The Philadelphia Eagles descended on the NovaCare Complex on Wednesday to kick off their 2024 Training Camp schedule. With a practice that ran a little over an hour, Philadelphia wasted no time in getting back into the swing of things. Here are some quick take aways from the first day back at School for the Birds.
Eagles Injury report
There are two main aspects to the injury report. The first is the above tweet citing two minor injuries. Neither are believed to be overly serious and both players should be back in the fold soon. (Whenever I stub my toe now I am going to tell everyone I have a toe laceration for dramatic effect)
The second is the fact that Cooper DeJean and two depth players hit the Active Non-Football Injury List. DeJean’s absence is obviously the most notable, with the rookie defensive back reportedly set to miss three weeks with a hamstring injury.
This is obviously tough news and will hinder his early development, with Training Camp often being a real proving ground for rookies, but the main thing is that the issue isn’t severe and he’ll be at least healthy by the final 2 weeks of camp, returning in time to potentially even make his preseason debut.
It’s hard to really forecast what kind of role CDJ is going to have this season and his usage/performances over the Summer will go a long way in dictating that. Unfortunately, the hamstring injury does complicate things on that front, but thankfully it’s only a minor setback and shouldn’t prevent him from making an impact on the field this year.
A new era for the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense
Today marked our first proper opportunity to take a peak at the new-look Eagles offense. Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts were seen connecting on a few short passing routes, while A.J Brown broke down the pre-practice huddle, embracing his role as a leader. The star wideout would later talk to reporters about the transition from last years’ scheme to Kellen Moore’s, stating that there are a few new terms to learn, but it’s familiar to the players and one he’s already comfortable playing in.
Brandon Lee-Gowton of Bleeding Green Nation highlighted the use of pre-snap motion, which on the first day of Camp is a huge green flag considering we barely saw any of it during the entirety of last season. It might not count for much, but it’s nice to see the offense beginning to take a new shape, with new faces, new leaders, and new ideas.
James Bradberry’s future with the Eagles
Much has been said about Eagles CB James Bradberry following a disappointing 2023 campaign. His future was always going to be uncertain and now that the Eagles can move him on without suffering a meaty cap-hit, it’s understandable for speculation to run rampant. Two shiny new rookie DB’s joining the secondary don’t exactly paint a bright picture for Bradberry’s future, and that story took an interesting twist on Wednesday.
Bradberry taking reps at Safety is somewhat surprising, but probably down to Cooper DeJean’s injury. With that said, it’s not like there’s a lack of corners to pick from when looking for a viable cross-train candidate. JB’s move over the top enabled Quinyon Mitchell and Isaiah Rodgers some expanded looks on the outside today, which is something we’re bound to see more of as the Summer progresses.
Can Bradberry transition to Safety and find a new calling-card, or is this a last-ditch effort to find a spot for him in what is now a very overcrowded secondary?
Team shape
There were a few interesting tidbits when it came to the starters today. Nakobe Dean ran the first team with Zack Baun at linebacker for a short stint, following Devin White’s opening series alongside Baun. While it’s great to see Dean back in the fold, it’s Baun who continues to turn my head. The former New Orleans Saint is one of my favorite signings of the offseason due to his unique skillset and high Football-IQ when making tackles. He’s a core special teamer with plenty of defensive upside and it looks like the Eagles feel the same way.
Elsewhere, Mekhi Becton got the nod at LG due to Landon Dickerson’s absence, but he could easily have a shot at the RG spot too depending on how Tyler Steen fares over the coming weeks.
The opening day of practice didn’t give us too much in the way of huge takeaways or highlight plays, but it certainly wets the appetite for what promises to be an enthralling summer.
Make sure to stay locked in to Philly Sports Network for all the latest from the NovaCare Complex.
AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File
