeJean saw some work outside, albeit in the base package.

When the defense shifted to nickel, DeJean returned to his normal role. Rookie fifth-round pick Mac McWilliams also saw some first team work on the perimeter. Interestingly, for the first time in camp, Kelee Ringo failed to yield a first-team rep. Feels as though the third-year pro has officially fallen behind in the race.

One play in particular that highlighted Ringo’s uneven summer was when he surrendered a catch to rookie WR Darius Cooper on a comeback route. He wasn’t in the vicinity of the completion.

As I’ve said recently, if a game were to be played tomorrow, Jackson likely gets the nod at CB2. This week will be especially critical for Jakorian Bennett and McWilliams, who will also be afforded ample opportunities to surge ahead.

* For the first time since the earliest days of training camp, LB Zack Baun entered the session without an injury designation, joining the first unit in 11-on-11s alongside (initially) second-year pro Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Rookie Jihaad Campbell also mixed in opposite Baun, unveiling the much-anticipated tandem that you’ll see plenty of this season. Baun and Campbell, who ideally complement one another, make for a dynamic, explosive set of second-level defenders.

Baun made a nice reactive play in the right flat during a team period, pouncing on a low McKee throw to TE Cameron Latu to negate the completion.

* Leading up to Saturday afternoon’s clash with the Browns, I was of the belief that if rookie S Drew Mukuba showed well, it would be enough to eat into Sydney Brown‘s first-team reps. Well, on Monday, it was Mukuba – who accounted for two takeaways in the loss – taking the lion’s share of the first-team reps opposite Reed Blankenship. Brown worked with the second unit, alongside Tristin McCollum. A lot can change, obviously, but it feels like Mukuba is playing his way into a starting job.

* In the absence of RG Landon Dickerson, seventh-year pro Brett Toth had been exclusively filling in as the first-team left guard. While Toth opened the session in his usual spot, Darian Kinnard also received some work at the position with the first unit. As I’ve noted previously, keep an eye on Kinnard. At right tackle, with Lane Johnson resting, veteran Matt Pryor joined the first unit.

For those curious, the second-team tackles were Myles Hinton (LT) and Kendall Lamm (RT).

* Strong showing from QB Jalen Hurts, who had an active day throwing the football. Among the highlights included a dart between CB Quinyon Mitchell and S Reed Blankenship to WR Darius Cooper for a big gain and a strike to WR Johnny Wilson along the left sideline, with Mitchell and OLB Jalyx Hunt converging.

During a scramble drill, where Hurts scanned and held the ball while keeping his eyes downfield, he rifled a pass to TE Kylen Granson in the front portion of the end zone in the middle of the field with Baun in coverage. Hurts also fired a tight-window throw over the middle to TE Dallas Goedert, who reeled it in in stride despite sticky coverage on the play from Trotter Jr.

* It’s been well documented that Jahan Dotson has returned to form in his first training camp with the Eagles, but Monday might have been his best day of the summer. The fourth-year wideout had a step on CB Quinyon Mitchell on a crosser on the far side of the field and managed to find the soft spot in coverage on another completion, sitting in front of Cooper DeJean for the easy pitch-and-catch. Dotson also beat DeJean on a slant route. Dotson, the intended target on a Hurts deep heave to the end zone with Drew Mukuba in coverage, could have secured the play of the day, but the pass sailed.

* Active day for LB Jihaad Campbell, who charged to breakup a short throw to Goedert early in the session and stormed into the backfield to tally a pass deflection. Campbell also appears to be growing more comfortable and anticipatory in coverage, as evidenced by his range in getting over to impede progress on a short completion to RB Will Shipley.

* Eagles DC Vic Fangio has mentioned third-year DT Byron Young at different points this camp. Young, who was dealing with a groin injury earlier in camp that kept him out of the preseason opener, saw some first-team reps during 11-on-11s. Young also flashed a bit against the Browns, prompting me to ask Fangio this morning about his observations:

“I was, number one, pleased that he was able to take the amount of reps that he did,” he said. “He missed about a week or so of their camp, too. I think he’s been getting better and better and was pleased with his play overall.”

* The Eagles in the middle of practice held a backup up situational period, with the first and second units each afforded an opportunity to move the ball. Here’s how it went:

First team: DT Jalen Carter knifed through the line to stuff RB Saquon Barkley.

Second team: RB A.J. Dillon plowed forward for a few before being swarmed by a host of white jerseys.

* TE Harrison Bryant wasn’t going to make the Eagles’ 53-man roster, narrowing the crowded field in contention for the No. 3 job to a two-way battle between Kylen Granson and E.J. Jenkins. While Granson had clearly surpassed the others, Jenkins has had positive moments. Today, though, he had a rough go of it. On a three-play sequence late in practice, the 6-foot-6, 260-pound tight end was the intended target all three times. The first play was a laser down the seam from QB Tanner McKee, with S Tristin McCollum and LB Smael Mondon Jr. in coverage. Jenkins bobbled the ball before it dropped incomplete. Next, Jenkins was unable to corral a short crosser on the left side of the field. McKee then tried to connect with Jenkins on a corner route with Brown bearing down, but it would have been a difficult grab.

* Some down-the-roster notes: QB Kyle McCord delivered consecutive completions to TE Nick Muse. Muse made a diving catch on the first, but McCord threw with anticipation on the other, hitting Muse over the middle. Second-year S Andre’ Sam showcased impressive closing speed late in the session, getting a hand in to breakup a Dorian Thompson-Robinson pass to Latu on a crossing route.

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