Defense Wins the Day

PHILADELPHIA — Saturday was the annual Military Appreciation Day at Eagles camp, and on this steamy morning, Vic Fangio’s defense put on a show.

The practice, categorized as “green,” covered a hair over 1 hour, 40 minutes.

First-year offensive coordinator Sean Mannion met with reporters before practice and LG Landon Dickerson, WR Makai Lemon, WR Dontayvion Wicks, WR Hollywood Brown, S Drew Mukuba and S Marcus Epps spoke afterwards.

The following Eagles were non-participants on Day 3: LB Jihaad Campbell (excused/not injury related), DL Ta’Quon Graham (excused/not injury related), RT Lane Johnson (excused/not injury related), WR Elijah Moore (excused/not injury related), OT Cameron Williams (knee contusion), S Cole Wisniewski (hamstring).

Three players sustained injuries during the session, including draft picks OLB Keyshawn James-Newby and G Micah Morris. On the final play of practice, undrafted rookie G Jaeden Roberts went down. The Alabama product was tended to by trainers and remained down for an extended period. Roberts was eventually helped onto a cart and taken inside.

ITB Photo: Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive backs had another strong day.

Let’s get to the observations.

*Among the focuses during the early portion of practice included special teams, specifically punt protection. Third-year RB Will Shipley was first-up as the personal protector and other first teamers included TE/FB Cam Latu, LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and TE Johnny Mundt. Shipley, by the way, has served as the team’s punt protector the past two seasons.

WRs Britain Covey, Makai Lemon and Quez Watkins, along with DB Cooper DeJean were among those fielding punts on the other half of the field.

*The standout performance of the day collectively belonged to Fangio’s defense. The cohesiveness on all three levels was apparent, providing consistent pressure and sticky coverage on the backend. The offense was overmatched, sure, but it’s important to keep in mind that this defense is expected to be among the league’s best. The young nucleus of talent has played to get for at least three seasons. That’s a daunting proposition for an offense undergoing restoration, to be sure, though they should ultimately be better for it.

*Veteran Marcus Epps is still receiving the majority of the first team reps at safety opposite Mukuba in nickel, but he reiterated after practice that it’s an “open competition.” Michael Carter II, his primary challenger, garnered some first team looks, as did third-year pro Andre’ Sam. Epps remains the frontrunner for the job, but Carter II is intriguing. At linebacker, with Campbell absent, it was third-year pro Trotter Jr. joining Zack Baun on the first unit. The second group of linebackers were Smael Mondon Jr. and Chance Campbell.

Trotter Jr., a training camp standout last summer, has always maximized his opportunities. On Saturday, he delivered again with a handful of instinctive plays against the run, though where he really shined on this day was in coverage. Trotter Jr. perfectly read a short pass to RB Saquon Barkley that initially appeared as though he would take it for six the other way. In the end, the play resulted in a pass breakup that trickled out of bounds. Trotter Jr. was also all over a Jalen Hurts throw late in the session. Hurts fired a pass in the direction of Lemon, but Trotter Jr. was there to deny the connection. He got there a tad early, however, generating a flag.

*Other defensive standouts included OLB Jalyx Hunt and DT Jalen Carter. Carter proved disruptive from the interior and was active throughout the session. He was there to greet Barkley on a check down during a team period, limiting the running back to a minimal gain. Carter also stormed through the line late in practice for a would-be sack of Hurts, who ultimately got the pass off.

Hunt continued his strong start, providing quite a bit of pressure off the right side and often knifed his way into the backfield. The growing buzz surrounding the third-year pass rusher is absolutely deserved.

*Nice two-play sequence from Mukuba during a 7-on-7 period. On the first play, Mukuba charged in to swarm Lemon on a throw over the middle to log a pass breakup. On the next, he beautifully read a screen to WR Darius Cooper, ensuring it went nowhere. Mukuba is playing much faster relative to this time last summer.

*The Eagles continue to split second team quarterback reps between Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee. On Saturday, Dalton got the initial nod with the second unit, but McKee also got his fair share.

*The first-team offensive line was as expected (L-R): LT Jordan Mailata, LG Landon Dickerson, C Cam Jurgens, RG Tyler Steen, RT Fred Johnson.

Second team (L-R): LT Markel Bell, LG Jake Majors, C Drew Kendall*, RG Micah Morris, RT John Ojukwu.

Kendall also gave Dickerson a breather at left guard earlier in the session. Kendall majors at center, but the Eagles have been giving him a lot of work at guard to increase his comfortability there. Kendall is projected to fulfill the role previously held by Brett Toth as the team’s top interior reserve. Following the injury to Morris, veteran Michael Jordan filled in at right guard.

I’m not sure there’s a path to a roster spot, but I’m curious to learn more about Majors and Ojukwu this summer. Majors, 24, spent the 2025 season on the Eagles’ practice squad and started 56 games at Texas. He’ll be a player to watch in the preseason. Ojukwu, 27, brings 16 games (nine starts) of NFL experience.

Third team (L-R): LT Myles Hinton, LG Jaeden Roberts, C Willie Lampkin, RG Michael Jordan, RT Hollin Pierce.

*Just as he did last summer, Darius Cooper continues to show up. The 24-year-old wideout saw a flurry of first-team reps, notably more than Johnny Wilson. If the Eagles keep five wide receivers, Cooper right now would be my fifth. The Tarleton State product is off to another strong start.

*I hadn’t noticed him much through the first two days, but veteran OLB Arnold Ebiketie flashed a bit on Day 3. The former Falcon showcased an impressive bullrush on Fred Johnson early during a team period and later perfectly read a toss play to RB Tank Bigsby.

*After tossing three interceptions Thursday, rookie fifth-round QB Cole Payton rebounded nicely, rifling a strike to WR Danny Gray during an 11-on-11 period and another that should have been caught by WR Johnny Wilson. CB Jakorian Bennett, however, was there to wrestle it away. Payton is a work in progress, but it has to be encouraging for the Eagles to see him respond the way he did, with the reps he was afforded.

Speaking of Gray, the fifth-year pro showed well in his limited opportunities, finishing with a few catches on the morning. While on the subject, fellow reserves Covey and Quez Watkins have also gotten involved on occasion. Covey, who on Saturday got reps with both the first and second units, has had some bright moments, but was unable to reel in a Hurts pass that was contested by CB Riq Woolen and Trotter Jr.

Wakins had good positioning on a deep shot early in practice but was interfered with by Bennett, who arrived early on the scene.

*During a late 11-on-11 period, Lemon had a half-step on DeJean down the right sideline, but the Hurts throw was a little long.

*Second-year CB Mac McWilliams logged a pair of pass breakups during 11-on-11s, both on seemingly identical throws to rookie TE Eli Stowers. McWilliams read the eyes of the quarterback and instinctively broke on the football. Positive development from the 2025 fifth-rounder.

*As a huge music fan, notably of ’80s classic rock, I appreciated hearing Kenny Loggins’ 1986 hit “Danger Zone” in consecutive practices.

— Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is the Eagles beat reporter for InsideTheBirds.com.