Eagles sign a wide receiver & five other Training Camp takeaways

NFL: AUG 17 Preseason – Lions at Texans
HOUSTON, TX – AUGUST 17: Detroit Lions wide receiver Travis Fulgham (84) gets ready for a play during a NFL preseason game between the Detroit Lions and the Houston Texans on August 17, 2019, at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX. (Photo by Daniel Dunn/Icon Sportswire)

The Eagles ramped up the intensity at practice after a slower day on Wednesday and what followed was a day of speed, speed, and more speed. Here’s everything you need to know.

Travis Fulgham

The most prominent news of the day was that the Eagles claimed another wide receiver off waivers. If we include Alshon Jeffery, that means that the team are currently carrying 12 receivers. It’s puzzling that such a high percentage of the roster is made up of pass-catchers, so why the signing?

Travis Fulgham was originally a sixth-round pick of the Lions back in 2019 after amassing a 1,083 yard season at Old Dominion. At 6’2, 215 lbs, Fulgham is nearly 25-years-old and had a brief stint with the Packers after being waived by Detroit, but the Eagles were quick to pluck him when Green Bay moved on.

In preseason last year, he amassed 7 receptions and 147 yards, leading the team. However, he only played in 3 games as a rookie before Detroit moved on.

Built in a similar vein to JJAW and Alshon, Fulgham would give the Eagles an ‘X’ mold. If they want 2-deep at each spot, Alshon being sidelined makes that tricky, so taking a flyer here does make sense.

It will be interesting to see how he gets on with such limited time left.

All along the Hightower

If you’ve been following our content for a while, you’ll know that John Hightower was my ultimate draft crush. Today sent me swooning. The Boise State product was the star of the show, burning cornerbacks, making huge catches, and totally stealing the spotlight.

I’ll be back to finish this article after I scream like a Swifite and regather my composure.

Sid’s in the cold

For the fourth day in a row, Avonte Maddox got the nod at CB2. Sidney Jones was out with injury today, which really doesn’t help his chances of easing back into this battle. New DB coach Marquand Manuel wanted to see three things from Jones this Summer…

“If you consistently do those three things in this league, you can have success,” Manuel said. “So (Jones’) accountability and commitment and hard work is really what I asked him. That was the challenge, and that’s going to continue to be the challenge.

…but you can’t make the club in the tub.

Injury update

There aren’t any significant injury updates today which makes for a refreshing change, although there do seem to be a flurry of minor injuries cropping up. Philadelphia aren’t the only team dealing with this, it’s simply a by-product of the offseason, but it doesn’t make it any easier to swallow.

Wentz to Reagor connection

If there’s one connection fans want to see this Summer, it’s the strengthening of the bond between Carson Wentz and the team’s first-round pick, Jalen Reagor.

The good news is, the two seem to be striking a real chord right now. Wentz had a bad day at the office on Wednesday but seemed to be back to his usual self today, helping Reagor flourish in the process.

Smash and splash

K’Von Wallace was one name fans had been dying to see all Summer and he exploded onto the scene on Thursday.

His first interception game two days ago and his stock has only been rising ever since. This bodes very well for the Clemson product’s exposure to defensive snaps as a rookie.

Ostman sighting

A wild Joe Ostman sighting is always going to turn heads. The scout-team star has been on the cusp of breaking onto the defense for what seems like forever, but injuries have stood in the way. Now coming off a torn ACL, Ostman has a tall Mountain to climb if he is to sneak onto the final roster, but days like this will definitely help.

Photo by Daniel Dunn/Icon Sportswire