Eagles training camp observations: Lane Johnson still very important originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia.
The Eagles held an extended practice Sunday morning at the NovaCare Complex in full pads, lasting an hour and 53 minutes.
This was also a practice day to try to create game-like conditions. For the majority of the practice, the coaches who are normally in the booth during games were on the balcony and the team was on headsets. It’s good to rehearse that kind of thing.
The Eagles will hold a walk-through on Monday before practicing three consecutive days on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in preparation for their preseason finale on Saturday afternoon.
Here are today’s observations:
1. As always, start with housekeeping.
• Players who did not practice: Gabe Hall (hamstring), Matt Hennessey (back), EJ Jenkins (knee), Lane Johnson (veteran rest day), Joseph Ngata (ankle), Molo Ojomo (groin), Albert Okwuegbunam (abdomen), John Ross (concussion), Tyler Steen (ankle), Caden Stearns (knee) and Johnny Wilson (concussion).
Ojomo is the latest addition to the injured list, and he has been performing well this summer.
• Limited: Oren Burks (knee), Grant Calcaterra (shoulder), Cooper DeJean (hamstring), CJ Gardner-Johnson (shoulder).
• Right guard Mekhi Becton left practice early with an injury and did not return.
2. Notes on the depth chart:
• Brett Toth replaced Becton at right guard after he left practice. Fred Johnson filled in for veteran Lane Johnson on Wednesday, so the right side of the line was dominated by Toth and Fred Johnson for the majority of the time (and it was obvious).
• WR3 duties were split between Parris Campbell and Brittain Covey, keeping in mind that Ross and Wilson are out with concussions.
• Tanner McKee continues to get playing time on the second team, but he’s second to Kenny Pickett.
• CJ Gardner-Johnson returned to the team, so he and Reed Blankenship were again starters.
• Quinion Mitchell started the day as the first-team nickel but then worked outside in the first-team base package and moved inside on nickel downs. Isaiah Rodgers worked his first practice at outside corner, but Kelly Ringo was in the mix again.
• The day began with Devin White and Zach Baun and that rotation will continue, while Nakobe Dean and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. were seen practicing with the first team.
• The top punt returners today were Britten Covey and Aeneas Smith.
3. Whenever Lane Johnson is not on the field, you start to remember how good he is. Josh Sweat sacked Fred Johnson three times in this practice. The Eagles’ edge rushers have been noticeably quiet at times during training camp, but they’re facing one of the best tackle duos in the NFL in Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata. During the offseason, I listed Johnson as the Eagles’ second-highest player in 2024, and that became clear on Sunday.
Overall, it was a very good day for the defense and defensive line. Jaylen Carter had some great plays in the backfield crushing run plays early on. Thomas Booker IV had another strong game, beating Brett Toth in a team drill. There was constant pressure on the quarterback on Sunday.
4. The best defensive play of the day (and maybe the entire camp) came from veteran cornerback Parry Nickerson. He took a Tanner McKee pass from Britten Covey and ran the other way for a 90-yard interception-six. When he returned, it seemed like the entire Eagles defense was rallying behind him, celebrating. C.J. Gardner-Johnson was in the front row to celebrate with Nickerson.
McKee’s interception was actually his second of the day, a bounced pass that landed in the arms of linebacker Ben VanSmelen earlier in practice. His teammates were excited about his performance, too; he and Devin White did a little celebratory dance together.
5. Nakobe Dean’s strong form continued on Sunday. He was the most physical player on the field and had one of his best practices in an Eagles uniform. He was all over the field, getting into the backfield for a sack, finding Saquon Barkley for a short gain and throwing some nice passes to rookie Will Shipley.
But perhaps Dean’s best play was when he made a pass downhill to DeVonta Smith and flicked the ball away. He timed it perfectly, drove and flicked the ball away.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. also did a good job intercepting a pass intended for Grant Calcaterra. The ball was in Calcaterra’s hands, but Trotter smacked it away.
6. Overall, this was a sloppy practice for the offense. Sure, they did it all without Lane Johnson and were down to a third option at right guard. But there were some bad snaps, drops and fumbles, which led to frustration on that side of the ball.
But that doesn’t mean there weren’t beautiful plays. There were beautiful plays. One of the best was a sideline pass from Jalen Hurts to Dallas Goedert, who got inbounds with both feet and beat Reed Blankenship’s defense.
Hurts’ other big pass was a go-ahead ball to AJ Brown, who beat Isaiah Rodgers in coverage along the left sideline for a touchdown.
7. Late in the practice, Quinion Mitchell intercepted a pass to Smith in the end zone, but Smith clearly had the better of the rookie in this one. First, he caught a slot fade against Mitchell for a big gain. Then, moments later, Smith caught the ball in space and made a quick cut, leaving Mitchell behind. He hurt the rookie’s ankle a little bit in the process.
8. Darius Slay intercepted two passes in this practice, one in perfect coverage on Smith and the other on a fade pass to Brown that blocked a touchdown. Slay didn’t turn his head to face the player in the end zone, but he clearly saw Brown’s reaction to the ball in the air. He put his hands up and was able to intercept the pass. A veteran move.
9. Britain Covey made a very difficult catch off a pass from Kenny Pickett. Cooper DeJean passed to Covey in the air, and it was a nice play from the rookie, but Covey was able to hang on. For a guy his size, Covey is pretty tough.
10. It was a good day to wear number 46. On offense, receiver Jacob Harris caught the ball behind him and passed it to Pickett’s right a few times, especially when he jumped to catch a pass behind him. Harris stands out among the reserve receivers who probably won’t make the roster. He could do well on the practice squad.
On defense, veteran edge rusher Terrell Lewis beat Darian Kinard around the edge, and as Pickett tried to quickly release the ball, Lewis put his hands up to bat the pass back.
Silly Observation of the Day: Nick Sirianni spent time on special teams Sunday and also served as the substitute punter.
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