Rise And Shine

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles returned to the practice field Monday morning following a scheduled day off. The team has three practices and a walkthrough on the docket this week ahead of Saturday’s preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens.

The following Eagles didn’t participate on Day 9: WR Danny Gray (concussion), CB Jonathan Jones (shoulder), OLB Keyshawn James-Newby (ankle), WR Makai Lemon (hamstring), RB Dameon Pierce (hamstring), WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring), WR Johnny Wilson (knee) and S Cole Wisniewski (hamstring). Veteran OLB Jonathan Greenard (pec strain) remains on the active/physically unable to perform list.

Smith and Lemon have been sidelined for five consecutive practices, while Wisniewski has missed the past seven.

Of note: C Cam Jurgens, who left Saturday’s practice a few minutes early, was back on the practice field.

Limited for the Eagles were LB Chance Campbell (groin) and WR Britain Covey (hamstring). Covey returned after missing the last three practices.

Second-year OL Willie Lampkin exited practice early. We’ll learn more on Tuesday.

Transaction update: Ahead of practice, the Eagles announced a series of roster moves. Added to the roster were DT David Blay, RB Ja’Quinden Jackson and LB Tarron Jackson. In corresponding moves, the team placed RB Elijah Mitchell on injured reserve and waived TE Dae’Quan Wright and OG Jaeden Roberts.

A 2021 sixth-round pick of the Eagles, Tarron Jackson was most recently with the San Francisco 49ers. The Coastal Carolina product appeared in 21 games for the Eagles over his first two seasons. Blay, who attended Harry S Truman High School in Levittown, Pa., began his collegiate career at West Chester University and made a stop at Louisiana Tech before finishing his career at Miami. The 6-foot-2, 293-pound interior lineman originally signed with the New England Patriots this spring as a rookie free agent. He was waived Aug. 7.

Jackson (6-2, 233), who played collegiately at Texas, Utah and Arkansas, signed as an undrafted free agent in 2025 with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He gives the Eagles another body in the running back room.

On Wright: The Ole Miss tight end came into camp with some intrigue as a rookie free agent, but was buried in a crowded room. The Eagles now have seven tight ends on the roster.

Two Eagles legends – Norfolk State head coach Michael Vick and Delaware State head coach DeSean Jackson – were on hand for Monday’s practice and were part of a press conference in support of “One Philly HBCU Week.” Delaware State and Norfolk State will square off Oct. 31 at Lincoln Financial Field, and Virginia Union and Lincoln on Oct. 30.

ITB PHOTO/ANDREW DICECCO: Eagles RB Tank Bigsby participates in a drill before camp practice.

Let’s get to the observations.

* The early stages of practice featured a special teams period, with DB Cooper DeJean, WR Elijah Moore, WR Britian Covey, WR Quez Watkins and WR Brandon Hayes back returning punts. While further down the list in terms of storylines, it’ll be worth keeping an eye on Moore here throughout the preseason.

* The summer of Darius Cooper continued, with the second-year wide receiver again having an active session. Eagles quarterbacks, namely Jalen Hurts, peppered Cooper with targets during team periods. The Tarleton State product attacked the football and showcased exceptional body control on a number of receptions. Notably, Cooper reeled in a pair of Hurts completions despite tight coverage from CB Riq Woolen and DB Cooper DeJean, respectively. Cooper clearly has the trust of his quarterbacks and has shown up in every practice, stating his case for a more expanded role this season.

Here’s what two of Cooper’s teammates said about him after practice:

Woolen: “Coop is a great receiver, man. I felt like just that whole room, they feed off each other. And he continues to grow. When I got here in OTAs till now, every rep I’ve gone against him, there’s no shortage of hard work. He always 100 percent. Whenever you go against him, you know you’re going to get a great look. Coop is a great receiver. So to be able to go against him and battle with him, and see him grow throughout training camp, is a lot of fun.”

WR Hollywood Brown: “I told him when I first got here that I liked his film from last year. He’s improving every day. Strong to the catch point and he’s been making plays when the opportunities have been presented. So, he’s been big for us.”

* Early in the session, the Eagles had 7-on-7s on one field and offensive line-defensive line 1-on-1s on another. Fortunately, I was standing between the two fields, so I managed to get a glimpse of both. Willie Lampkin put together another strong series of reps, showcasing his natural leverage and strong base. Ty Robinson delivered a pair of quality reps working against T John Ojukwu, while rookie DT Zion Wilson knocked OL Myles Hinton off balance on a rep. This period also included impressive reps from OLB Josh Weru and DT Byron Young as well. Young, by the way, is having a good camp. I’d argue he’s among the more underrated Eagles on the roster.

* The Eagles mostly avoid dust-ups in practice, but OL Tyler Steen and DL Ty Robinson proved to be the first skirmish of the summer. It’s around that point of the summer when players are raring to compete against someone in a different jersey.

* RB Tank Bigsby gives max effort on every rep. After bursting through the line during a team period, the fourth-year running back had the end zone in sight. Quinyon Mitchell, however, pursued him down the field and appeared to have a good angle to stop him short. But Bigsby eluded the All-Pro cornerback with some nifty footwook en route to the end zone. Fun sequence.

* On the subject of Quinyon Mitchell, he got the better of Hurts during a situational period. In this scenario, the Eagles were down four with 59 seconds remaining. Hurts targeted WR Hollywood Brown over the middle, but Mitchell read it the whole way, breaking on the ball to secure the interception. In celebration, Mitchell punted ball toward the far sideline.

The offense would make good on the ensuing situational period, though, in which the Eagles were down eight. The offense moved the ball into the red zone with seconds remaining, and Hurts, after buying a good bit of time, capped the period by delivering an across-the-body strike in the middle of the end zone to a leaping WR Elijah Moore. DeJean was in coverage. It looked like Hurts initially wanted Cooper, who slipped in the end zone, but he eventually found an open receiver. The two-point try would prove unsuccessful, as WR Hollywood Brown’s feet got tangled up, rendering the pass incomplete.

“My feet just got crossed up,” Brown said after practice. “But it was a good play, great design, but we gotta stay on our feet and execute on that one.”

* The offensive line notes from Monday:

First team (L-R): LT Jordan Mailata, LG Landon Dickerson, C Cam Jurgens, RG Tyler Steen, RT Lane Johnson

On this day, veteran Fred Johnson moonlighted with the first unit at RT when Lane Johnson was given a breather.

Second-team nuggets: With Fred Johnson mixing in with the first-team at RT, rookie Markel Bell repped with the second-team at LT, while Lampkin continues to cross-train at guard with the second unit. He’ll be one to watch this preseason. Drew Kendall, who has cross-trained at guard, served as the second-team center. He has generally looked sharp everywhere he’s lined up.

One name I keep coming back to — and ultimately, I’m not sure there’s a roster spot — is Ojukwu, who has mostly functioned as the second-team RT. Ojukwu, 27, brings 16 games (nine starts) of NFL experience. I rostered him on my latest 53-man roster projection, but he might be someone they can get to the practice squad. Yes, this is one roster decision I’ll spend entirely too much time pondering.

* Rookie TE Eli Stowers was unable to hold onto a pass with DB Michael Carter II closing in for the breakup. Carter II, by the way, continues to flash in coverage. The veteran navigates space well and drives on the ball. Marcus Epps is probably still the frontrunner with Andrew Mukuba at safety in nickel, but Carter II is coming on. He’s made more plays on the ball.

* Solid showing from veteran WR Quez Watkins, who snared a pass from McKee with CB Jakorian Bennett defending and later made a leaping reception on an Andy Dalton throw with CB Tariq Castro-Fields in coverage. Shortly thereafter, Watkins, who got behind Castro-Fields and S Andre’ Sam but the Dalton deep shot was a hair too long.

* Hurts got his tight ends involved some. Early in the session, he fired a pass in to TE Grant Calcaterra over the middle with CB Ambry Thomas in coverage. He later delivered another dart to Calcaterra, this time in front of Mukuba. Hurts also found TE Johnny Mundt, rifling in a tight window throw with LB Jihaad Campbell swarming.

* Down-the-roster mention: I focused on rookie free agent DB Kapena Gushiken some during team. While undersized, his athleticism and explosiveness is apparent. He flies around. The No. 4 safety slot remains undetermined, making Gushiken and fellow UDFA Maximus Pulley players to watch over the next few weeks.

— Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is the Eagles beat reporter for InsideTheBirds.com.