Observations from Eagles training camp: DeVonta Smith has another scary streak; Josiah Scott, Raequan Williams stand out | 5 takeaway meals



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PHILADELPHIA CREAM – The Eagles canceled their annual public evening training session at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday due to inclement weather forecasts from nearby Hurricane Henri.

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The team decided to move their last solo practice from training camp to the indoor facility at the NovaCare complex. The Eagles wore pads during indoor training.

PREVIOUS PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS: Practice 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ten | 11 | 12

Joint practice of the Patriots 1: Offense | Defense | Joint practice of the Patriots 2: Offense | Defense

Here are five observations from Sunday indoor practice:

Another scary scene for the first round pick

For the second time in less than a month, wide receiver DeVonta Smith arrived limping after a team drills rep.

In a 7-7 session, the Eagles did a first-team passing game and Smith limped off the field. He immediately lay down and stretched on the sidelines, as coaches examined his lower leg.

After a few minutes of sitting on a cooler, Smith started running on the sidelines. He eventually returned to 11-on-11 drills, signaling that he was at least in good enough shape to perform routes.

Smith missed most of the two weeks with a sprained knee earlier this month. If he were to return to the injured list, it would be a bad look for the broad and the team, which have been proactive in preserving their top talent. Fortunately for the Eagles, at least for now, Smith seems to have escaped another potential trap.

As NJ Advance Media reported earlier on Sunday, the Eagles don’t want to trade draft assets to upgrade the wide depth table. If Smith were to sustain a serious injury, they would have no choice but to upgrade the group.

READ MORE: The Eagles are not expected to trade future assets for help for wide receivers; Jets could be an option for a player-for-player deal

Two defenders of black horses (or spartans) at the dawn of the spots on the list

Cornerback Josiah Scott and defensive tackle Raequan Williams are two defensive players who haven’t had enough ink (or characters, or whatever you want to call the Internet guy). Ironically, both are sophomores from the state of Michigan. The Eagles signed Williams as an undrafted rookie last year, while Scott was acquired for a sixth-round draft pick in 2023 and cornerback Jameson Houston in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason.

On Sunday Scott had a special 7-on-7 series of drills. First, Scott knocked out backup quarterback Joe Flacco in the middle. A few plays later, Scott snapped a pass from Flacco to tight end Jack Stoll. Scott is the second-best nickel corner on the list, and this week he is apparently battling veteran Craig James for fifth and possibly last cornerback spot. James is a special teams ace, but Scott offers a defensive advantage and is relatively cheap on a rookie contract.

Williams has been a pass-breaking machine during the summer. On Sunday, he snapped a pass from Flacco on the line of scrimmage in a rushed 11v11 job. He also did a good job taking on blockers and pushing the pocket in the same series. Williams clearly outscored sixth-round pick Marlon Tuipulotu, who could be the camp’s most disappointing rookie. If the Eagles retain five defensive tackles, Williams should be the fifth guy behind Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, Hassan Ridgeway and Milton Williams. Given Milton Williams’ versatility, the Eagles could decide to keep just nine linemen and count him as a defensive end, opening up the place to (unrelated) Raquan Williams.

Good battle between attack and defense

Both sides of the ball made great plays in the 11-on-11 first-team battles.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts looked good as a runner and decider in team drills, and he made some nice shots over the three periods. His best play came on a down push for tight end Zach Ertz for about 40 yards.

Defensively, linebacker Alex Singleton was sacked in a blitz against Hurts and the first team offense. The first-team defense also kept the offense out of the end zone during a 45-second rush. The secondary was very well covered as they kept Hurts from hooking up with Quez Watkins and Jalen Reagor.

Eagles add a tight end

The Eagles signed tight end Cary Angeline ahead of practice. According to multiple reports, Angeline trained for the Eagles on Friday.

With Jason Croom (knee) pointed at the injured reserve and Tyree Jackson sidelined with a broken back, the Eagles need tight depth to take shots in joint practices and their pre-season game. season against the Jets.

Angeline, originally from Chester Springs, Pa., Played college football at NC State. Listed as 6-foot-7, 250 pounds, Angeline signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in May. He was cut by the Cardinals on August 10.

Angeline will play behind Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert, Richard Rodgers and fellow undrafted rookie Jack Stoll this week. He will wear the n ° 83.

Injury Status Updates

The following players were restricted on Sunday:

LB Shaun Bradley (groin), OT Le’Raven Clark (crawling back), DT Fletcher Cox (groin), OT Andre Dillard (knee), CB Craig James (foot), LB JaCoby Stevens (hamstrings)

* Clark made his team drills debut as a second team left tackle. Stevens and James returned to the practice of the individual exercises.

The following players have not trained and are listed on a daily basis:

LB Genard Avery (groin, new injury), DE Derek Barnett (shoulder), DT Javon Hargrave (ankle), RB Jason Huntley (ribs), DE Ryan Kerrigan (thumb), DE Joe Ostman (concussion), FS K’Von Wallace (groin)

* Avery has a new groin injury unrelated to his previous groin injury.

The following players have not trained and are listed from week to week:

LB Davion Taylor (calf)

The following players have not trained and are listed from week to week:

TE Tyree Jackson (rear)

QUICK CUT

– UPDATE (11:28 PM ET): Ahead of practice, the Eagles gave up on CB Lavert Hill and WR Jhamon Ausbon, according to the official NFL transaction sheet. The Eagles haven’t announced any of those moves, but both starts reduced the roster to 83 players, not to mention internationally exempt defensive end Matt Leo. The Eagles have until 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday to reduce their roster to 80 players, not counting Leo.

– Flacco and wide receiver John Hightower had their ups and downs in tandem. First, Flacco threw a shot down the field at Hightower, who took a few steps on a defender, but the ball went straight into the hands of the wide. Later, during a 45 second drill, Flacco hit an open Hightower for a touchdown. Hightower broke free of his cornerback Michael Jacquet on a nice run and Flacco connected with him on a high ball for the score.

– It was a difficult night for the pictures. Hurts and center Jason Kelce had a pair of muffled snaps. Flacco and the Nate Herbig Vault also got an error.

– Linebacker Rashad Smith broke a pass on a throw from third-string quarterback Nick Mullens to tight end Jack Stoll.

– Running back Miles Sanders lost on a Hurts 7-7 pass. Stoll dropped a pass in the middle of Flacco.

– On Saturday, the team placed tight end Jason Croom (knee) in the injured reserve. Croom suffered a non-contact knee injury in the first half against New England on Thursday and was hauled off the field. Her place on the list was used for Angeline.

–Center Luke Juriga agreed to an injury settlement with the Eagles on Saturday. He has been removed from the reserve injured list and is free to sign elsewhere.

A person with knowledge of Juriga’s injury told NJ Advance Media the illness was a sprained ankle and he should be ready for Week 1. According to the source, Juriga has already attracted interest from other teams. Juriga joined the Eagles as an undrafted free agent last offseason and has played 13 games as a rookie.

– The Eagles are off Monday as they travel to Florham Park for joint training with the Jets. The first joint training will take place on Tuesday. NJ Advance Media will have full training coverage on Additional eagles (Join FREE for two weeks now) and NJ.com.

Mike Kaye can be reached at [email protected]. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.

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