Eagles Camp Day 8: Jalen Hurts’ ‘Worst Day,’ New Faces, Defense Shines
PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Eagles were back on the practice field on Tuesday, and working in a host of new players, including veteran linebackers Myles Jack and Zach Cunningham, who were signed on Sunday.
Also added to the mix was rangy 6-foot-5 receiver Johnny King, who was brought in before practice after being waived by Indianapolis last week. An undrafted rookie free agent out of Southeast Missouri State, King adds another big body to the back end of the depth chart, perhaps an indication replacing Zach Pascal's role from last season remains a work in progress.
The Eagles also welcomed back recent signing Josh Andrews as the backup center and got Josh Sills extensive work as the second-team left guard just days after he was acquitted of serious sexual assault allegations in Ohio.
-Also back in a limited fashion was receiver Devon Allen, who was activated from the non-football injury list. The Olympic hurdler tweaked his calf running track before camp.
-Linebacker Nakobe Dean (ankle) and receiver Deon Cain (ankle) missed practice again but they were on a side field ramping up so it looks like they are getting closer. Edge rusher Patrick Johnson (ankle) is farther away but also remained out but was watching on the field and in his jersey.
Starting cornerback James Bradberry (groin) returned in a limited fashion, working in individual drills but sitting out 7-on-7 work and team drills. Josh Jobe continued to handle his role opposite Darius Slay on the first-team defense.
-The Eagles waived rookie undrafted free agent offensive tackles Trevor Reid and Chim Okorafor, a nod to adding three O-linemen since camp began: Andrews, Sills, and veteran tackle Dennis Kelly.
-The highlight on the field was defensive coordinator Sean Desai throwing the kitchen sink at the Eagles' offense. Desai emptied his toolbox getting Cunningham and Jack extensive reps, the latter getting some with the first team in passing situations. Desai also used Josh Sweat and Derek Barnett as pseudo-drop linebackers plus plenty of big nickel and even a four-safety look with the "game on the line" where Justin Evans joined Reed Blankenship, Terrell Edmunds, and K'Von Wallace on the field and the look was successful.
-The loudest ovation on the day came on a Hurts fade to the outside shoulder of Olamide Zaccheaus with Darius Slay in coverage. A throw to the inside would have been easily handled by Slay but Hurts arched the back where only the receiver had a shot.
-Overall Hurts probably had his worst day of the summer with some poor throws starting in individual work when an out to Zaccheaus came off his hand poorly. The winds were a bit of a factor as well and Hurts' last throw of the morning came out wobbly and underthrown to Quez Watkins with Blankenship undercurring it for the interception.
-Hurts was also picked off by Evans in a desperation drill with the offense down six and time running out when Desai unveiled that four-safety look. The play may have been blown dead, however, before the throw because Janarius Robinson was bearing down on the quarterback and likely would have had a sack.
-Marcus Mariota, on the other hand, had his sharpest day, perhaps because the shotgun snaps from Andrews and Cameron Tom were a heck of a lot better than what Brett Toth and Julian Good-Jones had been providing. Mariota looked confident and crisp with the football on picture-perfect throws to Greg Ward and Joseph Ngata, allowing both to generate more yardage after the catch.
-The Eagles were working on silent counts at one point and Cam Jurgens was the one tapping Jason Kelce.
-The vast majority of the first-team reps at linebacker went to Christian Elliss and Nicholas Morrow but Jack subbed in, alongside Morrow in what seemed to be obvious passing situations. Cunningham stayed on the second team with Shaun Bradley for the most part while Jack toggled through every group, even the third team next to undrafted rookie Ben Van Sumeren.
-The Eagles worked on both kickoff returns and fielding squib kicks. The return options are (in order): Boson Scott, Rashaad Penny, and Kenny Gainwell. Devon Allen got a rep early and Britain Covey mixed in later. A.J. Brown also took a rep which tends to excite fans but he explained after practice he'll jump into a kick or punt return to warm up and get a feel for catching the football.
The up back tandems during the squib kicks were Jack Stoll and Dan Arnold followed by Greg Ward and Trey Sermon and Grant Calcaterra and Zaccheus.
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-John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com's Eagles Today and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube. John is also the host of his own show "Football 24/7 and a daily contributor to ESPN South Jersey. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen
