Unheralded Heroes

PHILADELPHIA — The heavy morning rain quit in time for the Eagles to practice outdoors for Day 6 of training camp.

Wednesday’s practice, categorized as “yellow,” covered 1 hour, 15 minutes. The team will hold a closed walkthrough on Thursday and finish out the week with practices on Friday and Saturday.

ITB PHOTO: CB Tariq-Castro Fields had a standout practice for the Eagles.

DC Vic Fangio spoke before practice. Some notables:

• On Michael Carter II, Fangio said that the veteran DB has had a “very good camp,” while also noting that Carter II is not only learning safety and nickel, but he’s also the dime (sixth DB).
• When asked about DT Jalen Carter, Fangio mentioned the All-Pro interior lineman has had a “good camp up to this point,” and is “doing the little things better,” to which he attributed it to him being in better shape.
• Fangio also offered an interesting endorsement for reserve LB Chance Campbell, who has been written about previously in this space:

“Don’t sleep on Chance now,” he said. “You guys, when you make your list out there, we like Chance. Chance is a good football player. He had some injuries earlier in his career that set him back. Since the day we picked him up last year, he’s shown that he’s a football player and we like him. Interestingly, last year we picked him up the last week of the preseason. I don’t remember the exact date. It was just a few days before the game, and he didn’t need that acclimation period.”

The following Eagles were non-participants on Day 6: WR Britain Covey (hamstring), G Landon Dickerson (rest/not injury related), RT Lane Johnson (excused/not injury related), OLB Keyshawn James-Newby (ankle), Makai Lemon (hamstring), WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring), S Cole Wisniewski (hamstring). Veteran OLB Jonathan Greenard (pec strain) remains on the active/physically unable to perform list.

Limited for the Eagles were G Micah Morris (shoulder) and G Jaeden Roberts (calf contusion). Neither took part in team drills.

Transaction update: Light at the position, the Eagles signed WR Brandon Hayes before practice. Hayes, who participated in rookie minicamp on a tryout basis, thrived as a kick returner at Southeastern Louisiana, returning 38 kickoffs for 1,070 yards and three touchdowns over two seasons.

Former Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was in attendance for Wednesday’s practice. Maclin, a 2009 first-round pick, was with the Eagles for six seasons. In 75 regular season appearances, Maclin totaled  343 receptions for 4,771 yards and 36 touchdowns.

Also on hand was Hooters drummer David Uosikkinen, a native of Cheltenham, Pa. Not sure if it was a coincidence, but “Day By Day” was blaring through the speakers while the specialists were warming up.

Now, let’s get to the observations.

*Without Dickerson and Lane Johnson, second-year pro Drew Kendall and rookie Markel Bell filled in with the first team at left guard and right tackle, respectively. These reps are invaluable for both players, as Kendall and Bell will be counted on for critical depth roles.

The offensive line configurations on Wednesday:

First team (L-R): LT Jordan Mailata, LG Drew Kendall, C Cam Jurgens, RG Tyler Steen, RT Markel Bell

Second team (L-R): LT Fred Johnson, LG Jake Majors, C Willie Lampkin, 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

*The offense established a rhythm early with easy completions. The best throw of the 7-on-7 period — and arguably the morning — was delivered by Jalen Hurts. Continuing his budding chemistry with WR Dontayvion Wicks, Hurts fired a dart to the former Packers wideout on a deep crosser along the left sideline. The pass was thrown with pinpoint accuracy, where only Wicks to grab it. S Andre’ Sam narrowed the throwing window with tight coverage.

Hurts, who also made some plays with his legs Wednesday, went for the jugular at one point during 11-on-11s. Scanning the defense, he uncorked a deep heave to Cooper in the end zone, but S Marcus Epps was able to get over to affect the play. It would have been a difficult catch, but Hurts dropped one in the bucket with defenders closing quickly. He also targeted RB Tank Bigsby on a wheel route, but LB Jihaad Campbell interfered, drawing a flag. Penalty aside, however, I thought Campbell had a fairly active session that included a pass breakup on a pass to WR Samori Toure.

*Daily QB2 update: The Eagles continue to rotate there, with Tanner McKee getting the nod first Wednesday in 7-on-7s, while Andy Dalton piloted the second team offense for 11-on-11s. McKee’s completions were mostly short and low-risk. McKee completed a short pass to rookie TE Eli Stowers and he also hit running back Elijah Mitchell on a swing pass for a decent pickup. Later, McKee delivered a strike over the middle to a wide-open TE Stone Smartt that was dropped.

Dalton’s highlights included a connection with WR Johnny Wilson, a popular target for the veteran quarterback, on an intermediary throw in front of CB Ambry Thomas. He also rifled one in a tight window to WR Darius Cooper with CB Tariq Castro-Fields closing. Dalton also dished a quick-out along the sideline to WR Quez Watkins, who eluded Thomas and bolted into the end zone for what appeared to be a touchdown. Hurts raised his arms from the sideline, signaling touchdown. Chalk one up for the offense.

Dalton, during a team period, also attempted a deep shot to WR Danny Gray in the corner of the end zone, but Carter II was there to shut it down.

More on rookie Cole Payton below, but the young gunslinger is fun to watch. He’s fearless and confident, sometimes to his detriment. Other times, it’s worked in his favor. He received only a few reps at the end of practice, during the developmental period, his lone completion belonging to WR Erik Ezunkanma, who beat S J.T. Gray in coverage.

* A down-the-roster cornerback who made the most of his opportunities Wednesday? Castro-Fields. The fifth-year pro was there to secure the interception that deflected off the hands of Toure. The pass from QB Cole Payton was a bit too tall for Toure to snare. And on the final play of practice, Castro-Fields broke up a Payton pass intended for Stowers. Castro-Fields, 27, faces considerable odds in his roster push, but there’s a reason he’s now in his third training camp with the Eagles. The Penn State product competes in practice.

*Undrafted rookie and International Player Pathway OLB Joshua Weru, drawing Hayes in coverage, logged a pass breakup during 7-on-7s. Weru is someone I’m curious to learn more about in the preseason.

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