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Eagles Training Camp Notebook: Who starred on Day 2?

Jalen Hurts
Jalen Hurts

The Eagles returned to the field on Thursday for their second Training Camp practice of 2025. Here is what stood out on Day 2:

Injury Report

Jalen Carter (shoulder) and Kenyon Green (knee) remained sidelined, but every other active Eagle was on the field in some capacity.

Highlights

  • Jalen Hurts was impressive again as the ball rarely touched the grass. His best throw of the day was a perfectly placed floating pass to Dallas Goedert, who had three defenders around him and hauled it in about 15 yards downfield. Hurts and Goedert had another tight window connection later in the session.
  • Hurts connected with Jahan Dotson for two big gains over the middle later in practice. This is Dotson's first full offseason in Philadelphia, so it's a big opportunity for him to gain valuable experience with Hurts.
  • Dorian Thompson-Robinson had a couple of impressive runs down the left sideline. His speed is apparent early in Training Camp, and he added a couple of completions during team drills as well.
  • While Jalen Carter isn't practicing, he's inspiring his defensive teammates by running sprints to the end zone with his fellow linemen at the end of each series.
  • A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith flash each day showing why they form arguably the best wide receiver duo in the league. Brown caught a contested ball along the sideline, where Hurts fired the ball in and Brown went up to make the grab. Smitty, wearing hot pink gloves and cleats that could not be missed, caught a nice ball from Hurts on a crossing route then on another short pass extended his arms out to make the grab.
  • When A.J. Dillon gets the ball, it's sometimes hard not to think it's Saquon Barkley with the similar jersey number (29) and size (6-0, 247 pounds). Fully healthy after missing all of 2024 with a neck injury, it will be interesting to see how Dillon's skill set complements what Barkley brings to the table.
  • Cooper DeJean continued to get first-team reps at safety in base packages. Before practice, Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio addressed DeJean's role when he's not playing nickel cornerback. "We're going to give him some work (at safety). Then you'll see days in the base where he'll play some corner," Fangio said, "so it's going to be an evolution and a lot of it will depend upon how well we do at those positions with the other guys."
  • Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and right guard Tyler Steen got the first crack at first-team reps for the second straight day. Veteran cornerback Adoree' Jackson was first up at cornerback opposite Quinyon Mitchell, with Kelee Ringo rotating later in practice after he was first up on Wednesday.
  • Rookie safety Andrew Mukuba got the initial set of first-team snaps in the nickel defense before Sydney Brown worked in. Brown got the first share of reps on Day 1.
  • Grant Calcaterra had back-to-back tight end screens from Hurts, each on different sides of the field.
  • Zack Baun had a pass breakup in the middle of the field on what was a rare incompletion for Hurts.

Position Preview: Safety

One of the starting positions seemingly up for grabs in the Eagles' defense is at the safety position alongside Reed Blankenship. The Eagles traded C.J. Gardner-Johnson in the offseason knowing they had a handful of young, talented players ready to contend for the position, and then they used a second-round draft pick in April to further the competition.

We are now seeing the competition.

First, let's put Blankenship's rise into perspective. He played at Middle Tennessee State for five seasons and then went undrafted in 2022. The Eagles signed him in that post-NFL Draft weekend and he not only made the 53-man roster but earned substantial playing time as a rookie. Now, Blankenship is an established starter and big-time contributor in the defense with 35 games played and 35 starts (including playoffs) in the last two seasons. He's been the team's "closer," with seven interceptions in that time.

Blankenship is a poster-child example for every player signed after the NFL Draft: His rise has been an admirable one.

Now the Eagles are looking for a running mate to play with Blankenship and the slate is clean. Cooper DeJean has taken first-team reps when the Eagles have been in base – four defensive backs – defense and both Sydney Brown and Andrew Mukuba – the team's second-round draft pick this year -- have split reps when the Eagles have added an extra defensive back, with DeJean sliding to the nickel position. They have also had success in the last season-plus with Tristin McCollum on the field, and he is very much in the mix for playing time.

But there's more, as the Eagles continue to sift through some young players. Andre Sam was with the team on the practice squad for the 2024 campaign, former first-round draft pick Lewis Cine (Vikings) joined the team late in the '24 season and Maxen Hook signed with the Eagles after playing at Toledo collegiately.

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has options here and he intends to find the right combinations. Notice the plural there, because it is very possible that Fangio uses a series of tandems at safety given all of the young and talented players he has at his disposal. – Dave Spadaro

See the Eagles during their second practice of 2025 Training Camp.

On Deck

The Eagles have a walk-through Friday, so there won't be any coverage. On Saturday, Offensive Coordinator Kevin Patullo will meet with reporters around 9:40 AM, with practice starting at 10 AM. Select players will meet with the media after practice.

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