The Eagles were back at it again today for their first padded practice of the Summer. Here’s all you need to know.
Injury updates
The good news is that there were no significant additions to the injury report today. Ryan Kerrigan is day-to-day after walking in early yesterday, as is Michael Walker, while DeVonta Smith is expected to be out for 2-3 weeks.
Smith was still at practice today and was seen working on the JUGS machine…which considering he’s working on a sprained MCL, is highly commendable. That’s the kind of work ethic you want to see from a first-round selection.
Davion Taylor was limited in practice today but ended up heading to the medical tent early after taking another knock. Not a good sign for the second-year linebacker. Hopefully it’s nothing too serious.
Zechsy and I know it
One player heating up recently is rookie CB Zech McPhearson. After a string of impressive practices, McPhearson posted his best effort yet, breaking up 4 (!!) passes overall and tackling with a real chip on his shoulder.
The fourth PBU came away from 11-on-11 drills, but what an effort. McPhearson is really taking the fight to Avonte Maddox in the fight for nickel supremacy this Summer, and it’s super encouraging to see a fourth-round pick consistently catching eyes during Training Camp. I can’t wait to see how he looks in preseason.
Jake Elliott field goals
It’s been a bumpy camp so far for Eagles kicker Jake Elliott, but he finally found some form on Tuesday, going 6/6 on the day.
Elliott struggled at the best of times last year, but there’s at least still reason for optimism here. If it’s a confidence thing, this kind of performance will go a long way in building it back up.
LT update
Another day, another Jordan Mailata masterclass. Okay, not quite, but the Aussie looked to come away with another point in his column on Tuesday, having performed better than Andre Dillard yet again.
Things really aren’t looking great for the former first-round pick. The worst possible combination for him is a summer of struggles and a continued rise of Jordan Mailata.
The Hurts to Ertz connection
Zach Ertz is having a Training Camp as bright as his new hair color. The veteran who was widely expected to be traded this past offseason has approached camp with the same mentality he always has and is beginning to show shades of old, which is promising news for the near-term future of the offense, and its quarterback.
Ertz acted as a safety-blanket for Carson Wentz throughout his Eagles tenure and outside of an uncharacteristically poor 2020 season, his career had been nearly flawless, breaking numerous records along the way. If the Eagles can squeeze one more year out the Stanford product, he may still be worth the price to pay.
Pads baby
The pads were finally put on today in what’s been a long-anticipated practice. It didn’t disappoint. We saw an animated Nick Sirianni, a 100 minute practice, and plenty of big-time hits as the players made the most of the opportunity.
It’s really nice to see a spirited effort by the Eagles, especially when you compare it to what happened just up the I-95 today. Team cohesion looks to be at a renewed high, and there are plenty of positives to take from each day.
Underdog CB shines again
I’ve been keeping close attention to the progress of former Jags corner Josiah Scott. He’s made what feels like a play a day and today was no exception.
There is a lot of congestion in the slot, but Scott could easily sneak onto the back of the final-53 as a backup CB, or make an appearance on the practice squad at the very least.
Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire
