Fight To The Finish

PHILADELPHIA – Day 11 of Eagles training camp served as a reminder that the team is very much in the thick of the dog days of summer. What was expected to be a practice of moderate intensity reached its tipping point in the waning stages of practice, but more on that shortly.

Thursday’s practice, categorized as “yellow,” covered a tick over one-hour, 15 minutes.

The following Eagles didn’t participate on Day 11: CB Tariq Castro-Fields (heel), DB Cooper DeJean (groin), OLB Keyshawn James-Newby (ankle), CB Jonathan Jones (shoulder), WR Makai Lemon (hamstring), CB Quinyon Mitchell (glute), RB Dameon Pierce (hamstring), WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and S Cole Wisniewski (hamstring). Veteran OLB Jonathan Greenard (pec strain) remains on the active/physically unable to perform list.

It looked like RB Saquon Barkley might’ve tweaked his ankle near the end of practice. No update to report here at this time, but the encouraging news is that Barkley didn’t take a trip to the medical tent.

Smith and Lemon have been sidelined for seven consecutive practices, while Wisniewski has missed the past nine. Before practice, Smith was on a far field working with a trainer. Lemon made his way onto the field shortly thereafter to get some work in on the JUGS machine.

Limited for the Eagles was WR Danny Gray (concussion). WR Britain Covey was full-go after being listed as limited the past two practices.

Let’s get to the observations:

* Practice ended early following the first true fisticuffs of the summer. During a red zone period, tempers flared between T Fred Johnson and DT Moro Ojomo on back-to-back reps. Ojomo took exception with a block from Johnson on the initial rep, squaring up with the 6-foot-8 Johnson and throwing a punch that didn’t connect. Round 1 between the two was quickly separated, but there would be more fireworks on the ensuing rep. On a running play, Johnson had an angle on Ojomo, driving the fourth-year pro into the ground. As expected, words were exchanged and Ojomo again squared up, taking another swing at Johnson, who then walked away. A wall of teammates stood between the two, but that didn’t stop an enraged Ojomo from charging through and tackling Johnson low at the legs. Things eventually cooled off after pockets of shouting in the aftermath, but the fracas signaled the end of practice.

* The Eagles opened with a 7-on-7 period, with S Marcus Epps teaming with Drew Mukuba and Mac McWilliams replacing Mitchell in the lineup on the outside. The first three pass attempts from Hurts went to tight ends, the first a short completion to Johnny Mundt and the next two to Dallas Goedert.

McWilliams was active early, breaking on a Jalen Hurts out route to WR Hollywood Brown inside the right pylon and securing the interception. In celebration, McWilliams punted the ball straight in the air. Hurts also tried to fit one in to WR Dontayvion Wicks in the right corner of the end zone, but the route was well-defended by S Michael Carter II.

An aside on McWilliams: His emergence didn’t start today. The second-year CB has quietly stacked days, showcasing instincts and a quick trigger in coverage, with a confidence boost that’s palpable. McWilliams has had a good camp and if I had to submit a 53-man roster today, he would be on it.

* When the first set of 11-on-11s kicked off, the secondary configuration again paired Epps with Mukuba, with Carter II inserted at nickelback. The corners were Woolen and McWilliams.

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

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

Ojukwu this summer had exclusively repped at tackle after cross-training some at guard during the spring. This was a notable development, as the Eagles appear to be expanding his pallet. For what it’s worth, my latest 53-man roster projection had Ojukwu on it.

* Midway through practice, the Eagles focused on a special teams drill, this time highlighting the gunner position.

The first rep paired Ringo and S J.T. Gray, with Gray simulating downing the Branden Mann punt. Gray, by the way, is a three-time All-Pro special teamer. If he were to make the roster, this would be his primary function. Others who took turns repping at gunner included S Andre’ Sam, WR Darius Cooper, S Michael Carter II, CB Ambry Thomas, CB Jakorian Bennett and McWilliams. Sam, teamed with Bennett, had an impressive rep, tracking the football and fielding it at the 1-yard line. Thomas had another notable rep during this drill, batting the ball in play before touching the goal line.

* The Eagles finished things off with a red zone period that featured a cornerback tandem of Woolen and Ringo, with McWilliams at nickelback. Epps and Mukuba were the safeties. Ringo, Jakorian Bennett and Shaun Wade also worked in at corner.

Epps, by the way, made a nice playing coming downhill on a Barkley run, setting the edge.

Hurts recorded a short completion to WR Elijah Moore, who settled into the soft spot in coverage, to set up a 3rd-and-5. Hurts then delivered a strike to Wicks along the right sideline that brought the offense just shy of the end zone. Moore, by the way, also reeled in a Hurts heater in front of McWilliams on a 3rd-and-4 scenario late in practice. For an encore, Hurts, from the 3-yard line, rifled one to Goedert in the back of the end zone with Mukuba in coverage.

Back to Wicks, for a moment. Hurts connected with the former Packers wideout on a number of timing-based throws. Wicks, the last of the top three receivers standing at the moment, has benefited from time on task with Hurts. Their chemistry has been apparent throughout the summer.

Late in the session, following a bad drop by Brown in the open field, Hurts fired a rope to Wicks inside the right pylon with Woolen defending. He fit another one in to Wicks along the left sideline, with LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. trailing.

* Again, it’s tough to measure the effectiveness of the run game without tackling to the ground, but Barkley logged another strong practice. Early in the session, he bounced what began as an inside zone run to the outside, eluding Ringo along the left sideline and stretching it upfield. Barkley also showcased some juice on a run up the gut in a late team period. His burst and explosiveness haven’t wavered.

* Daily QB2 update: Tanner McKee was first up, but Andy Dalton also mixed in. Speaking of Dalton, the veteran connected with a sliding RB Will Shipley on a wheel route along the left sideline. It looked as though Shipley might’ve been out, but they gave it to him. Dalton also had a bad miss to a wide-open Danny Gray in the end zone, where it looked like he threw it off his back foot. The pass was high and out of reach.

* I’ve mentioned this a few times, but DT Byron Young is a vitally important depth piece for the 2026 Eagles. The fourth-year pro, working in tandem with Ojomo bore down on Dalton on one particular play during the red zone period, forcing a throwaway. Young also maneuvered around OL Willie Lampkin to provide pressure from the interior on another rep. He also flashed in run support. The Alabama product, who noted earlier this week that he lost some weight this offseason, seems to have improved as a rusher.

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