Training camp has already started to sort the Eagles out, and through eight practices the picture is getting clearer in a few spots. Some jobs look shaky.
A few others look nearly settled. And in a camp that has otherwise been pretty quiet, the early standouts are beginning to separate themselves from the pack.
At receiver, Wicks has made the strongest push of anyone on the roster. He’s put together practice after practice of steady production, and he’s become the most trusted target for Jalen Hurts.
With DeVonta Smith and Makai Lemon on the mend, Wicks has taken full advantage of the opening. Lemon simply hasn’t been on the field enough to seriously challenge him, and Brown hasn’t delivered through the first eight camp practices.
At this point, Wicks looks like the clear WR2 for Week 1.
The safety competition is much tighter, but Epps has the edge over Michael Carter II. The Eagles have to feel good about either player lining up next to Andrew Mukuba, and that may be the biggest takeaway from this battle so far.
Epps has been the steadier of the two, showing up consistently every day without a bad practice to his name. Carter has been solid as well, and this is the only real starting safety fight going on right now.
Even so, Epps has the slight lead.
Quarterback remains unresolved, with Dalton still ahead of Tanner McKee after eight practices. Dalton’s quick trigger is still his calling card, and it’s part of why he’s lasted this long and is heading into his 16th year.
McKee is making progress, though. He’s reading the defense better and throwing with more accuracy than he was earlier in camp.
This one sounds like it will go all the way to the final week of practice, and regardless of who finishes second, both Dalton and McKee should be on the Week 1 roster.
On the defensive line, Hunt has been one of the camp’s best players, maybe the best of all. That includes Jalen Carter, who has been excellent since landing his massive extension.
Hunt has been getting after the quarterback no matter where he lines up, and the inside move has been especially nasty in 1-on-1 work and during camp periods. Nolan Smith has been fine, but Hunt has been the real star.
The next step is getting him comfortable on the left side when Jonathan Greenard comes back.
Up front, Bell appears to have a firm grip on the right tackle job. Lane Johnson’s announcement that this may be his final season only adds to that sense.
Since the Eagles slid Bell in at right tackle for Fred Johnson when Lane Johnson was out, Bell has handled himself well with the first team. Lane Johnson has been impressed, the Eagles have been impressed, and Bell has been a pleasant surprise this summer.
Fred Johnson, meanwhile, is now the No. 4 tackle and is taking reps at left tackle. This spot belongs to Bell, especially with Johnson close to retirement.
There’s also a clear pecking order developing at guard. Kendall has moved into the lead among the backup options behind Landon Dickerson and Tyler Steen.
He’s been filling in at left guard when Dickerson needs a breather and cross-training as the backup center behind Cam Jurgens. If the Eagles need help because Dickerson or Steen gets hurt, Kendall is the one who will be called first.
Michael Jordan is working with the second team at guard, while Willie Lampkin has surfaced with Micah Morris on the mend. Even so, Kendall looks like the No. 3 guard right now, and he’s been one of the quieter surprises of camp.
The WR5 job is one thing. The No. 4 receiver spot is another, and that’s where the real question sits now.
Darius Cooper has already claimed the WR5 role, and he has been the better receiver in camp so far overall. Brown still holds the No. 4 spot for the moment, but he hasn’t played at the level the Eagles signed him for at $5 million.
Cooper has made this interesting, and Elijah Moore has also started to close in over the past few days. Brown still has the advantage, but this battle is much closer than it looked at the start.
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