Corner Competition Continues…

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles on Thursday returned to the practice fields for Day 2 of training camp. The session may have largely eluded splash plays but offered some interesting looks at times during team periods, with the first-team offense competing against reserves and vice versa.

The practice, classified as “green,” covered around 90 minutes. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio addressed the media prior to practice.

As for Thursday’s status report, DT Jalen Carter (shoulder) and G Kenyon Green (knee) again didn’t practice. LB Jihaad Campbell (shoulder) and C Cam Jurgens (back) were limited participants for the second consecutive day.

Again, my understanding regarding Campbell and Jurgens is that the monitoring of reps is part of the recovery process.

Carter and Green were both spotted as spectators once again, and it’s important to note that injured linebacker Nakobe Dean went through a workout with a trainer before practice.

The Eagles on Friday will hold a private walkthrough.

ITB PHOTO: Eagles rookie WR Darius Cooper makes an over-shoulder catch in a practice drill on Day 2 of training camp.

Let’s get to the practice observations:

* I began Wednesday’s practice notes highlighting the return of rookie LB Jihaad Campbell, who beat his projected timeline for clearance. Campbell on Day 2 again repped alongside fellow rookie LB Smael Mondon Jr. on the second-team. As noted in my Day 1 practice notes, Campbell’s range and athleticism are apparent, and he has demonstrated a knack for being around the football. On one occasion, though, Hurts delivered an on-the-money throw to WR Jahan Dotson on a crosser with Campbell trailing. More on the first-round linebacker later.

Some offensive line depth chart notation, with all three units consistent with what we saw on Day 1:

First team: LT Jordan Mailata, LG Landon Dickerson, C Brett Toth, RG Tyler Steen, RT Lane Johnson

Second team: LT Kendall Lamm, LG Brett Toth, C Drew Kendall, RG Matt Pryor, RT Darian Kinnard

Third team: LT Myles Hinton, LG Laekin Vakalahi, C Trevor Keegan, RG Hollin Pierce, RT Cameron Williams

Note: With Jurgens listed as limited and on a snap count, veteran Brett Toth also garnered some first-team work. Still, it only feels like a matter of time before Toth is usurped by rookie Drew Kendall.

* Perhaps the most intriguing storyline of Eagles camp, at least in terms of position battles, revolves around the competition at cornerback opposite Quinyon Mitchell. Third-year CB Kelee Ringo, entering the fray as the favorite, got the opening nod with the 1s on Wednesday and surrendered deep completions to WRs A.J. Brown and Terrace Marshall. He also was unable to break up a short sideline throw to Marshall, who used body positioning and strong hands to reel in the pass. While it’s obviously early – and you can expect a rotation throughout camp – Thursday saw veteran Adoree’ Jackson open with the first-team on Day 2. In a bit of a role reversal from yesterday, Ringo was first up with the starters during the 7-on-7 period. He did well to close quickly on a comeback to A.J. Brown and limit extra yards, but other than that, he didn’t flash one way or another.

* Another position of note that continues to see a rotation is safety, where five players – Cooper DeJean, Drew Mukuba, Sydney Brown, Tristin McCollum and Andre’ Sam – aligned opposite Reed Blankenship. When the Eagles opened in base defense, it was DeJean who again got the nod. When shifting to nickel, DeJean moved to the slot, and the rookie Mukuba joined Blankenship at safety. Brown, a third-year pro, also saw a healthy amount of reps with the starters. McCollum and Sam accounted for only a handful of first-team reps. Expect the mixing-and-matching to persist through the preseason.

As noted before, Mukuba, despite his frame, plays a physical brand of football – even without pads. On one play in particular, he delivered a thud to WR Ainias Smith following a short completion.

* At linebacker, the first teamers were again Zack Baun and Jeremiah Trotter Jr., though given how active Campbell has been, it’s fair to wonder if he’ll soon work in with 1s. During team drills, particularly early in the session, it seemed the offense was picking on Trotter a bit in coverage with tight end Dallas Goedert. Trotter Jr. also made a nice play on a run fit. The Clemson product is instinctive and has a knack for reading and diagnosing.

* For those wondering, the defensive line in base included (again, without Carter) Nolan Smith, Moro Ojomo, Jordan Davis, Thomas Booker IV and Jalyx Hunt. As an aside, similar to last summer, Ojomo and Booker IV bring noticeable juice and effort every practice.

* While the offense might not have provided the explosive plays seen in Day 1, it was workmanlike. Specifically, I thought Jalen Hurts was surgical, making quick decisions and fitting passes into tight windows. While the vast majority of throws were of the short-to-intermediate variety, Hurts kept the offense on schedule. Notably, Hurts delivered passes with timing and pinpoint accuracy on multiple occasions to WRs DeVonta Smith and Jahan Dotson, as well as Goedert. Dotson, by the way, looks to be in a rhythm following his first offseason with the team. Dating back to last summer, the ball just doesn’t touch the ground all that often with Hurts at the helm. The lone blemish came on a short pass over the middle to Smith, when Baun got a hand in to bat it away.

*A lot of RB A.J. Dillon. The veteran running back handled a number of carries out of the backfield and looked springy busting through the line. My thinking here is that the team is getting some tread on Dillon’s tires ahead of when the pads come on. Dillon, of course, missed the 2024 season due to a neck injury, ahead of when the pads come on. As for Will Shipley, the second-year running back made the notebook after he bobbled and dropped a Hurts pass in the flat.

* I’m the type to hone in on individual drills, and today, I focused on wide receivers. For what it’s worth, second-year WR Ainias Smith looks far more confident this summer and has caught the ball cleanly. He reeled in a difficult over-the-shoulder catch that highlighted his ball-tracking ability. Needless to say, this is a huge summer for the 24-year-old.

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