Skip to main content
Advertising

Philadelphia Eagles News

Presented By

Eagles Training Camp Practice Notes | July 26, 2023

Jalen Hurts
Jalen Hurts

• Eagles Insider Dave Spadaro provided the latest on the injury situation.

• If fans had any concern whatsoever that this team would be taking it easy this summer coming off a Super Bowl run, we can say with confidence that would not be the case. Head Coach Nick Sirianni was all over his third-team offense on Wednesday, getting on them for any substitution mistake or pre-snap error. The intensity was high on Day 1 from that end of things. This is a coaching staff that will always look to drive home the details in everything they do. – Fran Duffy

• James Bradberry earned the nickname "APJB" last season, earning second-team All-Pro honors after finishing third in the NFL with 17 pass deflections. He rejoined the Eagles on a three-year deal and immediately picked up where he left off last season. On the second snap of the first team period, quarterback Jalen Hurts looked to go to A.J. Brown with a quick pass, but Bradberry negated the option. Later in the 7-on-7 red zone period, Bradberry had a pass breakup of a pass in the flat. In the final red zone period, Bradberry was all over a play-action pass down the left sideline, earning yet another pass breakup. – Chris McPherson

• Tight end Dallas Goedert, who led all NFL tight ends in yards per catch (12.8), catch rate (79.7%), and yards after the catch per reception (7.6) last season, continued his chemistry with quarterback Jalen Hurts with a touchdown catch in the middle of the end zone in the opening red zone period. Goedert got open on a nifty route in the middle of the field, creating separation against a linebacker with excellent quickness and tempo in the route. This is an area where Goedert's game has grown by leaps and bounds since entering the NFL in 2018. – Fran Duffy

• Jalen Carter, the team's top draft pick – No. 9 overall, earned reps with the first-, second-, and third-team units during the final team red zone period. Carter helped stonewall quarterback Marcus Mariota on a run attempt on a fourth-and-goal snap. He also generated pressure using a swim move to gain leverage.

"I've been in his position. Drafted in the first round, you expect a lot," defensive tackle Fletcher Cox said. "But the biggest thing is to get in and learn, learn the defense, learn to practice like a pro, learning just the new environment, having to deal with a lot of media and letting go of distractions. Overall, he's going to be a really good player for us."

"There was a practice rep later on in the day, the last red zone period, where you feel him make a drastic inside move. We're talking about him. I'll be interested to really look at the tape and see what it looks like and continue to watch him," center Jason Kelce said. "It's the first day. I've learned, do not take first impressions as the end all be all." – Chris McPherson

• Fellow first-round pick Nolan Smith got reps with both the first- and second-team units on Wednesday. A couple of things that stand out while watching him. First up: his athleticism. He's an extremely fluid mover who is fast off the ball and really easy and smooth in transition. Second, his hands. For a "smaller" rusher off the edge he has violent, heavy, purposeful hands on contact. Lastly, his effort. Numerous times I took note of Smith chasing plays to the flat along the sideline. He's going to put himself in position to force or recover a fumble or two this season. – Fran Duffy

• Linebacker Christian Elliss turned heads in the spring with his penchant for picking off the quarterback and he continued that with an interception in the middle of the end zone in the first series with the second-team unit. Elliss did get some reps with the ones as well as the Eagles must replace both of last year's starters – T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White. – Chris McPherson

• The Eagles got a lot of effective play from their tight end room a year ago with Goedert, Jack Stoll, and Grant Calcaterra, but they've got some versatile options behind those guys this summer in camp as well. New quarterback Marcus Mariota took advantage of the size of the tallest skill-position player on offense. In the 7-on-7 red zone drill, Mariota lofted a perfect pass for Tyree Jackson, the 6-foot-7 tight end who was limited to five games last season due to a knee injury, in the back middle of the end zone. Jackson did a great job getting his feet in bounds for six. Jackson also had a couple of other catches on Wednesday where he was lined up outside the numbers running routes against cornerbacks. Veteran tight end Dan Arnold flashed as well, showing the type of athleticism and movement one would expect from a former receiver who has been a productive player at times in this league. – Fran Duffy

• Running backs accounted for 48 receptions last season, led by Kenneth Gainwell's 23. The Eagles added D'Andre Swift in the offseason, who had at least 46 catches in each of his first three seasons. Gainwell did a nice job shaking free of the defensive back for a touchdown pass from Hurts in the 7-on-7 red zone drill. Swift caught several passes, including a screen that featured All-Pro center Jason Kelce out in front looking in classic form ready to destroy anything in the path. Swift also caught a pass from Mariota on an out route down the field during a team red zone period. – Chris McPherson

Kiel Leggere delivers the hottest shots from the first day of Training Camp.

• Boston Scott drew some "oohs" and "aahs" from the crowd in attendance with some nifty moves down in the red zone midway through practice. The veteran navigated through traffic on an inside run, burst outside, and made a corner miss in the flat on his way to paydirt. Despite his height, Scott has always been so good down near the goal line with his nose for the end zone. – Fran Duffy

• Linebacker Shaun Bradley made his presence felt on multiple plays in practice, namely on a play down near the goal line where he thudded the running back on an inside run. Bradley is one of many linebackers competing for one of those starting spots. – Fran Duffy

• Linebacker Davion Taylor, the former third-round pick who spent all of last season on the practice squad, netted an interception when he wrangled the ball away from Swift at the goal line. – Chris McPherson

• Safety K'Von Wallace did a great job of erasing Gainwell in coverage on a wheel route deep down the left sideline. – Chris McPherson

• Quarterback Marcus Mariota has over 2,000 career rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns. He called his own number keeping the shotgun snap during the team red zone period, ran to his left, and called out for blocks on his way to the goal line. – Chris McPherson

• The Eagles worked on the punt game during the special teams portion of practice. Arryn Siposs and rookie free agent Ty Zentner boomed punts, trying to corner the returners deep. Britain Covey was the primary punt returner in 2022 and he was fielding punts along with Greg Ward, Quez Watkins, and Olamide Zaccheaus. – Chris McPherson

Related Content

LATEST VIDEOS

Advertising