Acclimation Phase Continues

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles returned to the Jefferson Health Training Complex practice fields Thursday morning for Day 2 of training camp. Thursday’s practice, categorized as “green,” covered a little over 90 minutes. The brisk pace with which the Eagles conduct practices adds an element of intensity, even while working through the acclimation phase of camp.

ITB Photo: Eagles specialists got to work early for Day 2 of training camp.

Apart from veteran OLB Jonathan Greenard landing on PUP with a pectoral strain before the Eagles’ opening practice, the team entered Thursday’s session with a healthy roster. That held true until about midway through practice, when second-year OT Cameron Williams went down during a team period. Williams remained down and was tended to by trainers before eventually walking off gingerly to the medical tent. He then was spotted heading indoors.

As for Greenard, Eagles DC Vic Fangio spoke about how long it could take for the veteran pass rusher to get up to speed once returning to action.

“It remains to be seen,” he said. “Obviously, he’s a veteran player, so he knows the league, knows how to play, but we’re going to be asking him to do some different things that he hasn’t had to do in his career. That’s really what he’s going to be missing with this time off. He’s going to miss a good bit of camp.”

Let’s get to the observations.

*The first players to hit the practice field Thursday morning were P Braden Mann and K Jake Elliott, who were soon joined by rookie LS Rocco Underwood. WR Britain Covey emerged from the player entrance shortly thereafter, fielding passes from a JUGS machine on a far field.

*The Eagles continue to split second team quarterback reps between Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee. On Thursday, it was Dalton who got the initial nod, piloting the second unit during 7-on-7s. McKee would later have his opportunity. In one instance, Dalton attempted to fit a pass into traffic, rifling the throw to TE Cameron Latu, but the coverage from CB Mac McWilliams was sticky, forcing an incompletion. Having watched Dalton for six practices now, it fair to say the veteran quarterback is undeterred when it comes to tight window throws.

*Fangio’s defense swarmed at every level. That should be of no surprise, as the stingy unit is widely viewed as one of the league’s best, and it gives the new-look offense quality work each practice. While QB Jalen Hurts dealt with his share of pressure, leading to a handful incompletions, there were also some bright moments to even things out. During 7-on-7s, Hurts delivered a strike along the sideline for a completion to WR DeVonta Smith, who was closely guarded by CB Quinyon Mitchell. Smith also bested Mitchell Wednesday on a deep dig. The chemistry between the franchise quarterback and top receiver is apparent.

There were two other notable Hurts completions, the first of which being a timing-based intermediary connection with TE Dallas Goedert during an 11-on-11 period. The other, perhaps the play of the day, occurred later in the session. Rolling to his left, Hurts fired off a pass downfield in the direction of WR Dontayvion Wicks. Rookie S Cole Wisniewski and CB Jakorian Bennett appeared to have good position — for a moment, it looked like Wisniewski might even come down with the interception — but credit Wicks for locating the football and pulling in the leaping reception. Hurts showcased his arm strength on what was a difficult throw.

*Rookie fifth-round QB Cole Payton had a rough go of it on Day 2, accounting for three interceptions. The first occurred on a throw that was a bit too tall, though probably should have been snagged, by WR Danny Gray. The pass deflected off Gray’s fingertips and into the waiting arms of a diving OLB A.J. Epenesa. On the ensuing snap, Payton misfired a throw to TE Dae’Quon Wright that ultimately found LB Chance Campbell. Later in the session, the North Dakota State product was picked off by rookie seventh-rounder Keyshawn James-Newby. Payton’s Day 2 struggles serve as an important reminder of the inevitable growing pains that typically accompany developmental quarterbacks. It’s part of the process.

ITB Photo: Eagles o-line working on Day 2 of training camp.

*The first-team offensive line was as expected (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 Michael Jordan, C Jake Majors, RG Drew Kendall, RT Markel Bell.

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

*The Eagles toggled with its cornerback depth a bit Thursday, with Bennett opening with the second unit alongside Jonathan Jones and McWilliams. That meant that Kelee Ringo and Ambry Thomas began as the third-team cornerback tandem. Nothing out of the ordinary here, as the team is in the early stages of evaluating its depth.

Speaking of Ringo, the fourth-year cornerback appears to have bulked up a bit this offseason.

*The Eagles opened in base defense, with Cooper DeJean aligned at safety next to second-year pro Drew Mukuba. When the Eagles shifted to nickel personnel, DeJean kicked inside and veteran Marcus Epps replaced him at safety. Veteran Michael Carter II was next in the pecking order.

Fangio spoke about the competition at safety:

“I mean, obviously we’re running Marcus there with the first group, with the Nickel group, Cooper (DeJean) with the base group,” he said. “But (Michael) Carter’s doing fine too. It’s competition.”

*Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Fourth-year RB Tank Bigsby is a wildly fun player to watch in action. Bigsby brings explosiveness and energy with every snap. His urgency and desperation to fight for every yard, with every opportunity, is evident. Bigsby has home-run hitting ability, and I’m curious to see if the Eagles can etch out a more defined role this season for the 23-year-old. He’ll be one to watch once the pads come on.

*The offense has showcased a good bit of motion through two practices, but one moment that stood out Thursday was on an end-around to WR Elijah Moore. Moore, 26, appears to have an uphill battle to make the roster, but I’m intrigued with his versatility. Special teams could be the determining factor here.

*On Friday, the Eagles will hold a closed walkthrough. The team returns to the practice field Saturday morning.

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