Running Diary: Eagles Practice Observations

Sights and sounds from the Linc.
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Here’s what we saw at today’s open practice at Lincoln Financial Field:

10:00 — A touch over 18,000 are here to take in practice by the Eagles’ count. The threatening skies that may have factored into the modest attendance numbers (by their standards) are starting to clear as the Eagles hit the field.

As the rest of his teammates take part in warm-ups, Jason Peters goes through a lengthy process with one of the trainers to get stretched out.

This is becoming a familiar sight pre-practice. It’s another example of the extra care the Eagles are putting in to try and avoid another injury-plagued season for the 34-year-old. Doug Pederson has limited his reps during practice in spots with a big-picture view in mind. It’s about getting Peters to the finish line.

10:20 — Brian Dawkins is shown on the big screen and introduced as the Eagles’ newest scout. The crowd, predictably, goes nuts.

10:43 — The team keeps the buzz up by opening with some one-on-ones. Sam Bradford and Nelson Agholor elicit cheers with a hook-up down the left side. Not as much love for Josh Huff, who finds he has a heckler or two in the crowd after Nolan Carroll gets the better of their matchup.

“It’s not Oregon anymore, Josh!”

Huff eventually warns said hecklers that he’ll “beat their a–“. Here, he simply responds by beating JaCorey Shepherd on a corner route.

Leodis McKelvin is all over Hunter Sharp down the right side and finishes with a pass break-up. Jordan Matthews comes up with a pretty catch despite having Malcolm Jenkins draped on him.

Up next is Chris Givens vs. Jalen Mills. These two have been going at it a bit, and here Givens gets the better of the rookie and hauls one in along the right sideline. Givens throws the ball at Mills, and Mills throws it right back.  Roob got the shot.

A tense moment seems to dissipate as Mills jokingly puts his arms up in a fighting stance.

10:45 — Meanwhile on the opposite side of the field, the rest of the players are taking part in 9-on-7 running drills. Josh reports that Vinny Curry scored a decisive victory in his matchup against Lane Johnson that ended with the o-lineman on the ground.

It’s getting a little sporty out here. Not even the media is safe. Just ask Kevin Tresolini of the Wilmington News Journal, who got run over out of bounds by Matthews.

11:04 — 11 on 11s. We haven’t mentioned Blake Countess‘ name much, but here he makes a nice play by jumping in front of Matthews to deflect a Chase Daniel offering.

Carson Wentz is a favorite out here as you might imagine. He shows off his athleticism and gets a roar out of the spectators by tucking one and darting down the left side.

11:23 — 7-on-7s. Nigel Bradham makes his presence felt by giving Zach Ertz a little pop over the middle to force the incompletion. Bradford launches one deep for Matthews, who gets behind McKelvin and Malcolm Jenkins for the touchdown. Daniel follows that up with a bomb for Sharp, who makes the play over Mills.

11:27 — A bumpy sequence for Wentz: he’s low on a pass to the flat for Wendell Smallwood then has a short throw batted away by Denzel Rice.

Bradford has his pass over the middle tipped by Jordan Hicks, and Rodney McLeod swoops in for the interception.

11:33 — The offensive hiccups continue. Ertz drops a pass from Bradford; Huff shakes loose over the middle but can’t haul in Daniel’s throw.

11:57 — Eric Rowe comes up with his second interception of training camp, stepping in to pick a toss from Daniel over the middle.

Wentz helps the offense finish on a positive note, though. He avoids pressure and fires one to Trey Burton down the left seam, then feathers one into Agholor on the opposite side of the field.

12:20 — Practice ends. While posing for pictures and signing autographs, “We want Wentz!” chants begin to ring out.

“Coming out here, everybody’s yelling. For a practice? It’s pretty sweet to see the support, to see everybody out here. It was really exciting and I had a lot of fun today,” he said.

“I was a little surprised to be honest how many people were here for a practice. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I guess I’m getting used to the craziness that this place is. So it’s pretty special, pretty cool.”

That’s it for today. Practice is back at the NovaCare tomorrow at 9:05.

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