Green Day

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles held their second practice of the week Tuesday, in a session that covered roughly one hour, 45 minutes.  The session, categorized as “green,” is likely to be the most intense of the week, as the Eagles prepare to take on the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday for the preseason opener.

The following Eagles didn’t participate on Day 10: WR Danny Gray (concussion), OLB Keyshawn James-Newby (ankle), CB Jonathan Jones (shoulder), 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 six consecutive practices, while Wisniewski has missed the past eight.

Limited for the Eagles were LB Chance Campbell (groin) and WR Britain Covey (hamstring).

Note: CB Quinyon Mitchell was dinged early, during a 1-on-1 rep that happened right in front of where I happened to be standing, and held out the reminder of the session. Mitchell was present, though, viewing practice from the sideline. We’ll learn more on Thursday. With Mitchell sidelined early on, second-year CB Mac McWilliams filled in with the first unit.

And after leaving practice early Monday, second-year OL Willie Lampkin returned to practice. Good news there.

ITB PHOTO/ANDREW DICECCO: The Eagles’ practice fields were ready for another intense session.

Let’s get to the observations.

* On a fairly breezy morning, the Eagles opened with a special teams period, with a focus on the field goal operation. K Jake Elliott made all six of his field goal attempts, with a long of around 50 yards.

The focus then shifted to kick return, with the five players back deep consisting of WR Darius Cooper, WR Elijah Moore, WR Britian Covey, WR Brandon Hayes and RB Tank Bigsby.

* Early in practice, the Eagles had 1-on-1s between WRs and DBs on one field – and perhaps my favorite drill – RBs vs. LBs on another. I found a spot between both fields to catch a glimpse at both.

Some highlights from WRs vs. DBs:

Mitchell had a teach-tape rep against WR Hollywood Brown. Mitchell essentially ran the route for Brown, beating the receiver to the spot and breaking on the Jalen Hurts pass for the interception.

WR Elijah Moore showcased some nifty footwork at the top of his route, separating from DB Cooper DeJean to pull in the short completion along the sideline. Moore, by the way, has terrific short-area burst and foot quickness.

WR Dontayvion Wicks won with a good inside release against CB Riq Woolen, using his frame to shield the defender and secure the catch.

QB Andy Dalton delivered a perfectly placed Go ball down the sideline to a streaking WR Quez Watkins, who pulled away from CB Jakorian Bennett. Quez hasn’t lost his downfield speed.

WR Erik Ezukanma separated from CB Tariq Castro-Fields down the middle of the field. Despite a diving effort from the receiver, the pass was incomplete.

Working against CB Mac McWilliams, WR Samori Toure ran a sharp route but was unable to complete the catch.

Some highlights from RBs vs. LBs:

RB Tank Bigsby whiffed on a rep against LB Jihaad Campbell, who shined in the drill. Bigsby held up better in his ensuing rep.

RB Saquon Barkley showcased good technique and strength in an impressive rep against LB Smael Mondon Jr.

RB Will Shipley mostly held his own in his reps, including one against Campbell. Shipley deserves a mention here, as he’s made notable strides in pass protection.

More observations

* When the Eagles pivoted to a period in which each offense was given an opportunity to execute in a backed-up scenario, the first unit opened with TEs Dallas Goedert and Johnny Mundt, with Wicks and Brown serving as the wide receivers. Mundt, an uber-physical inline blocker, has caught my eye this summer on multiple occasions.

Working with the second-team, DT Byron Young knifed into the backfield, logging a safety. Young tends to get lost in a deep defensive line group, but the fourth-year pro makes his presence felt when he’s on the field. Whether showcasing his pass-rush chops in 1-on-1s or providing interior pressure during team periods, Young has quietly put together a nice summer.

* The highlight of Tuesday’s practice transpired during a period in which the first-team offense was charged with moving the football against the second defensive unit. This period produced a fun sequence, both involving Moore. First, Bennett charged in from behind to record a pass breakup, but Moore would respond with the highlight of practice shortly thereafter. Running a deep post down the middle, Moore pulled away from S Andre’ Sam. Hurts pounced, launching a deep shot that was on-the-money.

In celebration, after crossing the goal line, Moore punted the ball onto the roof of the Jefferson Health Training Complex. The ball looked to have bounced off, tumbling to the blacktop.

* The offensive line configurations on Tuesday:

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

Second team (L-R): LT Markel Bell, LG Willie Lampkin, C Drew Kendall, RG Jake Majors, RT Fred Johnson

This is the second day in a row in which Lampkin has worked at left guard, after spending the two previous practices as the second-team right guard. Something to file away. And like Kendall, Majors, a center by trade, has repped at both guard spots this summer.

Third team (L-R): LT Hollin Pierce, LG Micah Morris, C Willie Lampkin, RG Myles Hinton, RT Cameron Williams

*It’s always challenging to gauge the effectiveness of the running game in a training camp setting, but I thought Barkley, Bigsby and Shipley all contributed noteworthy runs and hit the hole with authority. Barkley found success running up the gut, perhaps most pronounced on multiple carries during a late-practice situational period. When the second-team was afforded their opportunity, Bigsby, on one of his attempts, was sprung by forceful block delivered by TE E.J. Jenkins, who took Mondon Jr. out of the play.

* Third-year pass-rusher Jalyx Hunt continues to wreak havoc. Hunt, on one occasion, bore down on Jalen Hurts, forcing the quarterback to scamper out of bounds. He also blew up Mundt, creating a lane for DeJean and Campbell to clean up on the play. Breakout season loading. Hunt has been outstanding.

* Vic Fangio before practice noted that McWilliams is “a lot different” in Year 2, specifically pointing to his maturity. It’s reflected in his play, as McWilliams is playing faster and appears to have a much better grasp on his assignments. He doesn’t appear to be thinking as much and has mostly rewarded Fangio in his opportunities. His inside-outside versatility could be what separates him from others in his roster hunt.

* Some of the standout performers of the OL vs. DL 1-on-1s: OG Tyler Steen, C Cam Jurgens and DL Moro Ojomo and Ty Robinson. Robinson, who picked up a “sack” during a team period, produced two impressive reps working against OL Jake Majors, winning both. Steen held his own against Jalen Carter, who is virtually unblockable, and handled Robinson with relative ease. I’ve mentioned before that Byron Young is one of the more underrated Eagles; Steen is one of the more underappreciated.

Jurgens twice demonstrated strong anchor ability against DT Jordan Davis, which is no small feat. Those might’ve been the most eye-opening reps of the set.

The period didn’t go as well for Lampkin as it has in previous 1-on-1 sets, with the second-year OL struggling to contain Ojomo on two reps. On the first, Lampkin got his arm high, around Ojomo’s neck, and on the second, he held onto his jersey. That’s a tough matchup, to be sure, and Lampkin seemed frustrated with himself after the reps.

* Tough late-practice sequence for OLB A.J. Epenesa during the situational period, as he held TE Grant Calcaterra, who eventually shook free and reeled in the target, off the line and was later drawn offsides by rookie Markel Bell.

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