The Philadelphia Eagles held their first fully padded practice of training camp on Tuesday, moving the session an hour earlier to avoid the day’s extreme heat at the NovaCare Complex. The nearly two-hour workout saw several players sidelined due to injuries, including Zack Baun (back contusion), Nolan Smith (concussion), Danny Gray (finger), Andrew Mukuba (shoulder), and DeVonta Smith (back tightness).
During practice, the defense stood out by forcing quarterback Jalen Hurts to throw away multiple passes. The unit, led by defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, was recognized as one of the top defenses in the NFL last season. Despite offseason changes and key departures, early signs from training camp have been positive for the group.
Kelee Ringo and Adoree’ Jackson continued rotating with the first-team defense, with Ringo getting initial reps on Tuesday. Running back Will Shipley made an impact in the passing game, catching a touchdown from Hurts and later making a notable sideline grab.
Jaylx Hunt impressed during offensive line versus defensive line drills, building on his strong finish last season. Rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell showed progress in one-on-one matchups against running backs.
Saquon Barkley contributed with a one-handed catch from Hurts and scored in a simulated game-winning two-point conversion scenario. Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson demonstrated his speed while working with the third team and completed several accurate passes.
Joshua Uche delivered his best performance of camp so far by pressuring both McKee and Hurts during drills. Wide receiver Elijah Cooks continued his streak of highlight plays with another end zone catch from Tanner McKee.
On the defensive line, Jalen Carter remains a central figure for Philadelphia’s interior defense due to his quickness and strength. Teams often assign multiple blockers to contain him. Next to Carter is Jordan Davis, who has lost 26 pounds but continues playing at about 330 pounds after improving late last season and into this year’s camp.
Moro Ojomo is expected to take on a larger role following Milton Williams’ departure in free agency. Thomas Booker returns after contributing significant snaps last year, while Byron Young and Gabe Hall are competing for roster spots after spending time on the practice squad.
The Eagles added Ty Robinson from Nebraska in this year’s fourth round of the NFL Draft; he brings versatility and high energy to an already deep position group. Joe Evans and Jacob Sykes are also part of a competitive mix at defensive tackle as Philadelphia looks to maintain its reputation for developing talent along the defensive front.
“At a position where teams are desperate to add front-line talent and depth, the Eagles have both, a credit to their approach to invest resources and then work hard developing that talent to help the Eagles’ defense win at the snap of the football,” said Dave Spadaro.
