Eagles training camp 2020: 15 winners and 8 losers from the first week of practice

Now that the Philadelphia Eagles are halfway through their first 10 training camp practices, let’s review the biggest winners and losers to date.

CARSON WENTZ

Wentz hasn’t been anything spectacular as anything, but he has been good. However, I do not include him here so much for his achievements. He’s making the winning section because it looks like he might want to have some wide receivers to work with this year. Of course, it is far too early to say that the young boy will certainly unpack. But they give at least some reason for hope.

JALEN HURTS

Hurts is the No. 3 quarterback for now, but it’s only a matter of time before he claims the No. 2 job. He is under the impression of both throwing the ball and running. Hurts would have to be the Eagles’ quarterback if Wentz had to miss any kind of extended period.

JALEN REAGOR

Reagor made a strong impression in his very best practice. He has caught everything that has been thrown his way and you can see the juice he is running with after catching it. Reagor has drawn a line with the first team’s offensive, so the plan is for him to be a Day 1 participant. Still waiting for him to catch a deep ball touchdown, but that will come.

DESEAN JACKSON

Jackson’s have it still coming despite surgery and this year 34 words. Sustainability is still a major concern for him, but he will have a very productive season if he can manage to stay healthy. Wentz loves throwing to no. 10.

JOHN HIGHTOWER

The Eagles’ fifth-round pick of 2020 flashed early in the week before turning to a really strong day of practice on Thursday. Hightower showed good hands (can not remember drops), fast route runs (beat Darius Slay and Rasul Douglas in 1-on-1s), ball tracking (had a dive over the shoulder catcher), and speed (deep touchdown reception). He will not be in the starting lineup, but he could be a role player as a valuable backup.

JJ ARCEGA WITESIDE

The bar was empty for JJAW who came into camp after such a disappointing rookie season. He hasn’t looked great in any way, but he has made some nice catches over the past few days after training due to an injury earlier in the week. The Eagles list JJAW as their first Team X receiver. He is on course to start in Week 1 for them against Washington, although Reagor who rotates in his playing time can / will eat.

QUEZ WATKINS

On the one hand, it’s hard for Watkins to become a big winner with Jackson, Reagor, JJAW, Hightower, and Greg Ward annoying him. But the fast-paced Watkins saw some first-team rehearsals in Jackson’s place when the veteran rested. Watkins has also apparently earned one level of confidence with Wentz, who has targeted him a number of times. Watkins was previously a roster lock with Marquise Goodwin out, but he has only cemented his status on the team.

AVONTE MADDOX

Nobody wants to hear “I told you so.” You do not want to be the person who says that. And yet, here I am, telling you that I was right that there was no real competition before the start of the cornerback against Darius Slay. Such a concept was always fresh. Maddox has been the only man who took reps there. And he looked good there too. He’s just perfect, no. There will apparently be times that his reduction works great against him. But Maddox’s coverage in camp has been very sticky and he has made some plays on the ball. He is the best starting option at CB2.

JALEN MILLS

Still need to see how Mills handles the transition from cornerback to safety when the real games begin, but he’s off to an encouraging start. I did not notice him involved in blowing cover or being burned by anyone. He made a big play earlier this week with a pick six on Wentz. The Green Goblin also takes on a more leadership role; Mike Garafolo recently reported that he asked Doug Pederson if he could tackle the entire team. Mills does his best to try to fill the very large shoe that Malcolm Jenkins has left behind.

WIL PARKS

I know everyone wants to see K’Von Wallace on the field and that could still happen in some capacity because he also made some plays. But Parks will become the Eagles’ third safety. The Philly native has flown round and looked good on both defense and special teams. He plays with that confidence and swagger that Jim Schwartz loves to see from his defensive back. Parks could be a really fun role player for this team. He describes being a major upgrade on previous third-party security options such as Corey Graham and Andrew Sendejo.

NICKELL ROBEY-COLEMAN

NRC looks like he’s locked up as the Eagles’ starting nickel corner. He has made a number of plays on the ball, sometimes even deep in the field, while covering Jackson. NRC has also taken some outside-corner reps with the backups to prepare him for having to move there if / when Slay shakes a top receiver in the slot.

HASSAN RIDGEWAY

Ridgeway’s looked good in both offensive line versus defensive line drills and full team drills. The defensive tackle of the fifth year has managed to generate regular pressure from the interior. He will be the Eagles’ fourth defensive tackle behind Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave and Malik Jackson. Good to have depth in this place, especially with Hargrave already renovated.

SHAUN BRADLEY

Bradley’s managed to stand out on most days of practice. The Temple alumnus has not been afraid to be physical, he has athletics to cover, and his position coach praised him for taking a leadership role when it was just the rookies in the building. Bradley will not be in the staring lineup, but he shows promise as a backup.

JOE OSTMAN

Ding him for beating inferior competition if you have to, but other guys don’t always do the same. Ostman has a legitimate case to be the fifth or sixth defensive end on the roster. He might not make it with the Eagles potentially lying in another direciton. But Ostman is producing and the Eagles are working on him again in that Joker role.

GREYLAND ARNOLD

Arnold is perhaps the most developed rookie-free agent with the best chance of making the 53. He drew praise from Howie Roseman and Rodney McLeod before even starting camp. He showed good physicality and positioning with the Eagles attacking the ground on Friday. The Eagles could afford to stick to a development security with Mills and Parks playing on one-year deals and McLeod, 30, signing through 2021 alone.

NATE HERBIG

That, I do not think Herbig actually looked very good. I’ve seen him get hit in 1-on-1s and he had a bad snap over Hurts’ head. But he makes this section because his place on the roster seems to be relatively safe. The Eagles had him lined up at the first team right guard when Peters and Kelce both failed to practice. Herbig is also used as the sixth offensive lineman in heavy sets. The Eagles liked Herbig enough to put him on their roster last year and I don’t think they are ready to give him up. Keep in mind that he was only 22 last month.

JASON PETERS

I can not say that JP has been bad. But I do not like how he missed the first few days of practice and then he was Friday in and out. Just wondering if he really gets all the reps he needed to effectively move to right guard. Maybe I make this up too much, but my conversation with Tra Thomas leads me to believe it’s honest to care. Also keep in mind that the Eagles’ offensive line had two straight bad days when Peters was on the right guard. It is unclear how much of that, if any, is his fault. Not great though.

NATE SUDFELD

Sudfeld had his best practice day on Friday and he looks set to start the season as no. 2. The Eagles prepared him for this role. But he’s clearly just less talented than Hurts, who has shone on him overall. As I wrote earlier, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before Hurts Suds jumps. It’s a matter of ‘when’ and not ‘when’.

DEREK BARNETT

I’m not ready to give up Barnett yet, but this is a whole year for him. And the big point of emphasis was how he would enter the season healthy after missing his camp last year due to an injury. Now Barnett may be in the same situation again this season, as he is missing out on the majority of practices due to an ankle problem. One can only wonder whether this injury will attract and experience its effectiveness. That would be disappointing. The Eagles need Barnett to make a big leap in Year 4.

ALSHON JEFFERY

Jeffery seems bound to miss at least the first six weeks of the regular season, while potentially starting out on reserve / PUP. Will there be a natural place for him in the offense if he is willing to go back? It is entirely possible. Injuries and / or young receiver fights could have made the Eagles happy to welcome him back into the fold. But what if the crime really clicks without him? If the young boys are playing well, why take snaps from them for a player who will probably not return next season? The Eagles could be slow to activate Jeffery if they do not feel he is needed.

SIDNEY JONES

Back in June, I asked BGN readers if they bought or sold #SidneyJonesBreakoutSZN. The results:

Difficult to buy right now with Jones missing three straight days due to injury. Availability has apparently always been an issue with him.

Not to mention that Jones struggled when he used to be healthy earlier in the week. He was burned at one point by Robert Davis and gave up another great play to Josh Perkins. Not exactly household names there.

Even if Jones recovers and jumps back, he will still not start against Slay. Maddox is the man for that job.

RASUL DOUGLAS

It hasn’t all been bad for Douglas, but he had more losses than wins. He is still very sensitive to hitting deep, as seen by Hightower running through him on the first camp day. Douglas’ lack of versatility is also striking as almost any other corner can play inside or outside. I really do not think Douglas is a lock to make the 53. He could be trafficked or cut.

JORDAN MAILATA

The Mailata experiment may end. He did not have a very good camp; there might not have been enough progress made to keep him at 53. On the one hand, the Eagles might not give up on the 23-year-old after investing in him for a few years. On the other hand, they have some new development branches that are further along in Jack Driscoll and Price Tega Wanogho.

GENARD AVERY

I just did not see him in the camp and I made an attempt to hijack him on Friday when he went up against Mailata. While Ostman destroyed the Australian sensation, Avery could not do any jack against him. Avery will be at best the fifth defensive end with Barnett, Brandon Graham, Josh Sweat, and Vinny Curry locked up as the top four. And I think Ostman and even Shareef Miller have shown more than Avery. That trade looks like a total waste of a fourth-round pick.