Storm Weathered

PHILADELPHIA — Gathered under the goalpost on a far field, Eagles specialists — and coordinator Michael Clay — kicked a soccer ball around as rain began to plaster the NovaCare Complex practice fields.

While the team has largely eluded inclement weather during training camp, Saturday morning – Day 13 of camp – offered an opportunity for the Eagles to navigate the elements.

The practice, again categorized as “yellow,” was hardly abbreviated as a result, clocking in at just under one hour, 45 minutes.

ITB PHOTO/ANDREW DICECCO: The Philadelphia Eagles worked in cloudy and rainy weather on their Saturday practice.

Earlier, the Eagles announced they signed T Gottlieb Ayedze, placed CB Tyler Hall on Reserve/Injured, and waived/injured DB Mekhi Garner.

Ayedze, originally a member of the Eagles’ rookie free agent class from the University of Maryland, wore No. 66.

In injury news, DT Gabe Hall (hamstring), OL Matt Hennessy (back), TE E.J. Jenkins (knee), WR Joe Ngata (ankle), TE Albert Okwuegbunam (abdomen), S Caden Sterns (knee), WR John Ross (concussion), OL Tyler Steen (ankle), WR Johnny Wilson (concussion) did not practice.

Limited were LB Oren Burks (knee), TE Grant Calcaterra (shoulder), S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (shoulder), WR Parris Campbell (groin) and DB Cooper DeJean (hamstring).

For Burks, Saturday marked the first time that the free-agent linebacker received on-field work since the first day of training camp.

Light on numbers at wide receiver with Wilson and Ross sidelined, the Eagles welcomed the return of Campbell (groin). While Britain Covey opened as the first-team wide receiver, Campbell also rotated in.

DeJean, removed from the Non-Football Injury list Tuesday in Foxborough, Mass., saw second-team reps at nickel.

In other defensive news, Isaiah Rodgers again got the nod opposite Darius Slay at cornerback during team period, while Zack Baun opened next to Devin White at linebacker.

Let’s get to the observations.

* With the punt returners stationed on a nearby field at the beginning of practice, it’s evident just how far rookie WR Ainias Smith has come tracking and looking in the ball cleanly. He wasn’t fighting the ball. Conversely, rookie RB Will Shipley appeared clunky in that department, watching one go right through his hands and misjudging the ensuing rep.

Smith, by the way, was among the first players to take the field this morning and among the last to leave, receiving punts from P Braden Mann over 30 minutes after the conclusion of practice.

* Not sure whether this was a concerted effort to challenge and pose varied looks for the protection up front, but the defense dialed up a heavy amount of blitzes and attacked downhill, which the offense didn’t handle all that well. In a game setting, several of those pressures would’ve amounted to sacks.

Whether it was one of the linebackers, or safeties Reed Blankenship and Andre’ Sam, or traditional pressure bearing down from Josh Sweat, Bryce Huff, Brandon Graham or Jalyx Hunt, the pressure was apparent.

* As I’ve mentioned before, pump the brakes on the Jalyx Hunt “rookie redshirt” projection. The third-round edge rusher was outstanding, consistently showcasing a lightning-quick get-off and slippery turning the corner as a rusher, storming through and affecting several plays. The Houston Christian product gave LT Fred Johnson fits throughout practice. Full disclosure, Hunt has flashed with more frequency than Nolan Smith as of late. Hunt also showcases some coverage chops. He dropped back and broke up a pass intended for TE C.J. Uzomah.

* On the heels of an underwhelming showing Thursday evening against the Patriots, veteran DB James Bradberry’s performance in the preseason finale will be critical, if for no other reason than accumulating positive tape and bettering his chances of landing elsewhere.

Bradberry, however, looked better Saturday morning, using his length during a red zone drill to breakup a Kenny Pickett pass intended for Uzomah in the back of the end zone.

* Solid showing from rookie CB Quinyon Mitchell, who even saw some first-team reps outside in addition to nickel. DeJean, the Eagles’ second-round DB, was operating as the second-team nickel. Mitchell showed good eyes and anticipation on a Jalen Hurts pass to WR DeVonta Smith during a team period. He read the play the whole way, getting his right hand over to tip it away. Despite the logistical conundrum – especially if DeJean needs some time to acclimate – I’m not ruling out the possibility of Mitchell starting outside come Week 1.

*Some offensive and defensive line 1-on-1 highlights:

OL Mekhi Becton vs. DL Jalen Carter: The heavyweights squared off for three consecutive reps, with Becton winning all three. Carter typically gets the better of most linemen, so this puts into perspective how dominate Becton can be at the point of attack.

OL Jordan Mailata vs. EDGE Bryce Huff: Huff, who has been on a tear of late, won three consecutive reps, beating Mailata with hands and quickness and turning the corner each time.

OL Brett Toth vs. DL P.J. Mustipher: Physical rep that Mustipher appeared to win. Toth gave Mustipher an extra shove at the tail-end of the rep and the defensive tackle took exception, returning the shove. Nothing escalated. Mustipher, by the way, has quietly come on a bit.

“Just competition,” Mustipher said after practice. “Just competition, man. We’re in the dog days of camp, so stuff like that’s gonna happen. He’s a competitor, I’m a competitor. You need stuff like that.”

OL Nick Gates vs. DL Moro Ojomo: While Ojomo has been virtually unblockable throughout camp, he was stood up by the veteran Gates.

OL Gottlieb Ayedze vs. Nolan Smith: Ayedze did well to hold his own against Smith on multiple reps. The Maryland product could be one to watch for practice squad consideration.

OL Trevor Keegan vs. DL Milton Williams: Williams demonstrated his power, driving Keegan back to win the rep.

ITB PHOTO/ANDREW DICECCO: Eagles DL Bryce Huff works an individual drill.

* Between camp and preseason, there’s enough data to determine that Nakobe Dean is far and away the Eagles’ most physical linebacker. When he wasn’t attacking downhill and closing with aggression, the third-year linebacker decided to make his presence felt in coverage, delivering a pop on Shipley during 7-on-7s, as the rookie reeled in a pass over the middle.

* As for another linebacker, Zack Baun, the free-agent signing, continues to show markedly improved instincts and anticipation. While those attributes manifested Thursday evening against the Patriots in his brief appearance, they also translated to the practice field on a specific play, when he surged through the gap to shut down a screen pass to RB Saquon Barkley and tagged him for a loss.

Baun after practice explained what he found to be most challenging in acclimating to Vic Fangio’s defense:

“[Vic] really attacks offenses from a lot of different angles, with different blitzes and different coverages and pattern matches.

“So, just understanding the overall coverages, and that’s something that my buddy Andrew Van Ginkel told me. That was his No. 1 piece of advice, understand the coverage as a whole. And then everyone kind of plugs-and-plays and does different things off that.”

* For much of training camp, and through two preseason games, veteran TE C.J. Uzomah had been a consistent “stock down” candidate, failing to emerge from a crowded field. But with Jenkins and Okwuegbunam out and Calcaterra limited, Uzomah seized his opportunity. He reeled in a handful of passes over the course of practice, but the ones that stood out were a laser down the seam from Hurts and back shoulder snag from QB Tanner McKee. Time is limited, but given the sudden snap vacancy, Uzomah has some time to gain ground.

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