Eagles OTA practice notes ft. Saquon Barkley, Parris Campbell, Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and others

eagles ota practice notes ft. saquon barkley, parris campbell, quinyon mitchell, cooper dejean, and others

Eagles OTA practice notes ft. Saquon Barkley, Parris Campbell, Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and others

The Philadelphia Eagles held the first of two OTA practices open to media access on Wednesday afternoon and I was there at the NovaCare Complex to watch the action unfold. Let’s get to some observations!

  • ANNUAL DISCLAIMER: Before we get started, please remember that the Eagles don’t permit video recordings/photography after warmups and position drills. So, that’s why you’re not seeing any team drill highlights.
  • ATTENDANCE UPDATES: A number of notable players were missing from practice. It bears repeating that OTAs are voluntary, so it’s not the biggest deal that they weren’t there. Included in that group: James Bradberry, Kelee Ringo, Lane Johnson, DeVonta Smith, and Josh Sweat. Bradberry’s absence isn’t shocking from the perspective that the Eagles might be planning to cut him after June 1. Ringo not being at practice is curious considering he’s a second-year player who could benefit from more reps. Johnson and Smith were also absent from some OTA practices last year.

  • INJURY UPDATES: Sydney Brown is still recovering from the ACL injury he suffered in early January. Brown, wearing a sleeve on his leg, did do some sprinting on a side field away from the rest of the team. Nakobe Dean and Ainias Smith took part in position drills but were not involved in team drills. Eli Ricks reportedly got banged up at practice.
  • DEPTH CHART NOTES: The first-team offense wide receivers in 7-on-7: A.J. Brown and Joseph Ngata (remember, no DeVonta) on the outside with Parris Campbell lining up in the slot. The first-team off-ball linebackers: Zack Baun and Devin White. Isaiah Rodgers was the first-team cornerback on the outside across from Darius Slay with Avonte Maddox as the slot defender. Quinyon Mitchell was the second-team right outside cornerback. Cooper DeJean started out at second-team nickel cornerback but also saw some outside reps. Maddox saw some third-team safety reps in addition to his first-team nickel work.
  • NEW COORDINATOR NOTES: There wasn’t a ton of schematic stuff that stood out to me with the Eagles not even doing any 11-on-11 work. I did notice Kellen Moore wearing a kelly green shirt along with a midnight green hat, questionable combo.

  • JALEN HURTS UPDATE: Hurts didn’t majorly stand out. He completed a number of short throws. His only downfield shot was a miss wide/low to Campbell on a post route along the right sideline with good coverage from Maddox. Hurts did have a throw into the end zone knocked down and he threw a tad behind A.J. Brown on a short slant, which prompted a drop.

  • Saquon Barkley looks different than any other Eagles running back I’ve previously watched in a practice uniform. In a good way. He has a thick, muscular build. We didn’t see a ton of Barkley in action since, ya know, they’re not running the ball in 7-on-7s. His most memorable target resulted in a pass breakup with Devin White having good coverage on a wheel route.

  • Parris Campbell saw a lot of targets from Hurts. His best grab was a leaping contested catch on a short-to-medium throw to beat Isaiah Rodgers. Campbell clearly seems to have already earned Hurts’ trust. That’s significant because we’ve seen that Hurts doesn’t automatically trust anybody they put out there with him.
  • Quinyon Mitchell was a bit too grabby while covering Jacob Harris on a couple deep routes. The rookie finished practice on a strong note by breaking on the ball and batting down a Kenny Pickett pass intended for Johnny Wilson.

  • Not the best day for the aforementioned Jacob Harris, who dropped multiple downfield targets.
  • Kenny Pickett had a solid Eagles practice debut. Good ball up the seam to Albert Okwuegbunam for about 15 yards to beat a trailing Mekhi Garner. He also had a very tight window completion between two defenders to Kenny Gainwell for a would-be touchdown had Gainwell not accidentally stepped out of bounds right before making the grab (illegal touching).
  • Isaiah Rodgers broke on the ball nicely to break up a short pass intended for Dallas Goedert.
  • Will Shipley tripped with no one near him after making a catch in the flat.
  • Tight end E.J. Jenkins made one of the more flashier plays in practice with Tanner McKee hitting him in stride over the middle for a significant catch-and-run gain.
  • Tyrion Davis-Price fumbled with either DeJean or Brandon Smith poking the ball out. Originally thought it was DeJean but I think I saw him point to Smith when Nick Sirianni asked who knocked it out. In any case, not good for TDP to be fumbling in a non-contact practice.
  • If you saw my “7 things we’ll be watching at Eagles OTA practices” post, I talked about “the unexpected long shot who pops.” I have my eye on Brandon Smith for that category. I thought he looked good on special teams in limited snaps last year. The Penn State alumnus is the biggest off-ball linebacker on the team at 6-3, 241 pounds. He was active around the ball in today’s practice.
  • Britain Covey and DeJean were the only two players practicing fielding punts but Ainias Smith was lined up near them, suggesting he could get future reps in that role. Covey was practicing fields punts while holding a football in one of his hands ... and then throwing that ball up into the air to catch the punted ball ... to then also try catching the one he was originally holding and threw upwards. He managed to successfully complete that challenge at least once.
  • Jersey number update: the Eagles’ roster page on their official website has both Johnny Wilson and Austin Watkins Jr. listed as No. 89. Watkins was wearing No. 41 today. Oof. Big downgrade for him.

UP NEXT: The Eagles’ remaining OTA practice schedule: May 23, May 28, May 30-31. Media is expected to be able to attend one of next week’s sessions. Then the Eagles will hold the first mandatory minicamp of the Nick Sirianni era from June 4-6.

OTHER NEWS

35 minutes ago

Verstappen wants 'impossible' F1 2026 weight reduction for fun, agile cars

35 minutes ago

Liam Gallagher bids for permission to use huge wall to beef up security at mansion

35 minutes ago

'We're both individuals': Nicole Ari Parker opens up about 19 years of marriage to Boris Kodjoe

35 minutes ago

Lupita Nyong’o desperate to star in rom-com

35 minutes ago

England vs. Serbia expected lineups, starting 11, team news: Alexander-Arnold poised to start Euro 2024 in midfield

35 minutes ago

If I had a spare £2,000 in an ISA, I’d rush to buy this bargain FTSE 100 stock

38 minutes ago

Kevin Campbell never wanted to leave Arsenal – but one meeting changed everything

43 minutes ago

What Is The HRC-4 Engine And How Did It Help Break Speed Records In 2024?

43 minutes ago

"As long as my wife and my kids and my mom think cool of me" - Rasheed Wallace explains why he ignored criticism towards his personality

43 minutes ago

‘He’d had enough’: Oilers humanize Sergei Bobrovsky in Game 4 rout

43 minutes ago

Italy star compares Albania to England after opening victory at Euro 2024

43 minutes ago

Why this photo of a mobile speed camera operator has sparked outrage

43 minutes ago

Home Secretary calls for 'urgent explanation' after police stop cow with car

43 minutes ago

Byron Murphy II throws out the first pitch at Seattle Mariners game

43 minutes ago

NBA legend Charles Barkley announces retirement from TV after 2024-25 season

43 minutes ago

Wayne Rooney tells Gareth Southgate two calls he got wrong for England's Euros squad

43 minutes ago

Spain v Croatia player ratings: Carvajal 8, Yamal 8; Modric 6, Budimir 5

47 minutes ago

Adidas investigates bribery allegations in China, FT reports

49 minutes ago

More Small Businesses Seek to Include Neurodiverse Talent

49 minutes ago

Wells Fargo Fires Employees For 'Fake Work'

49 minutes ago

The seaside town on the front lines of boarded-up Britain

49 minutes ago

Late Queen's favourite teatime treat was posh biscuit you may not have heard of

49 minutes ago

‘Tank’ Davis knocks out Martin in eighth round to keep WBA lightweight title

49 minutes ago

Hajj: Over 2 Mln Pilgrims at Mount Arafat for Most Important Rite

49 minutes ago

IDF announces 'humanitarian pause' in Salah al-Din area of Gaza

49 minutes ago

England's sigh of relief as Aussies weather huge Scottish storm

49 minutes ago

University of Galway is ‘short on academics, but has too many managers’, say worried staff

49 minutes ago

Bloody night across NYC sees two shot during party at Brooklyn park

49 minutes ago

Gervonta Davis seals brutal knockout of Frank Martin to take his unbeaten record to 30-0... before celebrating at ringside in Vegas with Ryan Garcia

52 minutes ago

Flood alert for some WA regions as nation shivers

55 minutes ago

Israeli military announces daily 'tactical pause' in Rafah area to get aid into Gaza

56 minutes ago

Melendez hits grand slam on 12th pitch, Royals beat Dodgers 7-2 as Yamamoto leaves early

56 minutes ago

Rory McIlroy feeling confident despite Bryson DeChambeau’s sizable U.S. Open lead

56 minutes ago

ABC Classic presenter Ed Le Brocq's portrait 'I am a centaur' by Jaq Grantford a finalist in 2024 Archibald prize

56 minutes ago

Star edge-rusher hopes to be a 'Raider for life'

58 minutes ago

Retiree, 65, remarried with young child, allowed to halve maintenance for ex-wife to $600 a month

1 hour ago

Jennifer Lopez meets up with husband Ben Affleck at his Brentwood rental amid claims she is 'over' trying to save their marriage amid divorce rumors

1 hour ago

Mamba Mentality: Oilers’ Foegele rocks Kobe Bryant shirt ahead of Game 4

1 hour ago

China pledges new pandas, Wong vows firm stance on ties

1 hour ago

Cyril Ramaphosa is re-elected South Africa president in ‘new era’ of coalition