Eagles’ Minicamp Observations: Hurts Finishes Strong Spring, Marshall's Volume, and McCord’s 'Muse'

The Eagles finished up their spring work with a one-day mandatory minicamp.
Eagles WR DeVonta Smith at minicamp on June 10, 2025.
Eagles WR DeVonta Smith at minicamp on June 10, 2025. / John McMullen/Eagles On SI
In this story:

PHILADELPHIA - The Eagles held their one-day mandatory minicamp at the NovaCare Complex Tuesday, the last glimpse of the team in spring before training camp convenes is late July.

Jalen Hurts finished a sharp spring in which the football only hit the ground a handful of times over the three practices open to reporters, perhaps a predictable outcome considering the continuity on offense vs. the significant upheaval on the defensive side of the football.

The highlight for Hurts came on an early 7-on-7 drill when a broken coverage left Smael Mondon Jr. by himself with star receiver DeVonta Smith, who made a simple stop-and-go move to dust the rookie linebacker and enable Hurts to loft the football for a big completion down the left sideline.

Smith had been working on his own in Florida during he voluntary portion of OTAs and was able to announce his presence in a big way during the mandatory work. 

With Smith and All-Pro A.J. Brown both having limited reps during the spring, free agent WR Terrace Marshall Jr. took advantage and finished with a high traffic day with multiple catches, including leaking out on a drag route in which he got a step on star nickel corner Cooper DeJean for a big play.

Meanwhile, rookie quarterback Kyle McCord had a string effort in limited reps with a backup tight end Nick Muse coming up big on multiple occasions.

First, McCord threw a touchdown strike to Muse during a situational red-zone drill, which flashed strong processing skills and accuracy, two traits the Eagles like about McCord. Muse also had a one-handed stab of a McCord throw later in the practice.

-On the injury front, linebackers Jihaad Campbell (labrum surgery) and Nakobe Dean (patellar tendon were again watching. Campbell isn’t expected back until August per Vic Fangio and Dean’s return likely will be sometime in the regular season.

Receivers Avery Williams and Elijah Cooks have been out with unknown injuries the entire spring while Pro Bowl center Cam Jurgens continues his rehab from offseason back surgery and rookie undrafted offensive lineman Marcus Tate remained out with an unspecified injury, although he was wearing a brace on his left knee.

-Cornerback Kelee Ringo had a positive day, getting significant first-team reps on the outside opposite Quinyon Mitchell and coming through with a couple of pass breakups. The strong finish for Ringo likely gives him the edge of veteran Adoree' Jackson entering training camp.

-Second-year edge rusher Jalyx Hunt also stood out, recording a sack with a speed rush that had Jordan Mailata reaching for the expletives.

-Star defensive tackle Jalen Carter was held out of team drills, as was All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun, who was sealing with general soreness.

Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo were the DTs in four-man fronts with the first team, while the first look at a five-man front came with Thomas Booker and Ojomo as the 4i players andByron Young as the nose tackle. Mondon worked with Jeremiah Trotter Jr. at LB with the starters. Dallas Gant and rookie Lance Dixon were paired for second-team reps at LB.

-Hurts and Brown had a difficult time getting down an out route on air and kept working at it until they connected.

-Rookie cornerback Mac McWilliams got his first work inside in the slot with the second team and also continued to work outside at times.

-CB Eli Ricks has a nice PBU on a late throw by Tanner McKee to Ainias Smith. Smith later victimized Dixon on a similar broken coverage to the previously described DeVonta Smith-Mondon mismatch. A.J. Woods, playing in the slot, also recorded a PBU on Johnny Wilson, who returned after missing the two open OTAs.

-Rookie safety Drew Mukuba sniffed out a play-action Hurts throw to Grant Calcaterra, keeping in to a short gain. Mukuba also got caught for holding Kylen Granson during a 7-on-7 drill, and lined up as a dime back, which is the first sign of his history as a slot corner at Clemson before transferring to Texas.

-With Cam Jurgens still working his way back from offseason back surgery, Brett Toth got the first-team reps at center again and has a pair of poor snaps. Rookie Drew Kendall, a natural center, could get that work at training camp if Jurgens is still waiting to be cleared.

-Right guard-hopeful Tyler Steen got an earful from Jeff Stoutland after a false start with the Eagles' offense backed up in situational drills.

-Stoutland has all the offensive players do push-ups after practice for losing to the defense in a situational period.

-Former Eagles great and current Delaware State head coach DeSean Jackson and some of his staff including former Eagles assistant offensive line coach Eugene Chung, were at practice. Jackson and his Delaware State club are scheduled to face Michael Vick and Norfolk State at Lincoln Financial Field this spring.

MORE NFL: NBC Analyst Knows How To Push Eagles Fans' Buttons


Published |Modified
John McMullen
JOHN MCMULLEN

John McMullen is a veteran reporter who has covered the NFL for over two decades. The current NFL insider for JAKIB Media, John is the former NFL Editor for The Sports Network where his syndicated column was featured in over 200 outlets including the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, and Miami Herald. He was also the national NFL columnist for Today's Pigskin as well as FanRag Sports. McMullen has covered the Eagles on a daily basis since 2016, first for ESPN South Jersey and now for Eagles Today on SI.com's FanNation. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube.com. John is also the host of his own show "Extending the Play" on AM1490 in South Jersey and part of 6ABC.com's live postgame show after every Eagles game. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen