Quick Takes: 5 observations from Day 2 of Eagles’ training camp
The Eagles returned to practice on Friday for Day 2 of training camp.
Participation report:
DID NOT PRACTICE:
- WR Zach Pascal – illness
- WR Keric Wheatfall – COVID progression
LIMITED
- DT Fletcher Cox – COVID progression
- C Jason Kelce – COVID progression
Today wasn’t nearly as eventful as Wednesday, but here are my five takeaways:
First-team starters:
Marcus Epps and Anthony Harris got the first looks at safety. K’Von Wallace also rotated in with the first-team. Rookie LB Nakobe Dean got second-team reps on defense with TJ Edwards and Kyzir White running with the first-team.
Newly-converted TE J.J. Arcega-Whiteside got first-team special teams reps along with LB Patrick Johnson.
Starting safeties at the beginning of team: Marcus Epps and Anthony Harris. #Eagles
— EJ Smith (@EJSmith94) July 29, 2022
Underwhelming day for Jalen Hurts
Hurts failed to exhibit the same accuracy as he did on Day 1 during Friday’s practice.
The first session got off to a slow start with check-downs to Gainwell and Goedert. Hurts’ first pass to AJ Brown was incomplete with Darius Slay in coverage. He found Brown on a crossing route for about 25 yards in a later drill while scrambling away from pressure.
Towards the end of practice, Hurts forced a throw intended for a well-covered Dallas Goedert, resulting in a leaping INT by Avonte Maddox.
“He kind of baited the quarterback,” Goedert said. “He took a couple of steps up, and I think he was guessing that I would be running a corner route. He just made a good play on the ball. I wish it were a touch higher so I could have caught it instead of him, but it’s Day 2 of camp. We’ll get it right.”
Largely a night and day performance from the first day of camp — not many completions to go around and limited looks downfield. Rough day for the offense overall.
Kenneth Gainwell RB1?
Miles Sanders began practice taking carries with the second-team offense. He had shaky hands on the first day of camp, an interesting development to keep an eye on with Sanders entering a contract year.
Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott split the first-team reps at running back.
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Defense won the battle on Day 2
Epps had another active day in practice; he looks like a player ready to transition into a full-time starter. LB Kyzir White had his first “sack” of training camp, blowing up a play and getting to Hurts in the backfield.
CB Mac McCain had a good day as well, deflecting a pass from Minshew into the arms of LB Davion Taylor. McCain also had a pass breakup on Quez Watkins later in practice. Taylor had a well-timed hit on Boston Scott to force an incompletion.
Minshew was in a bit of a groove at one point with consecutive completions to TEs Dallas Goedert and Jack Stoll, but safety Andre Chachere put an end to that with an interception of his own.
James Bradberry showed why the Eagles brought him in, breaking up a pass intended for Jalen Reagor. Both the first and second-team defenses generated good pressure, forcing their opposing QBs into ill-advised decisions.
“It didn’t look good.” Jason Kelce said of the offense after practice.
Hurts with a really bad throw, picked off by Avonte Maddox. Not a good day for QB1 or the #Eagles offense so far.
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) July 29, 2022
Carson Strong has a cannon
Strong had a hell of a throw to undrafted rookie Britain Covey on a fly route with Josh Blackwell in coverage. Covey couldn’t make the grab, however.
If we’re keeping score for training camp — Eagles Offense: 1, Eagles Defense: 1
The Eagles resume practice tomorrow at 10 A.M. before an off day on Sunday.
>> Read More: Roster Outlook: Projected Eagles WR depth chart in 2022
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