There’s no sugarcoating the first week of Eagles camp for this rookie class: the early returns have been uneven, and for several of these players, the path to Week 1 looks a lot longer than anyone probably wanted.
That’s not exactly shocking in Philadelphia, where the last five years have spoiled everybody with rookies who came in and made noise right away. This group doesn’t appear to be following that script. Through the opening stretch of training camp, the expectation is clear: don’t bank on an instant splash from any of them.
One of the biggest disappointments so far has been Lemon. The rookie receiver has already basically handed the WR2 battle to Dontayvion Wicks, mostly because he hasn’t been able to stay on the field, and Wicks has been really good.
Lemon has also missed the last two practices with a hamstring injury, which only makes the early outlook worse. Right now, he does not look like the immediate difference-maker the Eagles were hoping for.
At tight end, Stowers has also had a rough opening week. The signs pointed this way, especially since he hasn’t shown his athleticism when the pads weren’t on.
The good news for Philadelphia is that this can still be a developmental year for him. The bad news is that he’s not really in the TE2 fight with Johnny Mundt, even though that was part of the early expectation.
Then there’s Bell, who has been one of the few rookie bright spots. He entered camp as the top draft pick most likely to need a redshirt season, but he’s pushed his way into a real role.
With Lane Johnson out for the last four practices because of personal reasons, Bell has been taking first-team reps at right tackle ahead of Fred Johnson. He’s handled the work well, which matters even more because he had never learned right tackle before this year.
Bell may have a significant role this season.
Payton has also given the Eagles something to think about. He’s shown a fearless approach, willing to challenge tight windows and push the ball downfield.
That comes with interceptions, but he doesn’t seem shaken by them. His preseason performance will be worth watching closely, because it could determine whether Tanner McKee and Andy Dalton stick around on the roster.
If Payton takes a step forward, he’s in line to be the QB3. If he doesn’t, there’s a real chance he gets cut.
On the offensive line, Morris entered camp with a shot because the No. 3 guard job was still up for grabs. He had been working as the second-team right guard before a shoulder injury slowed him down, and Michael Jordan has been the right guard while the Eagles shuffle pieces around up front. Morris returned for Day 6 of practice, but he was still limited and did not take part in team drills.
Wisniewski hasn’t had much of a camp at all because of a hamstring injury that has kept him out for most of it. There simply hasn’t been much to report there.
Bernard is still very much in the learning stage. His best moments are showing up during the developmental portion at the end of practice, when he’s getting thrown into the fire during 1-on-1 individual work. Vic Fangio said Bernard is a ways away, and that matches what’s been seen on the field.
James-Newby’s week ended early when he was carted off with what turned out to be an ankle injury, and he hasn’t practiced since. Even before that, making the roster as an edge rusher was always going to be difficult. He did manage an interception in practice last week, but there’s no timeline on his return.
Gushiken has been a quiet presence so far, working as a third-team slot corner and getting his reps in the developmental portion of practice. Underwood remains the long snapper for now until the Eagles add someone else, and that part of the operation seems to be holding up since Jake Elliott is having a good summer kicking field goals.
Pulley has flashed a little, but he’s still sitting on the third team at safety. He remains in the competition, though Marcus Epps and Michael Carter are ahead of him. Larson is in a crowded off-ball linebacker room and is currently working as a third-team player there; if he lands on the practice squad, that would count as a solid summer.
The other International Pathway Program rookie, Weru, has already shown a little something with a sack in practice this week. He’s been on the third team at pass rusher, but Vic Fangio said he is a long ways away, and that seems fair. A practice squad spot would be the likely next step.
Wilson is dealing with the numbers crunch at defensive tackle. The room has been busy and productive enough that he’s been pushed into the mix without much breathing room. He’ll be one of the rookies to keep an eye on in preseason, and he could wind up on the practice squad.
Hayes joined the team this week as a camp body because the Eagles are thin at wide receiver. How long he lasts there is anyone’s guess.
Roberts picked up a calf contusion during the first week of practice and has been limited since then. It looked worse when it happened. When healthy, he’s been the third-team right guard.
Wright has mostly been a fourth-team tight end in a room that isn’t especially crowded, which has left him without many chances to make a strong impression. The preseason will tell more.
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Eagles Camp Struggles Exposed A Bigger Problem Around Jalen Hurts
Training camp has a way of revealing the smallest cracks before they turn into larger issues, and the Eagles got another look at one on Day 5. The offense never really found a rhythm, as penalties kept stalling drives, completions were hard to come by, and Jalen Hurts was picked off during a session that felt disjointed from the start. With several key pieces unavailable, the group never looked like a finished product, and the lack of continuity showed up in the details that usually get sharper as camp rolls on.
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Eagles Backup QB Battle Suddenly Carries Bigger Stakes Than Fans Realize
The Eagles quarterback room looks a lot different after the club sent a seventh-round pick to Carolina for Andy Dalton, a move that immediately tightened the competition behind Jalen Hurts. What might have seemed like a straightforward depth addition has instead turned into a real camp battle, with Tanner McKee and rookie Cole Payton also in the mix as the team sorts out its next layer of insurance at the games most important position.
Dalton and McKee have both put together encouraging moments in training camp, giving Philadelphia a genuine decision to make about how it wants to structure the back end of the quarterback depth chart. Dalton has also shown support for McKee as the two build their relationship, which adds a veteran-stability angle to a spot that now carries more intrigue than most fans probably expected. [Read more 🡒]