Eagles Training Camp Practice Notes: Jalen Hurts looked sharp

EAGLES PRACTICE NOTES

• Today was a lighter day of practice. No pads. 75 minutes long.
• EAGLES INJURY UPDATES: BGN’s Alexis Chassen wrote up a comprehensive Eagles training camp injury report. The highlights: still no Lane Johnson (excused/not injury related), DeVonta Smith (hamstring), or Makai Lemon. Also, Landon Dickerson (rest/not injury related) sat out of practice for the first time this summer.
• JALEN HURTS UPDATE: Hurts looked pretty sharp today!
  • QB1 completed all of his attempts in 7-on-7 … save for one dropped pass by E.J. Jenkins that hit the tight end in his hands. Hurts connected with Dallas Goedert over the middle with a ball that was placed just over the flyswatter dummy that’s designed to simulate a leaping defensive lineman. Hurts threw a perfect pass with anticipation into a tight window along the left sideline down the field to Dontayvion Wicks. Unlike earlier in his career, Hurts also doesn’t really take off running in 7-on-7, which is refreshing to see since that’s a useless thing to do in a pure passing drill.
  • In 11-on-11, Hurts ripped a ball to Elijah Moore on a curl for a short gain. Hurts almost had a deep touchdown to Darius Cooper … but the second-year wide receiver couldn’t secure the ball that hit him in the hands as he was going to the ground. Would’ve been a tough grab but Hurts did his part to give Cooper a chance for the score.
  • Stock up.

• Drew Kendall took first-team left guard reps with Dickerson resting. Markell Bell continued to work at first-team right tackle with Lane Johnson not practicing.
• Jihaad Campbell broke up a pass in front of him meant for Samari Toure. Later, Campbell was flagged for defensive pass interference while covering Tank Bigsby.
• Speaking of Bigsby, it sure seems like he’s seen a lot of targets.
• BACKUP QUARTERBACK BATTLE: Tanner McKee was first up as QB2 in 7-on-7 but Andy Dalton took the first 11-on-11 series with the second-team offense. One of McKee’s best passes was a throw over the middle to Stone Smart … who had a really bad drop. Dalton hit a crossing Johnny Wilson (Dalton really likes throwing to him) in stride for a chunk gain. Dalton also hit a crossing Cam Latu in stride. Dalton did overthrow Danny Gray in the end zone to the right side. All told, Dalton has outplayed McKee in camp so far. Of course, still plenty of summer left to go.
• Arnold Ebiketie beat Fred Johnson to notch a “sack.” I tend to think the Eagles will keep Big Fred on the roster … but I don’t think he’s had a very good summer. I’ve been wondering if he’s a surprise cut candidate but he already has a $1.4 million guaranteed salary this season. The Eagles could trade him to clear $1.3 million in cap space with only $160,000 in dead money. Johnson could be made expendable if Bell proves to earn the coaching staff’s trust and, say, John Ojukwu emerges as a depth tackle option.
• The Eagles’ second-team offensive line: LT Fred Johnson, LG Jake Majors, C Willie Lampkin, RG Michael Jordan, RT John Ojukwu.
  • It seems like Lampkin is climbing up the depth chart after previously repping on the third-team offensive line. Really interested to see him in preseason action.
• Grant Calcaterra had a ball bounce off his hands for a drop.
• Elijah Mitchell caught my eye multiple times today. He looked physical and eager for contact in pass protection against Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Mitchell also had a long run and he caught a pass from McKee in the flat for a good catch-and-run.
• Dameon Pierce also had a long run. Some good competition going on for RB4. (Or RB3?).
• Ambry Thomas got shook badly on a play where Quez Watkins made a short catch and juked the cornerback.
• The Eagles re-signed Brandon Hayes to help fill wide receiver reps due to multiple injuries. Hayes, perhaps shaking off some rust, dropped a pass from Dalton.
• Cole Payton threw another interception today. The rookie quarterback targeted Samari Toure over the middle but the ball was tipped into the air and caught by Tariq Castro-Fields. I much prefer Payton to be fearless than to look too scared to pull the trigger. That being said, Payton probably has to reign the aggression in a bit as he develops. Payton did connect with a crossing Erik Ezukanma in stride with a throw over the middle.
• Jeremy Maclin attended today’s practice. The former Eagles wide receiver has been the head coach of Kirkwood High School in Missouri since 2021.