Wentz catches fire & 7 other Takeaways from today’s Eagles OTA Practice

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The Eagles held another OTA practice down at the NovaCare Complex today, the second this offseason that has been made available to the media. Here’s everything you need to know from another exciting day.

Injury report

The ‘absentee report’ is a good place to start. Rookie Miles Sanders and fellow running back Corey Clement missed practice today, as did Alshon Jeffery, Mack Hollins, Lane Johnson, Jason Peters, and Brandon Brooks on offense.

On the other side of the ball, Fletcher Cox was absent, as were potential starting linebacker trio, Nigel Bradham, Zach Brown, and Paul Worrilow. Both starting safeties (Jenkins and McLeod) and starting corners (Mills and Darby) also missed today’s practice.

This did open up some huge opportunities. Sidney Jones was back to starting on the outside for instance, in an offseason that holds a lot of individual weight. Meanwhile, L.J Fort and Kamu Grugier-Hill took first-team reps at linebacker, while increased exposure for guys like Boston Scott and Jordan Mailata can only mean positive things for their development.

Wentz is back…

By all accounts, Carson Wentz was firing on all cylinders in Tuesday’s practice. The relationship with DeSean Jackson was always going to be an important one, but the pair have hit the ground running with an impressive sense of chemistry and passes being completed all over the field.

Wentz does appear much more fluid and relaxed in his movement and of course, it’s still early in the proceedings, but considering the rigidity we saw last year when dealing with the back problem too, this is a breath of fresh air…as is this level of positivity.

The excitement will only grow from here on out, and with good reason. Carson Wentz looks sharp. Really, really sharp.

SEEEGAA

It took two just practices (that were open to the media at least, this probably happened a lot sooner) for the Eagles newest wide receiver to leap like a Salmon and deliver one of those trademark catches. Sidney Jones was the defender being boxed out, but this looks like fun.

Arcega-Whiteside has been labeled as a ‘rebounder’ for much of his career and with good reason. This could well become the new norm for the Eagles, with Wentz throwing up floaters to the second-round pick.

UnderdogSZN

I wrote recently about how the trade to acquire Hassan Ridgeway may be among the Eagles finest, and most underrated, offseason moves. But he isn’t the only man being overlooked. Second-year DE Josh Sweat has a big leap to make in year two, but it appears the duo both intend on shedding that ‘under-the-radar’ skin pretty soon.

There’s a lot to work through when it comes to depth in the trenches, both on the interior and at defensive end. Early flashes from these two young pass-rushers is only going to help them as the offseason wears on.

Don’t forget about Mailata…

Sure, the Eagles may have drafted Andre Dillard, but if ‘Big V’ really does move to guard, then Mailata is effectively bumped up to a longer-term backup role, for now. Don’t write off his progress just yet either.

Lining up at right tackle, Mailata didn’t waste time in attracting attention on a pulling play…

…his development in just a short few months was incredible. What difference does a year make? We’re beginning to find out.

Linebacker depth

With two (arguably three) starters not practicing, it opened up a huge window of opportunity for guys lower on the depth chart, especially the undrafted free agents.

Former CFL standout Alex Singleton had a great rookie minicamp and appears to be benefitting greatly from the first-team exposure, as does this year’s ‘prized’ UDFA, T.J Edwards, who could easily have been taken in the bottom rounds. The Eagles have a lot of depth at linebacker, but this offseason will aim to separate the starters, from the fringe starters, from those who need to climb the special teams ladders to make the roster. So far, there seems to be an impressive kickstart from the UDFA’s who wish to stake their claim.

And while we’re on that note, let’s take a second to appreciate ‘KGH’, who has led the Eagles in special-teams tackles in back-to-back seasons now and looks primed to climb another step in 2019.

Return depth

DeSean Jackson seems like the obvious fit at punt returner, after all, he has quite the illustrious history with the Eagles in that very role, but don’t write off some of the younger players.

I wrote and published a film room recently on how former L.A Tech running back, Boston Scott is poised to maybe snatch a roster spot in this very area, while Penn State alumn DeAndre Thompkins was put through his paces as a returner throughout the pre-draft process, perhaps enticing the Eagles to take a chance on him.

Donnel Pumphrey, who at this point is fighting for his career, joined the aforementioned today in a battle that could span the entire offseason and ultimately decide a roster spot.

Foreshadowing…

With Ronald Darby and Jalen Mills both absent, Rasul Douglas and Sidney Jones took the starting CB reins, which is kind of ironic. Both Mills and Darby are effectively on one-year deals and there isn’t much in the way of an insurance policy behind them. There is however, a flurry of young, talented corners with starting experience, chomping at the bit to dip into their snap count. The truth is, this is a huge audition for Douglas and Jones and who’s to say that a huge offseason from either won’t carry significant weight when it comes to deciding who starts at CB2?

Mills is recovering from injury, has been inconsistent in coverage, and is in the last year of a very cheap deal, if someone like Jones, who was a former second-round selection, balls out, don’t be surprised to see a twist at CB.

Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports