Makai Lemon, the Eagles’ 2026 first-round pick, is finally showing real signs of getting closer to returning to the field, and honestly, it couldn’t come soon enough for this squad. Today marked the twelfth training camp practice at the Jefferson Health Training Complex, and even though Lemon didn’t practice with the full team, he was out there on a side field putting in work. He was running routes and even joined the “catch circuit” after team drills ended, which is a massive step forward after battling that hamstring injury. You gotta be hyped to see that.
Smitty’s Back On The Field, But The Injury Bug Is Biting Hard
Good news hit today as DeVonta Smith, also dealing with a hamstring issue, was back on the field with a helmet on. He wasn’t in team drills yet, just ramping up with some position work, but it’s huge to see him out there. Could he be ready to practice against the Patriots this week? Fans are definitely crossing their fingers. Rookie sixth-round pick Cole Wisniewski and rookie seventh-round pick Keyshawn James-Newby were also upgraded to limited participation, both having missed most of camp. Wisniewski even got some reps in team drills, which is a positive sign. Tariq Castro-Fields, who missed practice time and the first preseason game, might be able to play this weekend, while Danny Gray took part in team drills but is still working through concussion protocol. On the bright side, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are officially off the injury report after missing time last week, and Saquon Barkley was full go despite his own scare.
A Preseason Scrimmage That Hurt, Literally
The flip side of the coin, though, is the sheer number of guys who got banged up in Saturday’s preseason game or are still sidelined. It’s a brutal list. Tank Bigsby, Grant Calcaterra, Mac McWilliams, Jakorian Bennett, John Ojukwu, Jose Ramirez, and Shaun Wade all got hit and apparently got banged up. Johnny Wilson, who just returned last week, is out again with a knee injury, which sounds like a total setback. And Jonathan Jones is going to miss “some time” with a shoulder injury, according to Vic Fangio. Plus, Dameon Pierce, who had some nice moments early in camp, has been out with a hamstring issue since getting banged up earlier. This team needs to get healthy fast.
With the preseason officially underway, getting these key players back and healthy is absolutely crucial. We’re looking at a potential return for Smith against the Patriots this week, and maybe Castro-Fields playing this weekend. The goal now is getting everyone fully ramped up, especially guys like Lemon, so this offense can hit the ground running. It’s early in the season, but every week counts for building momentum and avoiding more setbacks. Let’s see who’s ready to go next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleeding Green Nation.
Leave a Reply