Short Staffed

PHILADELPHIA — The pads were popping Tuesday morning at the Jefferson Health Training Complex for the first time this summer. The Eagles, forced indoors Monday due to heavy rain in the area, returned to the practice fields in near-perfect conditions.

Tuesday’s fully-padded session, categorized as “green,” covered 1 hour, 50 minutes, making it the longest of the summer.

The following Eagles were non-participants on Day 5: WR Makai Lemon (hamstring), OLB Keyshawn James-Newby (ankle), RT Lane Johnson (excused/not injury related), G Micah Morris (shoulder), G Jaeden Roberts (calf contusion), WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring), S Cole Wisniewski (hamstring). Veteran OLB Jonathan Greenard (pec strain) remains on the active/physically unable to perform list.

Hamstring injuries can be fickle, especially for those playing a skill position like Lemon and Smith, but it isn’t expected to be a long-term issue.

ITB PHOTO: The Philadelphia Eagles were in full pads on Tuesday.

Now, let’s get to the observations.

*Before delving into the notebook, let’s get this out of the way: The offense didn’t have an especially sharp practice Tuesday morning. There’s a good bit of context that’s required, however. The offense was without Hall of Fame RT Lane Johnson and two of its top three wide receivers in Smith and Lemon. Britain Covey, who opened with the first unit to start practice, also exited early. By the end of practice, the first-team wide receivers were Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, Darius Cooper and Elijah Moore. Important to keep in mind. Still, though, were also far too many penalties, some even taking touchdowns off the board, throughout the disjointed session. A contrast to the progress made Monday on the offensive side. This, of course, makes Tuesday’s practice challenging to evaluate.

QB Jalen Hurts attempted to push the ball downfield to open things up, but the veteran QB didn’t receive much help from his supporting cast. The first occurred early in the session, with Hurts hoisting a deep shot to WR Hollywood Brown into coverage. S Michael Carter II was there to make the interception, Hurts’ second of the summer. Hurts then tried another deep shot to WR Quez Watkins, who couldn’t locate the football as CB Tariq Castro-Fields and S Maximus Pulley swarmed. Hurts would later attempt another deep try, this one down the left sideline, to Brown. CB Quinyon Mitchell and S Drew Mukuba were there, but that’s probably one Brown should have pulled in.

RB Will Shipley, usually sure-handed, was unable to haul in a Hurts wheel route during an early team period. The third-year running back had slipped behind LB Smael Mondon Jr. and likely would’ve strolled into the end zone, but failed to look it in.

*Practice began with special teams drills on a near field. I focused my attention on the kick coverage group, observing who was repping with what appeared to be the first unit. Some of those players included CB Kelee Ringo, TE/FB Cam Latu, LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Mondon Jr., LB Chance Campbell, Shipley and S J.T. Gray. The Eagles might not be able to keep all 10 of the players working with that first group, but that’s a pretty strong nucleus.

*Some highlights from the first WR/DB 1-on-1s:

Brown separated from CB Riq Woolen on a comeback for an easy pitch-and-catch from Jalen Hurts.

Moore bested DB Cooper DeJean on multiple occasions, with Moore showcasing quick feet and savvy route-running. The Ole Miss product has shown up in every practice.

CB Quinyon Mitchell blanketed Wicks on a rep. The 2025 All-Pro ran the route for the receiver, breaking on the ball and nearly coming away with the interception.

Covey won a couple reps working against CB Mac McWilliams, shaking the second-year cornerback with his suddenness in and out of breaks.

Ringo was flagged for being a bit too handsy with WR Danny Gray. Watkins extended to reel in a Tanner McKee comeback despite tight coverage from CB Ambry Thomas. Thomas would win the ensuing encounter. One other one that stood out was WR Erik Ezukanma versus CB Shaun Wade. Hurts aimed high, but Ezukanma did well to climb the ladder and make an impressive stab.

*Daily QB2 update: The Eagles continue to rotate there, with McKee getting the nod Tuesday is what was his most notable practice of the summer. McKee found a bit of a rhythm Tuesday morning, notably on a pair of high-leverage completions to WR Samori Toure.

*Let’s set the scene for the opening set of 11-on-11s. The Game’s “One Blood” blares through the speakers as the first team takes the field. Woolen and OLB Jalyx Hunt dap each other up before the first snap, setting the tone for a productive morning. Notably, the first-team offensive line was as followed (L-R): LT Jordan Mailata, LG Landon Dickerson, C Cam Jurgens, RG Tyler Steen, RT Markel Bell. Remember, the Eagles were without Lane Johnson, but on Monday it was veteran Fred Johnson who logged the majority of the first team reps, with Bell mixing in. On Tuesday, their roles were reversed.

Second team (L-R): LT Fred Johnson, LG Jake Majors, C Drew Kendall, RG Michael Jordan, RT John Ojukwu.

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

*Wicks and Hurts seem to be building a connection through five practices. There was one play in particular that illustrated the developing timing between the quarterback and receiver on an out-route. Hurts put some heat behind the throw, fitting it in to Wicks, who was guarded closely by Mitchell. Hurts also called his number in the red zone, delivering a bullet to the former Packers wide receiver just short of the right pylon. Wicks made his presence felt throughout the session.

*He hasn’t been mentioned much in this space, but Mukuba has had a nice start to camp. The second-year safety appears to be playing faster and more freely than this time last summer. Mukuba has showcased plenty of range and instincts in coverage and doesn’t shy away from a challenge. I get the sense a big play is coming.

*The Eagles spent some time later in the session drilling kick returns. There were three rows of returners standing along the shadow of the end zone, while further down the field were designated sets of blockers. Among the returners repping were Shipley, RB Dameon Pierce, RB Tank Bigsby, RB Elijah Mitchell, Moore, Watkins, Gray and Toure.

On one rep, Watkins was looking for room, but Latu steamrolled his blocker, Cooper, and had him dead-to-rights.

Cooper responded, defeating his block and storming through to square-up Gray for what would have been a pretty big shot.

TE E.J. Jenkins threw a nice block, sealing the left edge by walling off Latu and springing Toure.

On another Gray return, OLB Jose Ramirez got around Latu to make the play. Nice rep.

*Late in practice, Latu delivered a physical block on Hunt during a team period, driving him off the ball.

*Eventful, albeit brief, red zone period early in practice. On a third-and-5, it was Pierce punching it in up the gut. But the play of the day occurred shortly thereafter, with veteran Andy Dalton navigating the pocket with LB Zack Baun bearing down. While that would have assuredly counted as a sack in a game, the played lived on, with Dalton firing a pass to Cooper into the back left corner of the end zone. The second-year receiver pulled off the one-handed stab and showcased nifty footwork to keep both feet in play. Another impressive grab by Cooper, who seems to make at least one every practice.

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