Eagles OTA practice notes: There’s certainly competition at cornerback and safety

Observations from the team’s first media-attended spring practice.

The reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles held the first of two OTA practices open to media access on Wednesday afternoon and I was there at the NovaCare Complex to watch the action unfold. Let’s get to some observations!

• ANNUAL DISCLAIMER: Before we get started, please remember that the Eagles don’t permit video recordings/photography after warmups and position drills. So, that’s why you’re not seeing any team drill highlights.
• The Eagles were inside their practice bubble since it was raining outside. Check out the new decorations:

• ATTENDANCE UPDATES: It bears repeating that OTAs are voluntary, so it’s not the biggest deal for players to be missing. DeVonta Smith, Lane Johnson, Reed Blankenship, Bryce Huff, and Avery Williams were notably not spotted at practice. Thomas Mott noted that he saw DeVonta and Lane at NovaCare while attending Tuesday’s practice. Blankenship can be seen in a team-issued video clip from Tuesday’s practice. Williams’ absence is annoying since it’ll be interesting to see where he lines up. Huff missing in the aftermath of trade rumors from earlier this offseason certainly feels noteworthy.
• INJURY UPDATES: Cam Jurgens, Nakobe Dean, and Jihaad Campbell made appearances in the practice bubble but did not participate due to injury. Landon Dickerson and Ben VanSumeren were not seen at practice while they’re likely still recovering from injury. Nolan Smith was able to participate in practice in a limited capacity; he did individual drills but not team sessions as he recovers from the torn triceps injury he suffered in Super Bowl LIX. A.J. Brown and Saquon Barkley aren’t injured but they didn’t do much in practice as the Eagles look to preserve them.

• DEPTH CHART NOTES, DEFENSE EDITION: The Eagles’ first-team defense in the first 7-on-7 period had Zack Baun and Jeremiah Trotter Jr at linebacker, Cooper DeJean at nickel cornerback, Quinyon Mitchell at left cornerback, Adoree’ Jackson at right cornerback, and Andrew Mukuba and Sydney Brown at safety. In base defense, DeJean moved to RCB with him and Mitchell as the only corners on the field. In other nickel looks, Kelee Ringo rotated in for Jackson as the top RCB. Ringo also saw time at LCB with Eli Ricks as the RCB on the second-team defense. There seems to be a very real battle for the starting CB job. At safety, Lewis Cine and Andre’ Sam separately rotated in with the first-team defense. There’s also competition there.
• DEPTH CHART NOTES, OFFENSE EDITION: The Eagles’ starting offensive line from left to tackle with Dickerson, Jurgens, and Johnson all not practicing: LT Jordan Mailata, LG Matt Pryor, C Brett Toth, RG Tyler Steen, RT Darian Kinnard.
• One of my bigger takeaways from each year’s first OTA practice is seeing how new players look in person. Last year, Barkley stood out for being huge while Huff looked so tiny. This year, Adoree’ Jackson stood out for looking smaller than I expected him to be. In fairness, that single digit No. 8 jersey is a slimming look. But his lack of size certainly stands out in contrast to Kelee Ringo, who’s big for a cornerback. Rookie Drew Mukuba is on the thinner side but he’s not small. Rookie Antwaun Powell-Ryland is listed as 10 pounds lighter than Brandon Graham but APR’s stocky build reminded me of BG (so weird to be at an Eagles practice with BG no longer part of the team, by the way).
• Ringo led Eagles defensive backs in a huddle prior to a DB drill. Perhaps he’s taking on more of a leadership role in Year 3, especially now that Darius Slay is gone.
• JALEN HURTS UPDATE: The reigning Super Bowl MVP looked sharp. He didn’t push the ball down the field much but he did get rid of the ball quickly to make accurate throws. His sole incompletion still hit Dallas Goedert’s outstretched hand with the pass being slightly too wide of his target. Hurts made a nice anticipatory throw to a crossing Goedert at one point. There were some good tight window completions.
• No surprise here but Goedert still looks pretty good. Good thing the Eagles kept him.

• Pretty hard to know what to make of Patullo as an offensive coordinator after a single OTA practice. But I do think he performed well in the press conference setting, for whatever that’s worth.
• Tanner McKee mostly looked good as QB2. He hit Danny Gray down the field for a touchdown on what appeared to be a busted coverage that involved Parry Nickerson. McKee also threw a deep touchdown to undrafted rookie Darius Cooper, who roasted fellow UDFA cornerback B.J. Mayes. McKee also hit Harrison Bryant for a 20-yard gain through the air. Two of McKee’s passes did get deflected.
• On that note, Smael Mondon Jr. (working alongside Dallas Gant at second-team linebacker) got his hands on a short McKee pass to Kylen Granson near the left sideline. Andre’ Sam also brought up a McKee pass intended for Grant Calcaterra. I know people are excited about Cine as a former first-round pick who also went to Georgia but I wouldn’t sleep on Sam beating him out.
• Jahan Dotson had two receptions from Hurts! One was a checkdown after Hurts went through all of his other reads. The other was a primary read. Recall that Hurts only targeted Dotson 27 times in 19 starts last year. Maybe they’re making some progress.
• Will Shipley, who was up as the first running back with Barkley mostly resting, had a lot of catches today. Kenny Gainwell only saw 25 targets as RB2 in 21 games last year. I envision Shipley clearing that number in 2025.
• Eagles inside linebackers coach Bobby King and Jihaad Campbell were having a long conversation on the sideline towards the end of practice. Probably more evidence that Campbell will be more of an off-ball linebacker than an edge rusher.
• Vic Fangio was the only member of the Eagles’ entire organization wearing Kelly Green at practice. He was wearing a hoodie.
• Dorian Thompson-Robinson was QB3 and Kyle McCord was QB4. DTR only saw a few reps while McCord attempted a single throw. These two could struggle to find practice reps but they should get plenty of playing time in the preseason games.

UP NEXT: The Eagles’ remaining OTA practice schedule: May 30, June 2-3, June 5. Media is expected to be able to attend one of next week’s sessions. The Eagles will then hold a single day of mandatory minicamp on June 10.