What is the story about?
The Philadelphia Eagles held the first of two minicamp practices on Tuesday and I was at the NovaCare Jefferson Health Training Complex to watch the action unfold. Here’s what I observed!
- ATTENDANCE UPDATES
- ABSENT: Unlike voluntary OTAs, it’s mandatory to attend minicamp. The only player absent was Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. It’s currently unclear whether his absence was approved or if he’s subject to fines by not attending. The cost for missing Day 1 is $17,986.
- NOTABLY PRESENT: Lane Johnson and Jalen Carter were at practice after missing the Eagles’ two media-attended OTA practices over the past two weeks.
- INJURY UPDATES
- DID NOT PARTICIPATE
- Makai Lemon (hamstring) did not practice, as expected. Assuming he’s out again on Wednesday, which seems like a safe bet, the Eagles’ first-round pick will have missed at least four of the team’s eight total spring practices. Hardly the end of the world but not ideal.
- Jihaad Campbell, Grant Calcaterra, Britain Covey, Carson Steele, Chandler Martin, and Tucker Large attended practice but did not participate. Campbell, Martin, and Large were doing some rehab work off to the side while the rest of the team practiced.
- LIMITED PARTICIPATION
- Jalen Carter did not participate in team drills. Is he not 100% recovered from injury? Is the team just being extra cautious? Is this a “hold” in situation?
- Jonathan Greenard, Cole Wisniewski, and Drew Kendall also took part in position drills but not team drills.
- DID NOT PARTICIPATE
- JALEN HURTS UPDATE: Hurts wasn’t very sharp today. Early in 7-on-7, a downfield target to DeVonta Smith with Riq Woolen trailing was overthrown and incomplete. Hurts missed a crossing DeVonta over the middle with an inaccurate pass. Hurts to DeVonta was incomplete yet again on a play where it looked like there was a tight window for the wide receiver to get the ball between Woolen and Smael Mondon Jr. Hurts was guilty of holding the ball too long on some reps to get “sacked.” One such instance might’ve wiped out what ended up being a completion to E.J. Jenkins over the middle that Hurts made by throwing against his body while rolling right. Good play if it counted, which it might not have. I wouldn’t put all of the offense’s struggles on Hurts; they’re just clearly behind the defense, which is to be expected since 1) Vic Fangio is really good, 2) it’s not unusual for defenses to be ahead of offenses at this time of year, and 3) the defense is in the third year of their system while the offense is new. Still lots of kinks to iron out.
- Can’t recall many, if any, times that Woolen or Quinyon Mitchell have given up catches this spring.
- It seems to me that Hurts is targeting Saquon Barkley more often than he has in the past. This isn’t the first offseason in recent years where some have wondered if passing to the running back could be a bigger part of the offense, so, you have to take these observations with a grain of salt. But maybe it’s truly different this time?! Barkley doesn’t have the best hands but he is very effective with the ball in them in terms of yards after catch potential. Should be a bigger part of the offense than not at all.
- BACKUP QUARTERBACK BATTLE (?): The Eagles have held three media-attended spring practices and Andy Dalton has been QB2 for all of them. It sure seems like Tanner McKee has been demoted to QB3. If Dalton goes up directly after Hurts again tomorrow, we’ll have even more confirmation. I don’t really get it, to be honest. Dalton obviously has more starting experience in the NFL but McKee has shown legitimate promise and I think it’s worth fostering that potential, not pushing him down the depth chart as he enters a contract year. On that note, I thought McKee looked like the better quarterback on Tuesday. McKee ripped a ball over the middle to Elijah Moore in stride for a first down and more. He found Hollywood Brown (twice, including a real tight window throw) and Samori Toure for touchdown connections. Dalton, meanwhile, got picked off by Jalyx Hunt and some more defenders got hands on his passes. In fairness to Dalton, he did have some good completions to E.J. Jenkins (threaded a pass in tight coverage with Chance Campbell draped over the tight end), Moore for a touchdown (seemed like a coverage bust by Mac McWilliams?), and Johnny Wilson (in stride over the middle). But Dalton put the ball in harm’s way too often (Chance Campbell nearly picked him in the end zone) and also had a pass deflected at the line of scrimmage. I could understand a legitimate battle for QB2 where the team is actually splitting the backup reps but I don’t get stacking the deck in Dalton’s favor.
- Not a good day for rookie quarterback Cole Payton. He threw at least three near-interceptions. He did respond well from his last throw in harm’s way by delivering a strike over the middle to Brandon Hayes.
- The Eagles’ offensive line lineup
- First-team: LT Jordan Mailata, LG Landon Dickerson, C Cam Jurgens, RG Tyler Steen, RT Lane Johnson
- Second-team: LT Markel Bell, LG Myles Hinton, C Jake Majors, RG John Ojukwu, RT Fred Johnson
- Third-team: LT Hollin Pierce, LG Jaedan Roberts, C Willie Lampkin, RG Micah Morris, RT Cameron Williams
- With Lane Johnson returning to practice, interesting to see that Bell shifted to second-team left tackle after previously repping at first-team right tackle. Whereas Jeff Stoutland preferred young players to master one position first, new offensive line coach Chris Kuper clearly isn’t afraid to emphasize position versatility from the jump. Bell’s enormity stood out to me today when I saw him dwarfing Jordan Mailata, who is by no means small:
- I feel like Jeremiah Trotter Jr. always knows exactly what the offense is going to run on a given play. And this isn’t a commentary on the offense being predictable as much as it is that Trot Jr. is just a very smart player who plays with great anticipation. He was in position to blow up multiple running plays in addition to nearly intercepting a pass in the flat. I’m bullish on Jihaad Campbell’s outlook but if he can’t stay healthy and/or he struggles to establish himself as a starter … I could see Trot Jr. being a good starter for this defense in 2026. Maybe Trot Jr. eventually replaces Zack Baun?
- Trot Jr. isn’t the only standout depth linebacker. Chance Campbell also saw some first-team action and generally looked good out there.
- It’s worth noting that Byron Young took first-team reps on the defensive line next to Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo with Carter not practicing. Young seems like a good bet to make the roster again.
- Can’t say I’ve noticed much from Dontayvion Wicks thus far. And that’s with Makai Lemon missing the last two practices he’s attended. That being said, Nick Sirianni did mention Wicks in the Eagles’ top receiver trio and mentioned there’s some Keenan Allen to Wicks. That’s good for his stock.
- Johnny Wilson made some nice catches over the middle in stride. He had a real bad start to camp last summer before rebounding in a big way … only to get hurt and miss the 2025 season.
- Hollywood Brown made an eye-opening grab on a ball that was thrown low/wide of him. Nice snag on a play where I’m sure a lot of receivers wouldn’t have been able to complete the catch. Brown also found the end zone multiple times but there was a red zone rep where his lack of height clearly hurt him.
- E.J. Jenkins made some good grabs today. Johnny Mundt got open for a touchdown catch but a defensive pass interference by the defender trailing behind him ruined his chance.
- Shame on the coaching staff if they don’t find a way to get Tank Bigsby more involved this season. I get that his opportunities are limited behind Barkley … but he’s simply too good to go underutilized. Bigsby clearly has so much juice while running with the ball. He made some good moves on defenders after making a short catch today.
- It’s been a very quiet spring for Eli Stowers. With Calcaterra out today, one would’ve expected more opportunity for the Eagles’ second-round pick. But the rookie tight end was invisible. I talked to BGN alumnus Jimmy Kempski after practice and he felt the same way. Speaking of Jimmy …
- Jimmy also remarked to me that Uar Bernard (whom he keyed in on at one point) looks like he has a long way to go, which is to be expected.
- Who’s going to return punts for the Eagles this season? I’m still not sure. But Cooper DeJean, Hollywood Brown, and James Proche II (attending minicamp on a tryout basis) took reps there today. Covey is obviously a contender to do so but he didn’t practice. Makai Lemon and DeVonta Smith stood by where the returners were waiting between punts.
- Undrafted rookie Maximus Pulley had five interceptions for Wofford College in 2025. He showed some of that playmaking ability by nearly picking off Payton but settling for a pass breakup instead in a contested catch situation.
- Proche isn’t the only receive trying out for the Eagles this week. They’re also hosting Bryce Ford-Wheaton (former Giants UDFA signing who missed 2025 due to an Achilles injury), Brandon Hayes (recently waived by the Eagles), and someone with the last name of “Davis” who was wearing No. 41. Seems like Anthony DiBona might’ve cracked the code on that mystery and it could be Kaden Davis?
UP NEXT: The Eagles’ second and final minicamp practice will take place tomorrow, June 10. Then the players are off until training camp begins in late July.
