Philly Leader

The Philadelphia Eagles' Training Camp session on Tuesday marked the first day players wore pads, offering a revealing look at their edge rushers. The position, which combines defensive ends and outside linebackers, is critical for both rushing the quarterback and dropping into pass coverage.

Bryce Huff, acquired from the New York Jets after a successful 2023 season, joins veterans Brandon Graham, Josh Sweat, and Nolan Smith in a deep rotation. Patrick Johnson and Tarron Jackson have also shown significant improvement. Newcomers Julian Okwara and Terrell Lewis will be given opportunities to prove themselves. A notable addition is Jalyx Hunt, a third-round draft pick eager to make an impact in his rookie season.

Fran Duffy highlighted key takeaways from the session: "With the pads on for the first time in Tuesday's session, the Eagles' coaching staff took advantage with a heavy amount of work in the red zone." Jordan Davis held up well on the interior line while Zack Baun made a notable stop against Saquon Barkley. C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Nakobe Dean also made significant plays.

Duffy observed impressive performances during 2-on-2 drills in pass protection. Landon Dickerson and Jordan Mailata were praised by Offensive Line Coach Jeff Stoutland for their execution. Nolan Smith and Marlon Tuipulotu showcased their skills effectively.

Chris McPherson focused on WR/DB 1-on-1 drills: "Parris Campbell opened strong using a hand swipe to get off press coverage." DeVonta Smith connected with Jalen Hurts for a touchdown pass over the shoulder. Rookie Quinyon Mitchell had tight coverage against A.J. Brown but was outdone by Brown's one-handed grab.

Injury updates included LB Oren Burks (knee), G Tyler Steen (ankle), and G Trevor Keegan (shoulder). Special Teams Coordinator Michael Clay discussed adapting to new NFL kickoff rules: "We still talk about it each and every day."

Rita's Water Ice truck returned to Training Camp offering flavors like mango, blue raspberry, green apple, lemon, and Swedish Fish. Rookies delivered water ice to teammates as part of camp tradition.

DT Milton Williams emphasized conditioning: "Better be in shape... Whenever they call my name, I want to make sure that I'm ready for the opportunity." TE Grant Calcaterra expressed enthusiasm about offensive opportunities: "I think there's opportunities for guys to make plays everywhere."

WR/PR Britain Covey highlighted his growth as a receiver: "I think reliability as a receiver is important... your third receiver that's out there needs to be able to affect the game in ways other than just being ball-centric."