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Yahoo Sports’ senior NFL reporter Charles Robinson is on the road covering training camp. Today’s stop: the Philadelphia Eagles.
About the QB
If you look at Jalen Hurts’ situation in 2023, there are plenty of clues. Either he wasn’t fully healthy, or he lacked confidence beyond a read, or he didn’t see the middle of the field consistently, or he had control issues with Nick Sirianni. I’ll stick with this: Hurts needs a consistent, long-term offensive coordinator (for multiple seasons). Let’s start there.
Newbie to watch out for
There’s a lot of buzz surrounding fifth-round linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. From the coaching staff to the front office, it’s clear he’s fast-tracking his chances to be a rookie contributor. The initial plan was for him to play special teams and see what happens with his arc. It may take time, but he has a chance to be part of the linebacking rotation in 2024.
Keeping my eyes on
It’s a big season for Jalen Carter in his second year. Fletcher Cox’s retirement leaves a void in both playmaking and leadership and there will be some pressure on Carter to fill both. I think he might get moved around a bit on the defensive line at times, so his conditioning has to be on point down the stretch. Ultimately, this is an opportunity for him to be the go-to guy.
Fantasy thought
I didn’t get the sense there was going to be much moderation or workload control when it came to running back Saquon Barkley. Unless offensive coordinator Kellen Moore throws a curveball, I suspect he’ll get every opportunity to be everything for the Eagles what Christian McCaffrey is for the San Francisco 49ers.
What I saw that was interesting
Olympic summers always have messages that overlap in camp, and I liked something Nick Sirianni privately conveyed to his team after American sprinter Noah Lyles won the 100-meter dash by an inch: Every little detail and effort mattered in that race and was the difference between gold and silver. When camp is in chaos, it’s a good message to remember.
Wildcard
I was leaning into something about the young parts of the defense here, but frankly, the biggest player and story this season is going to be Jalen Hurts. And to me, that makes offensive coordinator Kellen Moore’s impact absolutely huge. He has to shape a defined identity around Hurts in every aspect. Nothing is more important.