Eagles training camp observations: Back at practice!

Here are 10 observations from the Eagles' first training camp practice of 2025.

By Dave Zangaro • Published July 23, 2025

Football was back in South Philadelphia on Wednesday morning as the Eagles held their first training camp practice of 2025.

The pads won’t come on for another few days but the Eagles did go through stretching, individual, special teams, 7-on-7s, 11-on-11s and a developmental period in a practice that lasted 1 hour and 17 minutes.

The big talking point after practice was that the Eagles don't consider themselves defending Super Bowl champions. They’re just the team that won it all last year; 2025 is its own unique journey that’s just beginning.

Here are some observations from the first practice of training camp:

1. As always, we’ll start with a few housekeeping items:

• Before practice, the Eagles placed Nakobe Dean (knee) on the Active/PUP list. Dean was a spectator at practice but was watching closely and got some mental reps after the session ended.

• A good bit of news: Rookie Jihaad Campbell (who had shoulder surgery this offseason) was able to practice on Wednesday as a limited participant, but even took reps in 11-on-11s.

• Full injury report:

DNP: Jalen Carter (shoulder), Kenyon Green (knee)
Limited: Jihaad Campbell (shoulder), Cam Jurgens (Back)

Neither Carter nor Green’s injuries appear to be serious. Campbell and Jurgens both took team reps but are on a pitch count as they work their way back from surgeries.

• The Eagles made a roster move before practice. They waived/injured OG Marcus Tate and signed DT Joe Evans. Evans tried out for the team earlier in the week.

• Jason Kelce is entering Year 2 of being retired but was out at practice on Wednesday morning. Always good to have him around.

2. Some offensive depth chart notes:

• Tyler Steen got all the first-team reps at right guard and it appears that is his job to lose. Right guard is the only spot on the offense that doesn’t have a returning starter.

• Rookie quarterback Kyle McCord was up first with the third-team offense. It looks like he’s already ahead of Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

• First-team OL: Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, Lane Johnson

• Second-team OL: Kendall Lamm, Brett Toth, Drew Kendall, Matt Pryor, Darian Kinnard

• Third-team OL: Myles Hinton, Laekin Vakalahi, Trevor Keegan, Hollin Pierce, Cameron Williams

Note: Toth got the leftover center snaps with the first team when Jurgens took some reps off. But with the second team, Toth has been moved to guard as the rookie Kendall takes over.

3. Some defensive depth chart notes:

• The Eagles opened up 11-on-11s in their base package and had Cooper DeJean at safety next to Reed Blankenship. Remember, the Eagles don’t live in their base package so these are basically just extra reps for when DeJean isn’t at nickel.

• After the Eagles went to nickel (5 DBs on the field), Sydney Brown got the first crack at the first-team safety job next to Blankenship. A little later, rookie Andrew Mukuba did get a look.

• At cornerback, Quinyon Mitchell continues what he did in the spring, playing left cornerback. That right corner job was manned by Kelee Ringo in 11-on-11s but Adoree’ Jackson did get some first-team reps in 7-on-7s.

• Without Nakobe Dean, second-year linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. got the first-team reps next to Zack Baun. Campbell worked with the second team next to fellow rookie Smael Mondon Jr. Eventually, it seems likely Campbell will get some work with the ones.

• The top defensive line (without Jalen Carter) was Nolan Smith, Moro Ojomo, Jordan Davis and Jalyx Hunt. Davis is looking slimmer these days.

4. Quinyon Mitchell got off to a good start in his second training camp. He had a great rep against A.J. Brown down the right sideline in 7-on-7s and got a pass breakup. Even though Brown after practice said he thought it was DPI, he still gave the win to Mitchell.

The Eagles’ 2024 first-round pick had a great rookie season and is now their unquestioned No. 1 cornerback after Darius Slay’s departure in the offseason. In his first training camp, Mitchell didn’t back down from Brown and even trash-talked him quite a bit. Those battles are going to continue this summer.

"He’s going to work at a high level," Brown said. "I give him that one today even though it was a DP, a pass interference, but I’ll give him that win today on that one rep. He’s going to compete at a high level. He’s not going to back down. I expect him to evolve."

5. While Kelee Ringo got those first-team reps on Wednesday, he did have some plays that didn’t go his way as he battles for a starting job. 

• The first was a go ball down the right sideline to Terrace Marshall in 7-on-7s. Ringo has length (he’s 6-2) but seemed to stop running and wasn’t quite long enough to get a hand on the ball. 

• A.J. Brown beat him down the left sideline in 11-on-11s. Ringo had what looked like good position but Brown elevated and high-pointed the ball. Facing one of the best receivers in the NFL isn’t easy.

• Later in practice, Ringo had a chance at a PBU but Marshall used his body to shield Ringo from the ball and make the catch. It was a chance for Ringo to get some redemption but he couldn’t.

6. The Eagles seem excited about Jalyx Hunt and for good reason. While we should probably take any defensive line highlights with a grain of salt before the pads come on, Hunt had a great rep on Wednesday morning and picked up a "sack” against Jalen Hurts.

After practice, Jordan Mailata said he thinks Hunt is going to be a star. Mailata joked that it’s unfair that he had to go from blocking Josh Sweat to Hunt.

7. I just love the edge that Sydney Brown plays with. He’s my early candidate to get into the first fight of training camp. At one point on Wednesday, he got in a good shove on Avery Williams at the tail end of a play and sent the undersized receiver flying.

8. Former linebacker Ben VanSumeren is a full-time fullback these days and even changed his number from 57 to 43. On Wednesday, he got his first carry of the summer with the third-team offense. Later in practice, the Eagles put him out there with the first team, along with Saquon Barkley. He was about to get a second first-team rep but the offense jumped and the false start dashed our hopes and dreams.

9. The four players fielding punts on Wednesday: Cooper DeJean, Ainias Smith, Jahan Dotson, Taylor Morin.

Avery Williams was on the other side of the field working with the punt protection group. Kinda weird. I’d expect to see Williams get work as a return man plenty this camp.

10. The most fun play of the day was backup quarterback Tanner McKee keeping the ball and rolling right before sprinting up the field for a nice gain. You don’t think about wheels with the 6-foot-6, 231-pound backup but he’s not a statue either. His teammates got a kick out of that play.

Stupid Observation of the Day: The Eagles moved the media tent at the NovaCare Complex and it’s going to take me a while to get used to it. That’s all.

https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/eagles-training-camp-observations-back-at-practice/676258/