Clock Is Ticking

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles, for the 17th time this summer, took the practice field for their next-to-final open practice of training camp. The unseasonably pleasant temperatures returned for the second consecutive session.

The fully padded session covered everything from one-on-ones and 11-on-11s to special teams work.

As for Tuesday’s status report, WR A.J. Brown (hamstring), CB Tariq Castro-Fields (hamstring), S Lewis Cine (groin), G Landon Dickerson (knee), CB Brandon Johnson (groin), T Jordan Mailata (concussion), QB Tanner McKee (finger) and WR DeVonta Smith (groin) didn’t practice.

Note: My understanding is the team is being conservative with some players to ensure they’re ready to go in preparation for Week 1. Also, McKee’s finger ailment is non-surgical.

Rookie S Drew Mukuba walked off with a trainer early into the session and didn’t return. He seemingly sustained a leg injury during one-on-ones. WR Johnny Wilson, who appeared to suffer an injury to his left leg, got tangled with LG Brett Toth on one of the first plays of 11-on-11s. The second-year wideout, visibly in pain, hobbled off with help from a trainer. He was later spotted heading inside on a cart.

TE Dallas Goedert (groin) was the only player with a limited designation.

The session covered 1 hour, 49 minutes. Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo addressed the media prior to practice.

ITB PHOTO/ANDREW DICECCO: Another Eagles practice in full pads kicked off Tuesday at the NovaCare Complex.

Now, for the practice observations:

* The Eagles opened with a special teams period, focusing on punt coverage. The punt returners were, in order: WR Ainias Smith, DB Cooper DeJean and WR Jahan Dotson. For those curious, WR/RS Avery Williams served as the personal protector on punt, next up behind RB Will Shipley.

* The team then held a one-on-one period, with safeties and tight ends on one portion of the field and defensive backs and wide receivers on another. I mostly focused on the WR/DB one-on-ones. Here are some highlights:

CB Adoree’ Jackson vs. WR Darius Cooper

Jackson mirrored Cooper throughout the route and logged a pass breakup.

DB Cooper DeJean vs. WR Ainias Smith

Smith, showcasing short area quickness, separated just enough from DeJean on an inside-outside move to bring in the short completion.

CB Quinyon Mitchell vs. WR Jahan Dotson

Dotson, running a stutter-and-go, got a step on Mitchell down the near sideline to haul in the target.

CB Parry Nickerson vs. WR Taylor Morin

Running a route that looked to be a carbon copy of the pattern Smith had previously ran, Morin created enough space to bring the short throw.

CB Jakorian Bennett vs. WR John Metchie III

Jalen Hurts rifled a pass in to Metchie III on a slant, but Bennett read it perfectly, welcoming the new addition with a pass breakup.

CB A.J. Woods vs. WR Giles Jackson

Jackson turned on the jets and headed toward the end zone, pulling away from Woods, but Woods recovered enough to get a hand in to deflect the pass — into the hands of Jackson in the end zone.

CB Mac McWilliams vs. WR Terrace Marshall Jr.

McWilliams gave a light tug on the back of Marshall as the latter blew by him on a Go route. Marshall reeled in the pass for the win.

CB Kelee Ringo vs. WR Jahan Dotson

Dotson won early, shaking Ringo and creating space to pull in the short completion.

Next up was 11-on-11s. Before diving into those observations, some depth chart notes:

* With Drew Mukuba injured at this point, the first team safety pairing featured Reed Blankenship and Sydney Brown.

* At cornerback, for the second consecutive day, the Eagles rolled out a tandem of Quinyon Mitchell and Adoree’ Jackson, with DeJean aligning at nickel. And when the Eagles were in base, DeJean again repped at outside corner. As for Jakorian Bennett, he mostly saw second-team work (alongside rookie Mac McWilliams), but eventually mixed in with the first unit later in the session. Kelee Ringo, as previously mentioned, has fallen behind in the cornerback competition.

* The initial first-team grouping at linebacker featured Zack Baun and Jeremiah Trotter Jr., though rookie Jihaad Campbell also saw his fair share with the 1s.

* With the Eagles light on receivers, the first-team wide receivers following Johnny Wilson’s early departure were mostly comprised of Jahan Dotson,  Darius Cooper and Ainias Smith. The newly acquired John Metchie III even saw a handful of snaps with the first unit.

* In light of Tanner McKee’s finger injury, rookie Kyle McCord — not third-year pro Dorian Thompson-Robinson — was elevated to the second team. McCord easily saw his most significant workload of the summer.

* Veteran OT Matt Pryor filled in for Jordan Mailata and struggled throughout the session to contain EDGE Jalyx Hunt. Seventh-year pro Brett Toth again filled in at left guard for Landon Dickerson.

* I thought CB Adoree’ Jackson had a solid showing in this one, logging a pass breakup in one-on-ones and shortly thereafter bowling over the rookie Darius Cooper following a short completion that was perfectly read. Jackson also collected a pass breakup on a short attempt to TE Dallas Goedert, swarming in from behind to get a hand in.

* Second-year RB Will Shipley put on a receiving clinic, at one point late in practice snaring four consecutive check-downs from Hurts. Shipley, the team’s most natural pass-catcher at his position, has such a good feel for situational awareness and has largely served as a primary outlet option this summer for Hurts and McKee. Intrigued to see his role grow in Year 2.

* WR John Metchie III wasted little time making his presence, leaping to reel in a pass from Kyle McCord down the left seam with S Andre Sam in coverage. On the ensuing play, however, Metchie was unable to handle a McCord fastball, the pass nearly picked by Sam, who provided tight coverage on the play. Metchie, during a period in which the first-team offense faced reserves, also pulled in a short completion from Jalen Hurts on the far side of the field with Woods in coverage.

* During a red zone period, the first-team offense found paydirt. Following a misfire to WR Darius Cooper on a comeback (Adoree’ Jackson in coverage), Jalen Hurts threaded a pass to TE E.J. Jenkins, running a corner route, in the right corner of the end zone with Reed Blankenship in coverage.

* Jalen Hurts, earlier in the session, tossed an interception to EDGE Nolan Smith. Hurts was looking for RB Saquon Barkley, but Smith, sinking deep in coverage, prevented the completion.

During a situational period, with the defense up by two, Hurts rifled an impressive pass over the middle to TE Grant Calcaterra. LB Zack Baun provided plaster coverage, but Hurts put it only where his receiver could make a play. On that play, DT Moro Ojomo showcased a strong bullrush against LG Brett Toth.

* Earlier, I highlighted CB Adoree’ Jackson’s performance, but CB Jakorian Bennett also had some positive moments. He stormed in to limit the damage on a short Kyle McCord completion to RB A.J. Dillon, delivering a physical thud and attempting to swipe at the football. He also had inside leverage on a Jalen Hurts misfire to Darius Cooper. Bennett responded after the play with a finger-wag. He’s coming on a bit.

* LB Jihaad Campbell seems to abide by a “seek and destroy” mentality. For perspective, Campbell blew up a blocking attempt from TE Grant Calcaterra — who gave great effort — to tag RB Saquon Barkley after a minimal gain. He also had a physical rep on TE Nick Muse, showcasing active hands and force to disengage. The tight end I saw who fared a bit better, at least on one particular play, was Cameron Latu, who didn’t give up his ground and did his part in sealing the left side.

* While I singled-out EDGE Jalyx Hunt for a having a disruptive day off the edge, so did Smith. Along the interior, Jalen Carter, Moro Ojomo and Jordan Davis provided quite a bit of pressure. On one play, I noted a sequence in which the Eagles overloaded Hunt and Smith on one side, forcing Hurts to step up and into Davis for the would-be sack.

* The Eagles later returned to punt coverage drills, this time focusing on the gunners locating and making a play on the ball in confined space. First up at gunner were Kelee Ringo and Darius Cooper, followed by Andre Sam and veteran CB Parry Nickerson and S Sydney Brown and CB Eli Ricks. During this drill, John Metchie III was among the returners stationed around the goal line.

* He isn’t talked about much, but third-year EDGE Ochaun Mathis has quietly had a productive camp. He beat rookie Myles Hinton, aligned at left tackle, cleanly for a would-be sack of QB Kyle McCord. McCord ended up hastily heaving a pass in the direction of WR Elijah Cooks.

Shortly thereafter, Mathis again eased around Hinton, resulting in a McCord interception over the middle to S Tristin McCollum. Mathis also pressured McCord on a play that resulted in a connection to Cooks, who shimmied around McWilliams, along the far sideline.

* The double horns sounded after QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson connected with Elijah Cooks along the far sideline, with Kelee Ringo providing coverage on the play.

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