Tag: jalen carter

Takeaways and observations from first half of Eagles’ preseason opener vs. the Ravens

The NFL is back, and Philadelphia officially started its march toward another postseason berth with a much anticipated preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens. Kenny Pickett was 13-21 for 90 yards and one touchdown, and the Eagles are tied 6-6 …

The NFL is back, and Philadelphia officially started its march toward another postseason berth with a much anticipated preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens. Kenny Pickett was 13-21 for 90 yards and one touchdown, and the Eagles are tied 6-6 with the Ravens to end the first half at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

Both teams held out key starters, but Philadelphia defensive coordinator Vic Fangio ensured key players saw snaps in the first half. Most of the offensive and defensive starters sat out for the Ravens, allowing second-year linebacker Trenton Simpson to shine.

On offense, Josh Johnson was 4-12 passing for 60 yards, while Owen Wright led the Baltimore rushing attack with seven carries for 33 yards.

With the second half set to begin, here are takeaways and observations from the first half in Baltimore.

Trotter is instinctual and has the benefit of sharing dinner and breakfast with one of the greatest linebackers in Eagles franchise history.

Nakobe Dean’s first defensive snaps came with 5:34 remaining in the second quarter. Philadelphia’s starters at linebacker were Zack Baun and Devin White. Dean had one tackle in the first half and one pass defended.

Philadelphia gave us a preview of the future with Quinyon Mitchell and Kelee Ringo getting snaps together. Isaiah Rodgers got snaps on the outside with RIngo, while Mitchell got the initial snaps in the slot. The Eagles surrendered 62 yards passing in the first half.

Wilson got the start for Philadelphia and had one catch for seven yards on two targets and a crucial block on the Will Shipley touchdown.

Mekhi Becton gets the start at right guard, while the rest of the Eagles starting offensive line didn’t dress.

Pickett was 13-21 for 90 yards and one touchdown in the first half, and solidified his status as the backup.

The Eagles’ top offensive starters, including Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Lane Johnson, and Jordan Mailata, were not uniform.

Eagles DE Brandon Graham on Jalen Carter : He can be a terror in this league

Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham says Jalen Carter can be a terror in the NFL

Jalen Carter had a dominant start to his rookie season before fading down the stretch, and Brandon Graham believes his best is yet to come.

While talking to the media after a recent Eagles practice, Graham again vouched for the former Georgia All-American, saying that “he can be a terror” in the NFL.

During the first half of the 2023 season, Carter played 49% of the defensive snaps (despite missing Week 6 against the New York Jets with an injury), second among Eagles defensive tackles behind only Fletcher Cox.

Carter finished his rookie year with 6.0 sacks, 33 tackles, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery (which he returned for a touchdown) in 16 regular-season games.

Through the first nine weeks of 2023, Carter generated 29 pressures (tied for eighth in the league among interior defensive linemen), according to Pro Football Focus, including four sacks and 20 hurries.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Takeaways and observations from the Eagles’ open practice at Lincoln Financial Field

The Eagles took to the field for an intense but efficient open practice session at Lincoln Financial Field in front of a raucous crowd of about 50,000 screaming fans. The practice lasted over two hours and featured some big-time throws from star …

The Eagles took to the field for an intense but efficient open practice session at Lincoln Financial Field in front of a raucous crowd of about 50,000 screaming fans. The practice lasted over two hours and featured some big-time throws from star quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Saquon Barkley made his home debut and was cheered throughout the night, while Brandon Graham soaked in the emotions of his final open practice at Lincoln Financial Field.

With the team off on Friday, here are takeaways and observations.

The Eagles had five players unavailable for Thursday night’s open practice, including Landon Dickerson, who is battling a toe injury.

Lane Johnson wore the No. 69 jersey with Dickerson injured, ditching his No. 65 for one night.

Goedert finished the night with three touchdowns and again established himself as a key weapon in this explosive offense.

Hurts has looked sharp all training camp, and Thursday night was no different. He continued his streak of no turnovers.

The rookie out of FSU is the tallest wide receiver in the NFL, and the Eagles will carve out a role for the physical pass catcher.

The open practice always draws a huge crowd, and Thursday night was no different.

The Eagles traded for Kenny Pickett, but they drafted Tanner McKee last spring, and they like his talents.

Saquon Barkley will be around for at least the next two to three years, but Will Shipley is the future at the running back position.

Landon Dickerson sat out Thursday’s open practice, paving the way for Mekhi Becton to get much-needed snaps at the guard position.

Eagles training camp: Highlights from Day 1 of practice

After months of waiting, and stories about Jalen Hurts and head coach Nick Sirianni, the Eagles returned to the NovaCare Complex, for their first training camp practice of 2024. New additions like Saquon Barkley, Bryce Huff and Quinyon Mitchell took …

After months of waiting, and stories about Jalen Hurts and head coach Nick Sirianni, the Eagles returned to the NovaCare Complex, for their first training camp practice of 2024.

New additions like Saquon Barkley, Bryce Huff and Quinyon Mitchell took the field on Wednesday, while rookie defensive back Cooper DeJean will miss three weeks with a hamstring injury.

Here are highlights from Day 1 of action.

Eagles updated 90-man roster arranged by uniform number ahead of training camp

We’re looking at the Philadelphia Eagles updated 90-man roster by uniform number ahead of Tuesday’s report date for training camp

The Eagles are just 12 away from being back on the field for the start of one of the most critical training camps in franchise history.

After signing seven undrafted free agents following the draft, Philadelphia has a full roster, including Laekin Vakalahi, who’ll be exempt from a roster spot as the team’s representative in the International Pathway Program.

After the team placed offensive tackle Le’Raven Clark on injured reserve, it released tight end Noah Togiai and signed cornerback Shon Stephens. Philadelphia now has a roster space for one player ahead of the July 23 report date for rookies and veterans.

With things about to ramp up, here’s an updated 90-player roster for the Eagles.

Eagles DT Jalen Carter is the only 2023 rookie to land on PFF’s top 50 NFL players list

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter lands at No. 41 on the Pro Football Focus list of the top 50 NFL players of 2024

Jalen Carter was the runner-up for the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year award, and he’ll have some say in several awards scenarios as we advance after Fletcher Cox and Aaron Donald both retired.

Carter’s dynamic rookie season vaulted the Eagles’ second-year defensive tackle into Pro Football Focus’s top 50 NFL players of 2024 list.

Carter is the only 2023 rookie to make the list.

41. DI JALEN CARTER, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
For the first several weeks of the 2023 season — his rookie season — Jalen Carter was grading and producing like future Hall-of-Famer Aaron Donald. That level was perhaps inevitably unsustainable, but even so, he finished his debut season with an 89.0 PFF overall grade, ranking fifth in the NFL. Carter has the talent to be at the very top of this list. Only players like Donald have showcased that kind of instant impact at the position over the past decade or so.

During the first half of the 2023 season, Carter played 49% of the defensive snaps (despite missing Week 6 against the New York Jets with an injury), second among Eagles defensive tackles behind only Fletcher Cox.

Carter finished his rookie year with 6.0 sacks, 33 tackles, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery (which he returned for a touchdown) in 16 regular-season games.

Through the first nine weeks of 2023, Carter generated 29 pressures (tied for eighth in the league among interior defensive linemen), according to Pro Football Focus, including four sacks and 20 hurries.

Eagles breakout candidates for 2024: No. 10 TE Albert Okwuegbunam Jr.

Philadelphia has a stacked offensive unit, a retooled defense, and two versatile studs at the coordinator positions in Kellen Moore (OC) and Vic Fangio (DC). There are few holes on the roster, but there is plenty of room for younger guys and select …

Philadelphia has a stacked offensive unit, a retooled defense, and two versatile studs at the coordinator positions in Kellen Moore (OC) and Vic Fangio (DC).

There are few holes on the roster, but there is plenty of room for younger guys and select veterans to have a breakout season, cementing the revamped Eagles as a Super Bowl favorite.

On offense, there are several candidates for the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year, while the defense has an All-Pro candidate at defensive tackle and young elite talent at cornerback. Ten players are poised for a breakout season, and with training camp quickly approaching, we’re previewing each player.

Breakout candidate No. 10 is the immensely athletic Albert Okwuegbunam Jr.

Before being a fourth-round pick of the Broncos in 2020, Okwuegbunam had a successful career for the Missouri Tigers.

2× Second-team All-SEC (2017, 2019)
All-SEC Freshman Team (2017)

A 2020 4th-round pick, Okweugbunam logged 54 catches for 546 yards and four scores in 3 seasons in Denver.

Philadelphia acquired Okwuegbunam from Denver after the 2023 preseason finale that saw the versatile tight end catch seven passes for 109 yards and a touchdown. But the Broncos didn’t have room for him on their roster, so they made a deal with the Eagles.

Philadelphia traded a 2025 sixth-round pick and a 2025 seventh-rounder to the Broncos last August and decided not to utilize the pass catcher at all the previous seasons under offensive coordinator Brian Johnson.

A fourth-round pick out of Missouri, Okweugbunam was targeted just once in four games of action last season and did not have a catch.

He’ll return under first-year offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and should find a role with the innovative play-caller. Look for Moore to incorporate Okwuegbunam more into the passing game.

Moore will bring a modern offense that heavily features pre-snap motion and aggressive, vertical route concepts.

Dallas 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.

The idea that Okwuegbunam would return in 2024 after being barely used last season gives insight into how poorly coached the Eagles were on offense.

Even with Dallas Goedert injured for almost a month, Brian Johnson never found a role for the talented pass catcher.

Howie Roseman’s do-over indicates that Okwuegbunam’s lack of usage in 2023 was on the staff, not the player.

Takeaways and observations from Day 2 of Eagles’ mandatory minicamp

Philadelphia has one practice left before breaking until the late July training camp, and the Eagles are implementing a new offensive and defensive system. Wednesday was Day 2 of the Eagles’ mandatory minicamp, and a familiar face was back at the …

Philadelphia has one practice left before breaking until the late July training camp, and the Eagles are implementing a new offensive and defensive system.

Wednesday was Day 2 of the Eagles’ mandatory minicamp, and a familiar face was back at the NovaCare Complex, as Fletcher Cox appeared amid his retirement adjustment.

There are battles for the cornerback spot opposite Darius Slay and at middle linebacker, where Nakobe Dean will work to hold off Zack Baum alongside Devin White.

With the second day completed, we’re looking at takeaways and observations from the session.

It’s only an early preview, but Quinyon Mitchell, Kelee Ringo, and Isaiah Rodgers are set to have an intense battle for the cornerback spot opposite Darius Slay.

Don’t look now, but Ross could easily land Philadelphia’s third or fourth wide receiver spot. The speedy former first-round pick took first-team snaps on Wednesday and has been active during two days of practice.

Devin White appears to be the only lock as a starter, while Nakobe Dean and Zack Baun will continue to battle for the inside linebacker job.

The future Hall of Famer appeared at the NovaCare Complex in street clothes for the first time since retiring.

With Landon Dickerson absent and Trevor Keegan injured, Mekhi Becton logged first-team snaps at left guard.

Kellen Moore is installing a new offensive system, and Wednesday presents some frustrations for Jalen Hurts and company.

The former Georgia running back has fresh legs and is starting to emerge as a training camp dark horse to watch in the running back competition.

Highlights from Day 2 of Eagles mandatory minicamp

Wednesday was Day 2 of the Eagles’ mandatory minicamp, and a familiar face was back at the NovaCare Complex, as Fletcher Cox appeared amid his retirement adjustment. Philadelphia has one practice left before breaking until the late July training …

Wednesday was Day 2 of the Eagles’ mandatory minicamp, and a familiar face was back at the NovaCare Complex, as Fletcher Cox appeared amid his retirement adjustment.

Philadelphia has one practice left before breaking until the late July training camp, and the Eagles are implementing a new offensive and defensive system. There are battles for the cornerback spot opposite Darius Slay and at middle linebacker, where Nakobe Dean will work to hold off Zack Baum alongside Devin White.

With the second day completed, we’re looking at highlights and photos from the session.

Highlights from Day 1 of Eagles mandatory minicamp

After nine weeks of offseason workouts and six OTA sessions, the Eagles hit the practice field at the NovaCare Complex for the first three-day, mandatory minicamp since the 2019 season. Tuesday was the first official day for Kellen Moore and Vic …

After nine weeks of offseason workouts and six OTA sessions, the Eagles hit the practice field at the NovaCare Complex for the first three-day, mandatory minicamp since the 2019 season.

Tuesday was the first official day for Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio to build depth charts for their versatile and explosive units.

It’s the first minicamp of the post-Jason Kelce, Fletcher Cox era, and it featured new faces and players evolving as new leaders. James Bradberry returned to the field after missing all OTAs, while Pro Bowl left guard Landon Dickerson was absent.

With Day 2 scheduled for Wednesday, here are highlights and video from the practice.