Tag: Eagles Training Camp

WATCH: Eagles QB Jalen Hurts had his leadership on display while mic’d up during a recent practice

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was mic’d up for a recent practice at the NovaCare Complex

The Philadelphia Eagles are roaring through training camp, and as they enter Week 3, the team will begin preparation for the preseason opener against Baltimore. This summer has been all about Jalen Hurts taking more ownership on offense, and during a recent spring of practices, the star quarterback was Mic’d up, putting his leadership skills on display.

It’s typical Hurts, adding his iconic slogans and phrases while showing that he’s opened up some amid criticism about the All-Pro being too stoic. Hurts admitted that he’s playing tennis now while assuming more responsibilities at the line of scrimmage.

Check out the five-minute video above for Jalen Hurts and the Eagles.

Kellen Moore breaks down how he’ll utilize Eagles’ running backs in the passing game

Philadelphia offensive coordinator Kellen Moore says he will use Eagles running backs in the passing game

Eagles running backs combined for 74 catches, 454 yards, and 1 receiving touchdown, and those numbers could go up with Kellen Moore installed as the new offensive coordinator. Kenneth Gainwell returns as a reserve running back in the final year of his contract.

The most significant additions were Saquon Barkley in free agency and Will Shipley, drafted out of Clemson. During his first training camp press conference, Kellen Moore provided insight into how he’ll utilize the Philadelphia running backs.

“It does have to be an outlet at times for the quarterback, but I think it’s critical that we utilize those guys in the pass game to create horizontal space and every once in a while, get them vertical”.

“We have been fortunate to be around some really good ones in the past. [RB] Saquon [Barkley] is going to be phenomenal.” “[RB] Kenny [Gainwell] has done it here before.” “[RB] Will [Shipley] has shown tons of evidence that he’ll be able to utilize that skill.”

“So we have three backs that can play a lot of different places on the field, and that will be a huge advantage for us.”

In 14 games last season, Barkley logged 962 yards and six rushing touchdowns while continuing his dual-threat dominance with 41 receptions for 280 yards and four touchdowns for the 6-11 Giants.

The Eagles have A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert as their primary pass catchers, but elevating the running backs in the passing game can take even more pressure off quarterback Jalen Hurts.

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Kellen Moore gives insight to the special skills Saquon Barkley brings to Eagles offense

Philadelphia offensive coordinator Kellen Moore gives insight to the special skills Saquon Barkley brings to Eagles offense

The Saquon Barkley era is underway in Philadelphia. The former Penn State star and New York Giants running back is signing a three-year, $37 million deal with the Eagles during the free agency period.

The Former Giants RB Saquon Barkley reached an agreement with the Eagles on a contract that could be worth up to $46.75M and includes $26M fully guaranteed at signing, per Adam Schefter.

Barkley is a star at the position, giving new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore the ultimate weapon on all three downs.  During a recent Eagles practice, Moore talked about Barkley’s unique skillset.

Yeah, Saquon is obviously a special player. You can see it out here without even pads, just his bursts, quickness, ability to hit the hole. Obviously, he’ll be a guy that you can utilize at all aspects of the field. He can be a space player, which we’re excited about in the passing game.

He’s going to be able to attack people in a lot of different ways. That’s the exciting part. It won’t be just a downhill run game. He’ll be able to emphasize and do some other things.

In 74 career games with New York, the 27-year-old rushed 1,201 times for 5,211 yards and 35 touchdowns. Barkley was also a weapon in the passing game, tallying 288 receptions for 2,100 yards and 12 touchdowns.

He’ll give Jalen Hurts and the Eagles a dynamic, three-down running back that should flourish in Moore’s versatile offensive system.

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Kellen Moore says Jalen Hurts has been really smooth with his operation of Eagles offense

Philadelphia offensive coordinator Kellen Moore says Jalen Hurts has been really smooth with his operation of Eagles offense

Jalen Hurts has had the best training camp of his five-year NFL career, and after addressing his relationship with head coach Nick Sirianni, the Eagles quarterback has been lights out during four practices at the NovaCare Complex.

Kellen Moore was tasked with refining Hurts’ skillets after Philadelphia fired Brian Johnson. Through one week of camp, the new offensive coordinator says his quarterback has been smooth under center.

“Yeah, Jalen’s been really smooth the first couple days. He’s been excellent, just his operation.” “You can just tell he’s in command, he’s in control; he’s doing an excellent job at the line of scrimmage with the little nuances, little adjustments that he has at his disposal, and so it’s been really good.”

Moore will look to help Hurts become even more efficient after a turnover-filled 2023 season that saw the quarterback deal with injuries and inconsistent play down the stretch.

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Britain Covey has emerged as a potential candidate for Eagles 3rd WR spot

Britain Covey has emerged as a potential candidate for the Philadelphia Eagles 3rd wide receiver spot

The Eagles have a stacked roster, but several intense roster spots are brewing at critical positions, including the third wide receiver spot.

It was assumed that veterans Parris Campbell and John Ross, along with rookies Ainias Smith and Johnny Wilson, could join A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith as starters, but a familiar and dark horse name has emerged. Britain Covey is one of the best punt returners in the NFL, but he could also find himself getting offensive snaps at wide receiver.

The former Utah wide receiver averaged the league’s second-most yards per punt return (14.4).

In 17 games in 2022 with the Eagles, Covey did not record a catch and only had four catches for 42 yards and no touchdowns last season, but that could change in 2024 under new OC Kellen Moore.

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Eagles training camp: Tyler Steen could miss time with an ankle injury

Philadelphia Eagles right guard Tyler Steen could miss some time with an ankle injury suffered in training camp practice

Tyler Steen has looked solid through the first three days of Eagles training camp, but Jeff McLane of The Inquirer reports that he could miss some time after exiting Saturday’s practice with an ankle injury.

Steen walked off on his own and was replaced in the lineup by offensive tackle Darian Kinnard.

The projected starting offensive line was together for the first time after left guard Landon Dickerson was cleared to participate fully. Mekhi Becton rookie Trevor Keegan and Kinnard are all candidates to be the starter, but Steen has the job to lose.

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Jalen Hurts to have more responsibility at line of scrimmage with Jason Kelce retiring

PHiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts to have more responsibility at line of scrimmage with Jason Kelce retiring

Jalen Hurts is entering year No. 5 in the NFL, and he’s familiar with learning an offense, seeing as he’s had 10+ offensive coordinators since his time at Alabama. With a massive $255 million contract, Hurts has entered that phase of his career where he wants to take complete ownership of the offense he’s been in charge of commanding to a Super Bowl.

In 2024, Hurts has been entrusted with more responsibility at the line of scrimmage, and a critical part of that added trust stems from the retirement of the future Hall of Fame center,

Is Hurts fully ready to control the game from the line of scrimmage like Patrick Mahomes? Probably not, but he’s an intelligent player, extremely cerebral, and efficient under duress.

Hurts has stated that 95% of the offense is new, and Kellen Moore’s system and the Eagles’ offense will be noticeably different, with more bunch sets and more pre-snap motion, allowing the quarterback to have more straightforward and more detailed reads at the line of scrimmage.

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DeVonta Smith says he’s watched a lot of CeeDee Lamb to prepare for Kellen Moore’s offense

Philadelphia Eagles WR DeVonta Smith says he’s watched a lot of CeeDee Lamb to prepare for Kellen Moore’s offensive system in 2024

DeVonta Smith is a teammate of one of the top five wide receivers in the NFL, but he focused on watching a rival work to help prepare for Kellen Moore’s offensive system.

Before coaching Justin Herbert and the Chargers offense, Moore was responsible for offensive explosions in Dallas with quarterback Dak Prescott and star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Hoping to get a head start on learning the system, Smith told 94 WIP’s morning show that he spent the off-season watching tape of Lamb and Prescott to get better insight into the offense.

In 2019, the Cowboys offense finished No. 1 in yards and No. 6 in points with Moore as offensive coordinator. Dallas was ranked 6th, 17th, 1st, and 4th in Moore’s four years running the offense, the first year under Jason Garrett and three under Mike McCarthy.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had a career year under Moore in 2021, finishing that season with 4,449 passing yards on 68.8% completion percentage while throwing 37 touchdowns and ten interceptions.

Prescott achieved career highs in passing attempts twice with Moore, with 596 in 2019 and 2021.

Dallas was No. 1 in both categories in the 2021 season.

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C.J. Gardner-Johnson could be the glue that holds Eagles defense together in 2024

Veteran defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson could be the player that brings confidence to the Philadelphia Eagles defense

If pictures could tell a 1,000 words, then the photo taken below by the Eagles’ Kiel Leggere of a focused Philadelphia team standing behind a smiling C.J. Gardner-Johnson is all you need to know about who has the juice when it comes to the swagger and energy department.

Gardner-Johnson reunited with the Eagles when both parties severely needed reconciliation.

Gardner-Johnson departed Philadelphia for Detroit last spring after an inability to agree to a contract that eventually went to James Bradberry. The Eagles’ defense regressed tremendously in 2023 without Gardner-Johnson’s swagger and big-play ability.

With a pec injury, Gardner-Johnson missed most of the Lions’ run to the playoffs and couldn’t be as productive in Detroit’s system.

Meanwhile, an Eagles defense that generated 70 sacks in 2022 – 3rd-most in NFL history – failed to generate pressure, as Philadelphia edge rushers had 38 sacks in 2023. With Gardner-Johson gone, the Eagle’s defense allowed 27 plays of 25 yards or more in the last ten games – 7th-most in the league, according to Reuben Frank.

Philadelphia GM Howie Roseman knows when he’s wrong and addressed the situation, re-signing Gardner-Johnson to a three-year deal with a max value of $33 million.

Gardner-Johnson is a ballhawk and big-play defender. The versatile defender has 12 interceptions in 58 career games, four sacks, 39 pass deflections, 20 tackles for loss, and 14 quarterback hits.

Gardner-Johnson can play safety or slot corner, which gives new Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio flexibility with his lineups. In 2024, look for Philadelphia’s play-caller to employ Gardner-Johnson more as a blitzer and pass rusher.

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Eagles CB Cooper DeJean placed on NFI list; Could miss 3 weeks with a hamstring injury

Eagles rookie DB Cooper DeJean will begin camp on NFI list and will miss three weeks of training camp with a hamstring injury

The Eagles will hit the practice field on Wednesday. They’ll be without rookie second-round pick Cooper DeJean, who’ll miss the first three weeks of training camp with a hamstring injury.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that DeJean suffered the injury during off-season workouts and should be back before the start of the 2024 regular season.

A Swiss army knife and one of the NFL’s versatile players, DeJean could see snaps at cornerback, nickel cornerback, safety, and the return game.

Vic Fangio had previously talked about DeJean’s versatility and its implementation into several phases of the defense once he grasped the speed and knowledge of the NFL game.

The hamstring injury won’t prevent DeJean from participating in classroom work, but it will stunt his on-field progress.

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