Worth The Squeeze

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The Eagles concluded their set of two joint practices with the New England Patriots in Foxborough on Thursday. The intensity was palpable, with the Eagles bringing the juice. The two practices, for all intents and purposes, acts as the dress rehearsal for the starters in the two most important practices of the summer.

The following Eagles didn’t participate on Day 14: CB Jakorian Bennett (knee), TE Grant Calcaterra (back), DT Jalen Carter (personal/excused), CB Tariq Castro-Fields (heel), CB Jonathan Jones (shoulder), WR Elijah Moore (neck), OL John Ojukwu (pectoral), RB Dameon Pierce (hamstring), WR Johnny Wilson (knee) and DT Byron Young (shoulder).

Veteran OLB Jonathan Greenard (pectoral strain) remains on the active/physically unable to perform list. On Wednesday, coordinator Vic Fangio provided an update during his weekly availability.

“I don’t know when Greenard will be back,” he said. “That injury he got in our weight room is going to take some time to heal.” 

Limited for the Eagles were OLB Keyshawn James-Newby (ankle), WR Makai Lemon (hamstring), WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and CB Shaun Wade (eye/shoulder).

Lemon took part in individuals but was held out of team drills. Lemon appears to be getting closer to making his long-awaited return.

Note: I went into Thursday wanting to focus on the defense, which you’ll find dominates my notes. The offense was on another field and on the opposite end, so my attention was glued to the Eagles’ defense on Day 2.

ITB PHOTO/ANDREW DICECCO: Eagles QBs Tanner McKee (left) and Jalen Hurts got good work in vs. the Patriots’ defense.

Let’s get to the observations.

* On Day 2, I focused on the Eagles’ defense, where the backend responded nicely after being challenged on Wednesday. This day belonged to CB Riq Woolen, who bounced back after a shaky first practice. The competition between Woolen and Patriots WRs A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs was probably the most entertaining matchups of the summer, with Woolen evening the score. Early in the session, Patriots QB Drake Maye tested Woolen on a fade ball to Doubs, but the Eagles’ cornerback was there the break up the pass. DT Moro Ojomo, fired up after the play, strolled over to celebrate with Woolen, who broke out the finger wag and the seatbelt motion.

Doubs bested Woolen on the next encounter, though, with Maye delivering a perfectly placed pass in the back of the end zone where only his receiver could make the play. He celebrated by launching the football in the air.

The first of Woolen’s two plays of the day both occurred against Brown. On the first, Woolen read the eyes of Maye, jumping the route at the goal line and taking the football the other direction. The next was much later in practice, during a situational period. Maye connected with Brown over the middle, but it looked like Woolen ripped it away, with the pass launching into the air – and into the arms of OLB Jalyx Hunt, who made a diving, acrobatic grab.

Woolen also smothered Doubs on a fade route, forcing an incompletion, but the former Green Bay Packers wideout wasn’t about to go away quietly. Maye, during the late-practice situational period, fit a dart in to Doubs for the touchdown between Woolen and S Drew Mukuba. Looked as though Woolen might’ve lost positioning early in the route.

* With Carter sidelined, second-year pro Ty Robinson saw an uptick in reps – he came in on the third play of team – but both Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo flashed quite a bit. Davis did well to bottle up running lanes, creating little room for Pats RBs Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson to operate, and Ojomo, per usual, was a violent and disruptive force throughout. Davis, by the way, logged a pass deflection, affecting an incompletion to Brown on a fade ball.

Active practice for both interior linemen. I’ll also include Hunt here as well as the third-year OLB ripped the ball out of the hands of Stevenson during an early team period. Woolen was my standout performer of Day 2, with Hunt narrowly trailing. Nolan Smith Jr. also impressed with his physicality and edge-setting ability. He’s definitely gotten stronger relative to years past.

* Third-year LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. has been mentioned quite a bit in this space this summer, and for good reason. His play recognition, ability to diagnose and assignment-sound ways seem to always show up in practice, and Thursday was no exception. Defending a wheel route, Trotter Jr. ran stride for stride with Pats RB TreVeyon Henderson and was there to break up the Tommy DeVito pass in the end zone. Trott Jr. also flashed in run support. And to that end, I’ll also throw second-year LB Smael Mondon Jr. into the mix. Mondon Jr. was rangy and active in his opportunities and looks to be playing with more confidence.

* The energy and intensity in this practice were glaring. It felt as though tensions were bound to boil over early, when Stevenson lowered his shoulder around the goal line, popping DeJean. That sparked some shoving from both sides, but was quickly separated. But the Eagles made it clear early that they were bringing it. LB Zack Baun delivered a nice pop on Henderson along the sideline. Third-year S Andre’ Sam blew up TE Tanner Arkin, who attempted to spring RB Lan Larison, taking him to the ground. Sam also brought the wood around the goal line, dropping Stevenson with authority. Sam quietly strung together an impressive couple of practices in Foxborough.

O-line configurations

First team (L-R): LT Jordan Mailata, LG Landon Dickerson, C Cam Jurgens, RG Tyler Steen, RT Lane Johnson

Second team (L-R): LT Myles Hinton, LG Jake Majors, C Willie Lampkin, RG Drew Kendall, RT Markel Bell

* While I mostly remained glued to the Eagles’ defense, I had perfect positioning to document the late-practice situational period:

Jalen Hurts rifled a pass into the back of the end zone to WR Hollywood Brown, who appeared to come down with it despite decent coverage from CB Carlton Davis III and LB Robert Spillane. The reception, however, was ruled incomplete.

On the ensuing play, Hurts returned to the well, threading a strike to Brown, who made the diving reception in the back of the end zone with CB Kindle Vildor closing.

Hurts also muscled in a cross-body throw to WR Darius Cooper in the middle of the end zone. Cooper created some distance from S Dell Pettus.

Other highlights

CB Quinyon Mitchell provided tight coverage on a pass to WR Mack Hollins in the back of the end zone. Maye also tried to fit one in to a dragging Brown in the back of the end zone with Woolen defending, but Brown didn’t control the football before momentum took him out of the end zone.

With the Eagles’ second unit up, Andy Dalton’s turn began with an ominous start, throwing low over the middle to WR Samori Toure. On his next snap, Dalton decided to tuck in for a couple before being tagged by LB Jesse Luketa.

He connected with WR Quez Watkins on a nice touch pass along the far sideline, but was unable to connect with TE Eli Stowers two plays later, on a fade ball that sailed out of play. Dalton’s final throw of the morning, a fade ball to Toure, could have had better placement. CB Marcellas Dial Jr. was there for the pass breakup.

Then it was DeVito’s turn to drive the ball into the end zone. He attempted a deep shot to WR Kayshon Boutte, but CB Isaiah Bolden broke it up. Boutte won that matchup two plays later, though, beating Bolden for the touchdown.

* A.J. Brown showcased good body control, reeling in a jump ball from Maye that was behind him for a touchdown. Mitchell was in coverage on the play. The matchups between the two former teammates, as always, is must-watch, but Brown outmuscled him there.

* Veteran DB Michael Carter II always seems to find the football. The do-it-all DB produced a nice pass breakup on a DeVito heater to TE Eli Raridon in the back of the end zone. Carter has had an impressive camp. Marcus Epps repped with the first unit when the Eagles were in nickel and has, really, all summer, but I’m not so sure that battle is over.

* Fourth-year CB Kelee Ringo has had a quiet camp, as opportunities have been infrequent. Coordinator Vic Fangio even mentioned that Ringo has been everybody’s “piñata doll” for a while, but said he sensed he “could be coming” and noted the significance of the two joint practices for Ringo. He generally held up well on this day, providing tight coverage and making the most of his reps. Ringo, without Bennett, Jones and Castro-Fields, saw a lot of work over the past two days.

Eagles kick return groupings

First: RB Will Shipley; RB Tank Bigsby

Bigsby fielded this one, picking up good yardage on a downhill return.

Second: WR Britain Covey; WR Erik Ezukanma

Covey took off like a rocket, producing a nice return along the right side.

Third: RB Will Shipley; WR Darius Cooper

Notable names on the top kick coverage unit: Shipley, Trotter Jr., TE/FB Cam Latu, LB Smael Mondon Jr., LB Chance Campbell, OLB A.J. Epenesa

Bonus: After practice, on the lower field where the Eagles warmed up, TE Eli Stowers was working on his blocking. As I’ve stated, the rookie has shown a willingness to improve that area of his game, and is investing the time to dial it in as best he can.

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