After leaving on Saturday, the Eagles were back at the NovaCare complex at 10.30am for another practice session on Sunday.
The Eagles wore helmets on Sunday, but were not in many pads. They will be gearing up this week for their next live session (approach to the ground).
I came through the temperature control today with a 97.9. I found some consistency there.
To the obs!
1 Nickell Robey-Coleman on the other hand, had a terrible day. The Eagles’ new nickel angle and purchase of free agent from the Eagles were sticky in coverage, especially when the Eagles had 1-on-1s between WRs and DBs. Those drills are definitely easier for receivers, but NRC was difficult in coverage, even against DeSean Jackson.
The Eagles signed the 28-year-old to a one-year, $ 1.35 million one-year contract, which was an absolute bargain for one of the NFL’s best nickel corners. So far, he seems to be worth it.
2 Darius Slay had a great interpretation. Carson Wentz did attempt a finish, but from an awkward position, sending the ball into the away fans. After the pick, he showed his wheels, racing on the left sideline. Slay has 19 career interceptions since joining the league in 2013. There have been just nine players in the league with more since 2013.
3 Jalen Hurts remained connected with Deontay Burnett during the 11-on-11 part of the practice. He slipped a ball to Burnett in the middle of the field through tight coverage by Cre’Von LeBlanc for a first down. Then he hit him with a bullet as he rolled to the right. After a short run, Hurts kept a play alive and found Burnett in the end zone after shaking a defender.
Hurts is not afraid to shoot a ball in a tight window and he is clearly confident. It’s also clear how dangerous he can be on the run, especially if he rolls to the right (his storm arm side).
4. Numerous boys added to the injury report today:
Eagles injury report:
Rob Davis (lower body) week to week
Corey Clement (illness)
Vinny Curry (disease)
John Hightower (disease)
Lane Johnson (lower body) day to day
Josh Perkins (upper body) out indefinitely
Hassan Ridgeway (disease)
Anthony Rush (illness)– Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroNBCS) August 23, 2020
You will find all those guys with a designation “disease”. While we can not speculate about their injuries, it is worth noting that the Eagles used the NJ lab responsible for a batch of positive COVID-19 tests that prompted an investigation into the results. The Eagles had missed four games with a ‘sick’ indication on Friday, but all four of those players returned Sunday.
5 Andre Dillard had to leave practice early after suffering an injury in a section of 11 to 11. And Lane Johnson is day by day with an injury of his own. That the Eagles’ OL looked very different a lot Sunday.
From left to right: Jordan Mailata, Isaac Seumalo, Jason Kelce, Jason Peters, Matt Pryor
Later in the practice, when Peters took off some reps, Nate Herbig replaced him on the right guard.
Despite putting Mailata on the left on Sunday, the Eagles probably would not do so in a game if Dillard was missing time. My judgment would be that Peters would slide back to left tackle and the Eagles would put Pryor in his place on the right guard.
6 Josh Perkins left practice early Friday and is “indefinitely”, which does not sound good. That means undrafted rookie Noah Togiai has a real chance to make the roster. He made a solid catch today on a pass from a rolling Nate Sudfeld.
7 A few notes from a pretty competitive WR vs. DB 1-on-1 drill:
• Robey-Coleman, as we mentioned above, made some great PBUs.
Jalen Reagor got Will Parks all turned around with a huge change of motion. Reagor is shocked when I realized I was in camp.
• The Eagles had JJ Arcega-Whiteside against Avonte Maddox in this drill. JJAW could use his body to make divorce. But I love the idea that Maddox gets work against bigger receivers. That could be his biggest problem this year.
• DeSean Jackson could use his speed to make some separation from Slay.
8 Speaking of DeSean, he’s as fast as ever. The only real question is whether he can stay healthy by 2020. I was under the impression that Wentz and Jackson were picking up where they left off in Week 1 against Washington. Jackson does not get a ton of reps in practice, but due to elite speed he can be open all the time, even against players like Slay. He did the Slay during an 11 on 11 part of practice. The DB needs to respect this deep ball skill and Jackson can break at the top of a route to come back and pick up pieces.
9. The defensive line had another good day with many more sacks. Fletcher Cox, Malik Jackson and others continued to advance to the quarterback. Doug Pederson said on Sunday morning that he does not mind his OL being abused by the DL. It is fair to say that the Eagles’ OL at the end of Sunday’s session were not ideal.
10 Marcus Green, who is one of the real long shots at receiver, had a great catch over LeBlanc for a touchdown today. Perfect throw, perfect catch in the corner of the end zone.
11. During 7-on-7s, the Eagles usually get one of their backup centers to catch football, but for a few reps when Nate Sudfeld was there with the second team, Jason Kelce was there to catch him the ball. Sudfeld also got some work done with the first team in practice on Friday. It seems very clear that Pederson’s backup quarterback will get extra time with the starting center, just in case.
12. It becomes pretty clear that if the Eagles keep four running backs, the favorite is Elijah Holyfield. In the first six practices, Holyfield seems to have an edge over rookies Mike Warren and Adrian Killins. Without Clement and Miles Sanders on Sunday – and with Boston Scott limited – Holyfield got a lot of work done with the starters and he looks good. Wentz had a great touchdown completion over the top to Holyfield late in practice Sunday.
13. Kelce wore a no. 33 Kobe Bryant jersey Lower Merion jersey out to practice on Sunday, which would be Bryant’s 42nd birthday. Kelce took off the sweater and put on his shoulder pads before the exercise began.
It’s a special day. pic.twitter.com/AMMVCnBeBa
– Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 23, 2020
14. Dallas Goedert has a hairline fracture in his thumb, but he was practicing today with a cast on his left hand. He does not really need this practice time, but good for him, he is getting out of there again.
Stupid observation of the day: At one point on Sunday when Burnett made a nice first-down grip, he led to the almost empty sideline. That’s when the defense reminded him that there are no fans on the practice this year. It is honestly quiet at these practices because of it.
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