Back At It

PHILADELPHIA — Following a scheduled players day off, the Eagles returned to the NovaCare Complex practice field Sunday morning, kicking off an abbreviated week as Thursday’s preseason opener looms. The session, which featured shells and shorts, included a mix of 11-on-11, 7-on-7, special teams and situational periods in what proved to be another fast-paced morning.

ITB PHOTO/ANDREW DICECCO: The Eagles held a “yellow” practice following a day off.

As for Sunday’s status report, LB Zack Baun (back), WR A.J. Brown (hamstring), S Lewis Cine (hamstring), RB Montrell Johnson Jr. (hamstring), OL Trevor Keegan (back), WR Terrace Marshall (knee), CB Mac McWilliams (quad) and FB Ben VanSumeren (ankle) didn’t practice.

Brown, Cine, Johnson Jr. and Keegan are new additions. Brown, who stood and watched Sunday’s practice from the sideline, sat out the second half of Friday’s practice. McWilliams and VanSumeren were sidelined for their second consecutive practice.

Limited for the Eagles were LB Jihaad Campbell (shoulder), LS Charley Hughlett (neck) TE E.J. Jenkins (hamstring) S Drew Mukuba (shoulder) WR DeVonta Smith (back) and EDGE Nolan Smith Jr. (concussion). Mukuba was withheld from team drills and Smith Jr. didn’t partake in 11-on-11s but logged some reps during 7-on-7s.

The practice, categorized as “yellow,” covered around 1 hour, 40 minutes. Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo addressed the media prior to practice for the second time this camp.

Let’s get to the practice observations.

*Defensively, the Eagles opened in nickel, deploying a first unit that included Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis on the defensive line, Jalyx Hunt and Azeez Ojulari (aligned on the left side) as overhangs, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Jihaad Campbell at linebacker, and a safety tandem of Reed Blankenship and Sydney Brown. The cornerback trio was comprised of Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean and Adoree’ Jackson. If you’re keeping score, that now makes five practices Jackson has aligned opposite Mitchell at the start. Kelee Ringo also mixed in.

Ringo, who appeared to have one arm around the waist of TE Dallas Goedert as the veteran attempted to reel the short throw to the left, notched a pass breakup during an early team period.

*WR DeVonta Smith returned to practice Sunday in a limited capacity after missing the past few sessions with a back issue. Despite the extended layoff, however, Smith picked up right where he left off. Early in the session, Jalen Hurts connected with Smith, who found the soft spot in coverage between Trotter Jr. and Brown, on a crosser for a nice pickup. Smith is such a smooth criminal when getting in and out of breaks and creating separation.

Smith also reeled in a nifty sideline snag during a 7-on-7 period, with Nolan Smith in coverage.

*During an 11-on-11 period, Hurts went for the jugular, heaving a pass in the direction of a streaking Jahan Dotson. Dotson, who had more than a few steps on Jackson was in position to secure the long touchdown, but Hurts put too much on it, rendering it incomplete. Dotson, at one point, also shook CB Eli Ricks at the line, distancing himself in the middle of the field, but Hurts overshot him.

Earlier, during the same series, Hurts did convert a perfectly executed back-shoulder throw along the left sideline to Goedert, who demonstrated impressive body control. Rookie LB Smael Mondon Jr. provided pretty tight coverage on the play, but the sequence epitomized the innate rapport between Hurts and Goedert that has been evident throughout the summer. Without Brown and Marshall — and Smith practicing in a limited basis — Goedert was peppered with targets.

*The most notable defensive highlight stemmed from a Josh Uche power rush off the right side. Showcasing active hands, Uche bowled over veteran left tackle Kendall Lamm in pursuit of QB Tanner McKee. Flushed, McKee eventually lofted the pass out of bounds. Ojulari has opened with the first team the past two practices but hasn’t particularly stood out. Uche has made more of his opportunities.

*Jihaad Campbell had an active morning. While at times proving a bit vulnerable in coverage as he continues to grow within the system, he smothered WR Ainias Smith on a short Hurts toss over the middle to deny a completion. Campbell, working with the second team in this instance, also swarmed Jenkins on a short completion over the middle.

*Gauging the kickoff coverage alignment, it appears the core contributors will include RB Will Shipley, S Sydney Brown, CB Kelee Ringo and WR/RS Avery Williams. The first unit also featured some interesting names vying for roster spots, such as LB Patrick Johnson, TE Kylen Granson and S Andre’ Sam.

*During a situational period, the Eagles attempted a hail mary heave with QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson. The pass, which reached the end zone, was batted down by Blankenship, who made the heads up play.

Speaking of Thompson-Robinson, the third-year quarterback piloted the offense during a situational period in the waning moments of practice. Faced with a fourth-down scenario, Thompson-Robinson attempted to thread a pass in over the middle that was picked off by LB Dallas Gant, which ended practice.

*Veteran OL Matt Pryor and fourth-year pro Darian Kinnard continue to flip-flop at right guard and right tackle on the second team line. To my eye, it seemed as though Kinnard accounted for more reps at right guard and Pryor at right tackle.

The second team offensive line for most of the morning included (L-R): LT Kendall Lamm, LG Brett Toth, C Drew Kendall, RG Darian Kinnard, RT Matt Pryor.

*Seldom-discussed, undrafted wide receiver Darius Cooper, who saw an uptick in usage due to a shortage at receiver, had some nice moments. During a 7-on-7 period, Cooper shook Gant in coverage, creating considerable distance to reel in the McKee crosser. The Tarleton State product pulled in another McKee throw as he slipped past Ricks down the right sideline during a situational period. McKee’s pass was on the money. Cooper also ripped off a long kick return during a special teams drill. His day wasn’t flawless, however, as Cooper failed to corral another McKee pass. The ball went through his hands.

*One of the more entertaining matchups has been between WR Elijah Cooks and Ricks. While Cooks has turned heads this summer, Sunday belonged to Ricks. During an 11-on-11 period, McKee attempted to connect with Cooks on a corner route to the left, but Ricks broke on the ball and defended the pass. Ricks, climbing the ladder in close quarters, also prevented a McKee jump ball to Cooks in the back of the end zone. McKee went back to the well once more on the ensuing play, but Ricks again rejected the pass to Cooks.

Ricks, earlier in the session, also closed in over the top to negate a short pass to TE Nick Muse.

*Good day for S Tristin McCollum, who collected a pair of pass breakups during Sunday’s session. The first came during a situational period, where McCollum extended to breakup a McKee pass to Granson along the far sideline. Later, Thompson-Robinson tried to fit one in to Muse, but McCollum was there for the deflection. Sam also registered an impressive breakup at the goal line during a situational period, converging to prevent the touchdown. Sam often appears to be in the right position.

*Don’t look now, but second-year DT Gabe Hall, one of my pre-camp under-the-radar players to watch, is beginning to stack some productive sessions. I’ve noticed him in the backfield on a handful of occasions and Hall also showcased impressive power Friday, during OL/DL 1-on-1s. The Eagles typically prefer to go heavy in the trenches, qualifying Hall as one to monitor this preseason.

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