PHILADELPHIA —Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland and every offensive player had to do push-ups after Tuesday’s minicamp practice after losing to the defense during the team’s situational drill.
Philadelphia’s offensive line, which had four of its five projected starters available — center Cam Jurgens (back) was sidelined — ruined three plays.
Backup center Brett Toth botched two shotgun snaps, and offensive guard Tyler Steen had a false start after Toth’s first bad snap. If Steen struggles in his first season as the starting right guard, the Eagles’ offense will regress.
Those moments weren’t good, but overall, the offense had a strong day, with Eagles starting quarterback Jalen Hurts looking sharp and the team’s top two backups (Tanner McKee and Kyle McCord) playing well.
McCord had one of the best throws of the day, throwing a tight-window touchdown to tight end Nick Muse, slipping it past safety Andre’ Sam’s reach.
Hurts made good decisions, completing check downs and quick passes when nobody was open. On a play-action roll out, Hurts remained composed while second-year edge rusher Jalyx Hunt applied pressure, connecting with tight end Grant Calcaterra in the flat.
During the team session (11-on-11), star wide receiver DeVonta Smith ran past rookie linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. on the left sideline, reeling in an accurate deep ball from Hurts.
McKee later connected with second-year wide receiver Ainias Smith down the left sideline, too, with undrafted rookie linebacker Lance Dixon trailing in coverage.
Hurts spread the ball around, completing passes to DeVonta Smith, Calcaterra, A.J. Brown, Terrace Marshall Jr. and Jahan Dotson and a few other playmakers.
Philadelphia’s secondary made the quarterbacks look bad at times.
Backup cornerback Eli Ricks jumped McKee’s pass to Ainias Smith, knocking it down. On the next play, cornerback A.J. Woods, who spent last season on the Eagles’ practice squad, poked the ball from wide receiver Johnny Wilson.
Third-year cornerback Kelee Ringo, who is competing with Adoree’ Jackson for a starting job, knocked the ball out of Marshall’s hands in the left corner of the end zone on a jump ball and stripped Danny Gray on a slant. Ringo is among the team’s best breakout candidates, having the speed (4.36 40-yard dash) and size (6-2, 207 pounds) to become a star.
Important notes
Eagles’ first-round pick Jihaad Campbell participated in positional drills, but he went back to the sidelines for 7-on-7s and team sessions. Campbell, the former Alabama linebacker, who underwent shoulder surgery this offseason, could also miss a portion of training camp.
Defense tackle Jalen Carter was held out of practice, observing from the sideline. Linebacker Zack Baun sat out of team drills to recover from soreness, he told reporters after practice.
Ringo received the first starting reps in team drills, then Jackson mixed in.
The Eagles rotated their safeties, starting third-year player Sydney Brown with the 1’s. Rookie safety Drew Mukuba took a few snaps with Philadelphia’s first-team defense and also played in the nickel.
Mondon and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. stepped in as the first-team linebackers, with Baun, Campbell and Nakobe Dean out.
Steen started at right guard for the third straight practice open to the media. He has an easy pathway to win the job, only having to beat out Kenyon Green and Matt Pryor.
Hunt and Azeez Ojulari were the starting edge rushers during team drills. Once Nolan Smith is cleared from a torn biceps he suffered in the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX victory, he will supplant Ojulari as the starter. Edge rushers Josh Uche and Patrick Johnson ran with the second-team defense. Those two players could be fighting for one roster spot.
After practice, Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson said Uche is the edge rusher who has stood out the most during the spring: “I remember playing him against the New England Patriots. (He is) really quick. I think he’s very versatile with what he can do."
After amassing 11.5 sacks in 2022, Uche has only finished with five sacks in the last two years — a bad regression. The Eagles could help him turn around his career that was once promising.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Cayden Steele may be reached atCSteele@njadvancemedia.com