Philadelphia got their most extensive day of competition this summer after the team joined the Patriots for one joint practice session ahead of Thursday night’s preseason contest at Gillette Stadium.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts looked sharp throughout the session, while DeVonta Smith put on a route running clinic. On defense, Nakobe Dean and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. stood out, while Cooper DeJean returned to practice for the first time since training camp started.
With the Eagles scheduled for a Wednesday walkthrough, here are takeaways and observations from the joint practice.
Joint practices are essential in Philadelphia. Isaiah Rodgers’s taking first-team reps on Tuesday all but solidifies his starting spot opposite Darius Slay in the opener against Green Bay.
Devin White is a lock to start at inside linebacker, while Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean alternated reps with the first-team defense in various situations.
The Eagles offense won’t be stale in 2024, as Kellen Moore is showing more pre-snap motion and zips in his formations.
Drake Maye didn’t play a lot of snaps in the Patriots’ first preseason game, but the rookie quarterback is getting plenty of work against the Eagles.
Maye and the Patriots hosted a joint practice with the Eagles on Tuesday. Head coach Jerod Mayo said before the workout that Maye and Jacoby Brissett would be getting most of the work because “we’ve got to get ready to play some real football.”
Mayo labeled Maye “steady,” and the former UNC star made some big throws on Tuesday.
The Eagles star quarterback looked sharp on Tuesday morning,
Dean has gone from getting second-team reps behind Zack Baun to having a solid preseason opener, and he’s flashed again during the joint practice.
Trotter Jr. had a sack in the preseason opener and flashed again during the joint practice.
It was only a joint practice against the rebuilding Patriots, but the Eagles’ pass rush was intense and stout all morning.
