Camp Notes: Earl Wolff Running With the Ones

Defensive coordinator Billy Davis has a philosophy when it comes to rookies.

“I believe that when they start they should start at the bottom, and they should earn their way up,” said Davis. “It doesn’t take long for the better players to push their way up. Really, it comes from basically saying, hey the vets have been here and worked at it, someone has to take it from them before you just anoint somebody. But a lot of times when you see the talented young guys come up, they take it pretty quick. And when it’s time and you’ve seen enough and they’ve earned it, then you move them up.”

For the record, Davis hasn’t technically moved Earl Wolff up just yet. But he did have him working with the first team opposite Patrick Chung for the entirety of Monday’s practice.

Nate Allen, who had his share of struggles Friday, was down with the second team.

Davis said it’s all part of an ongoing rotation and suggested that Wolff won’t be with the first unit on Tuesday. While it’s true that Davis has mixed and matched the safety pairings quite a bit through training camp, never before had Wolff seen this many first-team snaps.

“Every day we walk in [to the meeting room] as DBs we have a little depth chart on the board. And when I saw I was with the ones I didn’t think too much of it, but I was like, ‘Let me go out here and have a great day and show the coaches that I can play with the ones,'” said Wolff. “I feel like the coaches are starting to trust me more and more as the days go on. I stay after [practice] and do extra, I feel like I had a pretty decent game in my first NFL game, and I’m just trying to go up from there.”

The fifth-round pick out of N.C. State prides himself on being a sure-tackler who will lay the big hit when the opportunity presents itself. He believes he can be a fit at strong or free safety.

Davis said he hasn’t named a starter for Thursday yet, let alone for the season opener against the Redskins. But Wolff is at least getting a look.

“Right now it’s a close battle,” said Davis,” and the games will separate it along with the practices.”

Concussion For Watkins

Danny Watkins was not out on the practice field Monday. Turns out, he came in this morning complaining of headaches, and was eventually diagnosed with a concussion. A team spokesman did not know when the injury happened. There was no contact at Sunday’s practice; it’s certainly possible that it was sustained during the game Friday. Matt Tennant played right guard in his absence.

Jason Peters (hamstring) took part in individual drills but sat out the team portion of practice. There’s a decent chance he is back Tuesday. Bryce  Brown (quad), Jon Dorenbos (concussion), Phillip Hunt (knee), Dennis Kelly (back), Casey Matthews (knee), Kenny Phillips (quad) and Ed Wang (knee) did not practice.

Lane Johnson, who became a father over the weekend, was absent as well.

Williams talks with Chip

Cary Williams said that he “wasn’t trying to be a jerk” with his comments Sunday, but was just trying to highlight that the Eagles are working to build a culture on defense where fierceness is part of their DNA.

He cleared the air with Chip Kelly. 

“I had a conversation with coach about the situation. I came in because it made me uncomfortable because I think the words I used were taken out of context,” said Williams. “I just wanted Chip and Howie Roseman to understand that is not my intention — I’m here to be a team player, I’m here to promote the Eagles, I’m here to play my best football.”

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