The Eagles held their first practice of a three-day minicamp at the NovaCare Complex on Tuesday. Here are my observations:
Berry, doubtful berry
James Bradberry was present and accounted for — after staying away from the Eagles’ two voluntary OTAs open to reporters — well, at least until an apparent injury sidelined him early in practice. The veteran entered the medical tent with a trainer during individual drills, spent a few minutes out of sight and emerged without his helmet. Bradberry returned to join the defensive back group, but he did not participate in the remainder of practice.
It’s a shame because we were supposed to see him safely for the first time this year. Before practice, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said Bradberry would get reps at the position. He played a bit in the slot last season and could fill that role again this year, but the Eagles appear to be looking for something he can do after a disastrous 2023 at outside cornerback. Bradberry’s contract makes it difficult to trade him – not to mention his lack of speed – but it makes it difficult to find a spot for him on the 53-man roster.
» LEARN MORE: Ready to try safety at Eagles minicamp, James Bradberry exits with apparent injury
Along with Bradberry, the following veterans who missed one or both open OTAs were present at the mandatory session: Lane Johnsonwide receiver DeVonta Smithcornerback Kill Dariusoutside linebacker Josh is sweatingand security CJ Gardner-Johnson. Sirianni said the guard Landon Dickerson it was an excused absence. The Eagles have remained relatively healthy with only safety Sydney Brown (ACL) and receiver Jacob Harris (unknown injury) completely absent.
Bingo Ringo
Kelee Ringo got the nod at first-team cornerback opposite Slay. This job is clearly up for grabs. Isaiah Rodgers took the starter’s snaps in both open OTAs. Beginner Quinyon Mitchell cannot be ruled out, of course. Ringo has seen his share of action in what is essentially a passing camp. His best moment came when he broke up a Jalen hurts deep fade to receiver Parris Campbell. Hurts made the right read against a single high safety, and his pass was just about on the money, but Ringo showed good one-on-one skills. Later he remained at receiver John Ross‘ hip on a deep heave from Hurts that was out of reach.
Earlier, Hurts had returned to Ringo’s side with his favorite target, AJ Brown, match against the corner. Brown stepped up for a pass thrown on a rope, and he completed another on a putback route. But Ringo’s coverage was tight and the completions were just the price of doing business against one of the best ball receivers in the NFL.
Rodgers also had his moments with the second unit. He was almost intercepted when he jumped a Kenny Pickett transmit to receiver Joseph Ngata and deflected the ball on the ground at seven-on-seven. Not to be excluded from the cornerback competition, Eli Ricks completed the workout by running step by step with the catcher Austin Watkins on a Tanner McKee bomb dropped incomplete.
Depth Map Notes
With Dickerson unavailable, Mekhi Becton took first-team reps at left guard. The former Jet replaced Johnson at right tackle during OTAs. Becton has no NFL experience. He’s a gigantic man at 6-foot-7 and 363 pounds, and could theoretically play guard. Ideally, he would be versatile enough to play multiple positions as a sixth man swing on game days. Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland said Becton can move, so who am I to say he can’t?
Mitchell lined up primarily on the outside, but he and fellow rookie defensive back Cooper De Jean took a few reps in a quasi-linebacker role on the dime staff. Versatility is increasingly the buzzword for defensive backs and the Eagles seem to want to see everything they can put on the plates of their top two draft picks. DeJean mostly went back and forth between the slot and the outside.
Avonte MaddoxThe transition to security took years, but it is not permanent. He took the first team reps in the slot and the second team reps at safety. I am dean (foot) continued to get more shots. While White Soothsayer And Zack Baun Remaining the primary starting inside linebacker, Dean took a rep with the first unit.
» LEARN MORE: ‘Older’ Avonte Maddox is one of the few Eagles to show positional versatility at minicamp
Mr. Smith goes to work
Smith’s return seemed to boost the morale of Hurts, who had a tough practice Thursday. The fourth-year receiver got open on a variety of short routes — some after lining up in the slot. Asked earlier about how the Eagles’ new offense under coordinator Kelly Moore was different, Smith said it gave receivers “more freedom.” It’s hard to say for sure how much of this has been evident in just three one-hour practices, but Moore’s past schemes used pre-snap movement and group formations more than Sirianni’s did over the course of three seasons previous ones.
Hurts threw an early interception when safety Reed Blankenship got his hands on a forced throw to Smith over the middle that went to White. The quarterback rebounded with a quick pass to Campbell over the middle on a mesh concept that gained good yardage.
Bubble wrap
Saquon Barkley has been relatively quiet in the practices journalists have attended, which could be intentional. Contact is limited, so running plays have been nonexistent, but the Eagles expect Barkley to play a big role in the passing game. Sirianni mentioned his presence every time he was asked if there wasn’t an obvious third receiver on the roster.
Make no mistake, the Eagles will likely ride Barkley this season. But the most likely reason for his light workload is that the team wants to keep the oft-injured running back healthy. Sirianni joked that he usually makes fun of Giants fans who pick on him in public. But every now and then, he says, he fires back: “We have your best player!” »
The pressure drop
Midway through practice, Sirianni walked over to the reporters watching from the stands to jokingly scold them for asking Edge Rusher earlier. Bryce Huff several questions about the transition to coverage. Full disclosure: I didn’t. That’s not to say it’s not a valid topic. New defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will drop his edges to create pass rush mismatches as much as anyone. And it won’t be clear how far the advantage falls.
Sirianni pointed out to us that the Eagles were running seven-on-seven, which would explain why Huff, Sweat or the other outside linebackers would drop out when they were on base personnel against a passing game. I didn’t intend to make a big deal out of this fact, although others might have, but his gesture was meant for laughs. I noticed that Smith caught passes near Huff and Patrick Johnson after they fall into areas.
Special forces
The Eagles worked on punts twice. First, on punt away situations by Braden Mann then on dog kicks near the goal line. Mann had a few boomers in the initial period, which caused some problems for the returners. Great Britain Covey unusually, he missed his first chance. Beginner Aïnias Smith had a high boot that sailed in his outstretched arms.
Rodgers, DeJean and even Gardner-Johnson, who is not known for his return, performed much better in their tryouts. Covey and Smith rebounded on their second attempts.
Special Teams Coordinator Michael Clay and Sirianni came alive during the second period. They were unhappy with various gunners failing to complete balls before the goal line, for whatever reason. Josh Jobé received applause for his efforts. Mitchell, however, received a reprimand from Sirianni. Details matter.
» LEARN MORE: Eagles’ Jeff Stoutland on the bittersweet feeling of Jason Kelce’s retirement: ‘These guys are your family’
Fine lines
The O line of the second unit, from left to right, was Anim Dankwah, Darian Kinnard, Brett Toth, Matt HennessyAnd Fred Johnson. The recruits Trevor Keegan (left guard) and Dylan McMahon (center) stepped in for a few snaps with the backups.
Tips
Barkley’s replacement, Kenneth Gainwell, was wide open on another mesh set that freed him up on a wheel run. But the fourth-year running back slowed down a bit when he looked back, and Pickett’s pass went too long.
Pickett went to Ross on a number of plays. The speedy vet who was signed just 10 days ago has shown he’s not a one-trick pony. He can pretty much run the entire route tree and looks confident. Ross still has a long way to go to make the team.
Bonus points
There were four trial players in training: receiver Griffin HébertRECIPIENT Brandon Smithkicker BT Potterand cornerback Parry Nickerson. Herbert had some nice catches. … Sirianni confirmed the Eagles will have just one joint practice during training camp — against the Patriots on Aug. 13 before their second preseason game. … The minicamp practice start time of 1:30 p.m. is intended to mirror the regular season schedule.