Eagles training camp observations: Key players return to practice

Here are our observations from Day 12 of Eagles training camp practice.

By Dave Zangaro • Published August 17, 2026

The Eagles were back on the practice field Monday afternoon but were not in full pads.

This was a practice in shorts and shells that lasted just under 1 1/2 hours.

Next up for the Eagles: They head to New England for joint practices with the Patriots on Wednesday and Thursday ahead of preseason game No. 2 against the Pats on Saturday night.

Let’s get to our observations from Day 12:

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

• The Eagles got several key players back on the field for this practice: WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring), CB Quinyon Mitchell (glute) and DB Cooper DeJean (groin) all returned. Both Mitchell and DeJean were full participants after missing just one practice. They should be good to go against A.J. Brown and the Patriots’ receivers later this week.

Smith was a limited participant after missing the previous seven practices with a hamstring injury.

• The injury report to start Monday’s practice:

Not practicing: WR Makai Lemon (hamstring), RB Tank Bigsby (toe), CB Jonathan Jones (shoulder), CB Mac McWilliams (groin), RB Dameon Pierce (hamstring), CB Jakorian Bennett (knee), TE Grant Calcaterra (back), OL John Ojukwu (pectoral), OLB Jose Ramirez (hamstring), CB Shaun Wade (eye/shoulder), OLB Johnny Wilson (knee)

Limited: WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring), OLB Keyshawn James-Newby (ankle), S Cole Wisniewski (hamstring), CB Tariq Castro-Fields (heel), WR Danny Gray (concussion)

• While Lemon still isn’t practicing (he was not in uniform), he went through some drills with the other wideouts at the end of practice and did some work on a side field. Before practice, he caught passes off the JUGs machine. So it looks like he is nearing a return.

• Seventh-round picks Cole Wiśniewski and Keyshawn James-Newby returned to practice after missing considerable time. Wisniewski hadn’t practiced since July 30 and James-Newby hadn’t practiced since Aug. 1.

• Before practice, the Eagles signed CB Isaiah Bolden and released OL Hollin Pierce.

2. Depth chart notes:

• Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean were back with the first-team defense but didn’t take all the reps. They were replaced later in periods by Kelee Ringo and Michael Carter II.

• Andy Dalton was up first with the second-team offense, while Tanner McKee and Cole Payton got some reps later. The Eagles gave the majority of their practice reps to the first teams on Monday.

• Rookie Cole Wisniewski was able to get on the field for a first-team rep later in one period. Nice to see him back on the field after a long layoff but he has work to do if he wants to make the roster.

• The O-lines from Monday:

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

Second team: Markel Bell, Jake Majors, Willie Lampkin, Drew Kendall, Fred Johnson

• The top receivers in this practice in 11 personnel were still Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore, but Darius Cooper got plenty of work too. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with Smith is back as a full participant.

3. The highlight play of the day came from Michael Carter II, who was getting some first-team nickel reps. Jalen Hurts tried to burn in a pass to Quez Watkins and nearly got it there through double (maybe triple) coverage. But Carter was stronger at the football and ripped it away from Watkins as they went to the ground. Carter has had a really strong training camp.

This play came from the nickel position, but Carter is still competing against Marcus Epps for a starting safety job. Epps has been in the lead all summer, but Carter has definitely made more plays in practice.

4. The second play of team drills was a pass breakup from Quinyon Mitchell. Jalen Hurts threw a decent pass to Dontayvion Wicks on an in-breaking route, but Mitchell had sticky coverage and was able to jump it and use his hand to knock down the pass. Mitchell has looked as good as ever.

5. Hollywood Brown has had a quiet training camp but made one of his best plays on Monday. He caught a short pass from Jalen Hurts in the flat with his back turned to Riq Woolen in coverage. After the catch, Brown had a great feel for the defender, turned his body, made the decision and picked up a ton of YAC. That’s a veteran skill; it’s not easy to have that type of feel for how to break when your back is turned to the defense.

6. One of Jalen Hurts’ best passes of the day came on an under-center play-action look. He threw across his body back to the middle of the field to Elijah Moore on a play that set up almost like a screen pass. We’ve seen Hurts be willing to attempt those passes in this camp.

There was another great throw from Hurts, who burned it into the gut of Danny Gray on a slant in front of Riq Woolen. Hurts has a really strong arm on some of those underneath throws when needed.

7. On a low throw from Hurts, Darius Cooper was able to get to the ground and make a grab. It wasn’t a busy day for the training camp standout but that was a solid play.

8. There weren’t any major highlights from OL vs. DL 1-on-1s but here are a few notes:

• Tyler Steen doesn’t always win against Jalen Carter (that’s tough duty), but he really holds his own. I’m always impressed by how well Steen performs against one of the best DTs in the NFL. He had a couple nice reps on Monday.

• Cam Jurgens got moved back by a Jordan Davis bullrush but he actually anchored pretty well. He also stopped Davis on a finesse move.

• Jordan Mailata had two great reps against Jalyx Hunt. We don’t talk about Mailata much but the left tackle has been quiet in camp … and that’s a good thing.

• Willie Lampkin had a nice rep against Byron Young.

9. We saw Vic Fangio dial up the blitz a little bit more in today’s practice. Zack Baun got sent through the A-gap a few times. On one instance, he got home for a potential sack. On another, Will Shipley had a great rep in pass pro to stop him.

We also saw Fangio sent rookie Cole Wisniewski, who got a "sack” on rookie Cole Payton. Cole on Cole violence.

10. Some odds and ends:

• The Eagles’ offense fumbled on a pitch from Jalen Hurts to Will Shipley.

• Jeremiah Trotter Jr. had a big hit on running back Ja’Quinden Jackson in the hole. It was a loud sound because Jackson is a 6-foot-2, 233-pound back, but Trotter stood him up.

• Dallas Goedert had a few catches on Monday but there was one play he’d like back. Goedert was wide open on the left side of the field but couldn’t haul in the pass cleanly, batted it up to himself and dropped it again.

• Moro Ojomo had an active day with a "sack” and a TFL.

Stupid Observation of the Day: It has been so much fun tracking Uar Bernard and Joshua Weru this summer. I think the Eagles should have football newbies in every training camp.

https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/eagles-training-camp-observations-key-players-return-to-practice/747114/