Eagles training camp observations: Lane Johnson still very important Originally appeared in NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Eagles had a lengthy practice in full pads on Sunday morning at the NovaCare Complex that lasted 1 hour and 53 minutes.
This was also a practice day to create game-like situations. For a good portion of practice, the coaches who are normally in the booth during games were out on the balcony and the team wore headsets. It’s nice to repeat that kind of thing.
The Eagles will take a walk-through on Monday before practicing three days in a row on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before the preseason finale on Saturday afternoon.
Here are today’s observations:
1. As always, we start with cleaning:
• Did not practice: Gabe Hall (hamstring), Matt Hennessy (back), EJ Jenkins (knee), Lane Johnson (Veteran’s day off), Joseph Ngata (ankle), Moro Ojomo (hip), Albert Okwuegbunam (abdomen), John Ross (concussion), Tyler Steen (ankle), Caden Sterns (knee), Johnny Wilson (concussion)
Ojomo is a new addition to the injury report. He has had a very good summer.
• Limited: Oren Burks (knee), Grant Calcaterra (shoulder), Cooper DeJean (hamstring), CJ Gardner-Johnson (shoulder)
• Right guard Mekhi Becton left practice early because of an injury and did not return.
2. Some notes on the depth chart:
• After Becton left practice, he was replaced by Brett Toth at right guard. Fred Johnson replaced Lane Johnson on a veterans day. So the right side of the line for most of the day consisted of Toth and Fred Johnson (and it showed).
• WR3 reps were split between Parris Campbell and Britain Covey. Remember, Ross and Wilson are out with concussions.
• Tanner McKee continues to get some reps with the second team, but after Kenny Pickett.
• CJ Gardner-Johnson returned to the team’s reps, so he and Reed Blankenship were again the starters.
• Quinyon Mitchell started the day as the first-team nickel, but then got outside reps with the first team in the basic package and moved inside on nickel snaps. Isaiah Rodgers got his first reps at outside corner, but Kelee Ringo was brought back in.
• The day started with Devin White and Zack Baun, but that rotation continues. We saw Nakobe Dean and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. get reps with the first team.
• Today’s top punt returners were Britain Covey and Ainias Smith.
3. Every time Lane Johnson isn’t on the field, you start to remember just how good he is. Josh Sweat matched up against Fred Johnson in this practice, making three sacks. The Eagles’ defenders have been noticeably quiet at times during training camp, but they’re facing one of the best tackle duos in the NFL in Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata. In the offseason, I put Johnson on the list of most important Eagles in 2024 and that showed on Sunday.
Overall, it was a very good day for the defense and defensive line. Great performance by Jalen Carter in the backfield to shut down a running play early on. Another big play by Thomas Booker IV, who outplayed Brett Toth in team drills. Constant pressure in the quarterbacks’ faces on Sunday.
4. The best defensive play of the day (and perhaps of camp) came from veteran cornerback Parry Nickerson. He skipped a Tanner McKee pass meant for Britain Covey and ended up running the other way for a 90-yard interception. It seemed like by the end of his return, the entire Eagles defense was following him around to celebrate. C.J. Gardner-Johnson was front and center to celebrate with Nickerson.
That interception by McKee was actually his second of the day. Earlier in practice, a tipped pass found its way into the arms of linebacker Ben VanSumeren. His teammates were excited for him, too. He and Devin White dance together in celebration.
5. Nakobe Dean’s strong push continued Sunday. He’s the most physical player on the field and had one of his best practices in an Eagles uniform. He was all over the field. He got into the backfield for a potential sack, found Saquon Barkley for a short gain and made some nice passes to rookie Will Shipley.
But Dean’s best play was probably a pass breakup with a hit to DeVonta Smith coming down the field. He timed it just right and stepped up to get the ball out.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. also had a nice play when he intercepted a pass to Grant Calcaterra. The ball was in Calcaterra’s hands, but Trotter knocked it loose.
6. Overall, it was a sloppy practice for the offense. Sure, they played it without Lane Johnson and then went with their third option at right guard. But there were some bad snaps, turnovers and a fumble. And that led to some frustration on that side of the ball.
But that doesn’t mean there weren’t some nice plays. There were. One of the best was a lateral pass from Jalen Hurts to Dallas Goedert, who somehow managed to get both feet in bounds. He beat Reed Blankenship’s coverage on the play.
Hurts’ other big throw was a pass to AJ Brown, who outran Isaiah Rodgers in coverage down the left sideline for a touchdown.
7. Quinyon Mitchell had a pass tipped on an attempt at Smith late in practice in the end zone, but Smith definitely outplayed the rookie in this practice. First, he caught a pass in the slot fade against Mitchell for a big gain. And then a little later, Smith caught a ball in space and cut quickly to leave Mitchell behind. He kind of broke the rookie’s ankles in that moment.
8. Darius Slay had a pair of pass deflections in this practice. One was a perfect coverage on Smith. The other deflected a touchdown on a pass to Brown. Slay never noticed the pass in the end zone, but he was clearly watching Brown’s reaction to seeing the ball in the air. He was able to get his hands up and knock the pass down. Veteran move.
9. Britain Covey had to make a very tough catch on a pass from Kenny Pickett. Cooper DeJean hit him out of the air (nice play by the rookie), but Covey managed to hold on to him. For a small guy, Covey is pretty tough.
10. It was a good day to wear No. 46. On offense, receiver Jacob Harris made Pickett correct a few times with catches of balls that were behind him. One leaping catch of a pass behind him really stood out. Of the depth receivers who probably won’t make the roster, Harris stands out. He could be a practice squad player.
On defense, veteran defender Terrell Lewis was able to beat Darian Kinnard off the edge and as Pickett tried to get rid of the ball quickly, Lewis got his hands up to catch the pass.
Stupid observation of the day: Nick Sirianni spent some time on special teams on Sunday and even played the role of backup kicker.
Subscribe to Eagle Eye anywhere you get your podcasts:
Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music | Spotify | Stapler | Art19 | RRSS | Watch on YouTube
