The Eagles got a little healthier on Monday, but the practice report still came with plenty of new red flags as training camp rolled on in Philadelphia.
DeVonta Smith and Makai Lemon were both back in full after missing time, a welcome development with the final preseason game of the year coming up. Lemon’s return stood out after he had been sidelined, and Smith is now officially off the practice report.
That was the good news. The bad news was a cluster of fresh injuries that hit several players who had been working through camp and trying to carve out roles.
Markel Bell and Willie Lampkin were both listed as not practicing after getting hurt against the Patriots, with Bell dealing with thumb and leg issues and Lampkin nursing a stinger. The two young blockers have drawn a lot of attention during camp and are expected to be important depth options on the offensive line this season.
Rookie tight end Eli Stowers also landed on the report with a hamstring injury. He joins a group of teammates who have already dealt with similar issues early in camp, and the hope is that he won’t be sidelined for long and can still pick up more reps before Week 1.
The full list of players who did not practice on Monday included Jakorian Bennett (knee), Grant Calcaterra (back), Jonathan Jones (shoulder), Mac McWilliams (shoulder), Ambry Thomas (groin), Quez Watkins (foot), and Cole Wisniewski (concussion).
Several others were limited, including Danny Gray (groin), John Ojukwu (pectoral), Dameon Pierce (hamstring), and Byron Young (shoulder).
In Other News...
7 Eagles Are Suddenly Under Real Pressure Before Final Cuts
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Dameon Pierce and Elijah Moore are among the names facing the most pressure, with the last exhibition offering one more chance to separate themselves from the pack. For players on the bubble, it is the kind of game where effort, execution and reliability matter as much as raw production, because the Eagles are close enough now to start making the hard calls. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Is Making The Eagles Ask A Bigger Question
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Eagles Roster Battle Just Got Tighter At Two Overlooked Positions
The Eagles roster crunch is starting to squeeze out players who seemed to be on the fringe all summer, and the latest moves hit two spots that can be easy to overlook until the final cutdown arrives. Safety J.T. Gray and running back JaQuinden Jackson were waived as Philadelphia trimmed its group ahead of the 53-man deadline, leaving one fewer candidate in the mix as the team keeps sorting through the back end of the roster.
Gray had been in the picture mostly as a special teams piece, but he never carved out enough of a defensive role to stick, while Jacksons preseason ended with an injury that quickly changed his standing. More decisions are still coming before Philadelphia plays its final preseason game, and these two exits are a reminder that the last few roster spots often hinge on more than just one strong camp stretch. [Read more 🡒]