The Philadelphia Eagles offense, after looking sharp on Monday, was completely out of sync during Tuesday’s training camp practice, delivering a performance that can only be described as ugly. Missing some key playmakers definitely didn’t help, but even with those extenuating circumstances, what went down at the Jefferson Health Training Complex was far from pretty.
The Injury Bug Is Biting Hard
It feels like the injury bug is already making itself at home in Philly, and it’s hitting some crucial spots. On Tuesday, star wideout DeVonta Smith was sidelined with a hamstring injury, though thankfully it’s not considered serious. Rookie receiver Makai Lemon also sat out with a hamstring issue, and while his isn’t serious either, this isn’t his first rodeo. Lemon previously missed at least four of the Eagles’ eight spring practices with a hamstring problem, and now he’s missed full team drills in two of their five training camp sessions. That’s a trend nobody wants to see.
Beyond those two, offensive tackle Lane Johnson was on an excused absence, his third straight missed practice. Guard Micah Morris (shoulder), safety Cole Wisniewski (hamstring), edge rusher Keyshawn James-Newby (ankle), and guard Jaedan Roberts (calf contusion) also didn’t participate. To make matters worse, during practice, DB Cooper DeJean got banged up with a left arm injury and watched from the sideline, while wide receiver Britain Covey walked off with trainers. With Smith, Lemon, and Covey out, the Eagles were down to a patchwork receiving corps of guys like Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore, and Quez Watkins. Not exactly ideal.
Jalen Hurts’ Brutal Day and What Went Wrong
You can blame some of the offensive struggles on who wasn’t there, sure, but Jalen Hurts and the guys who *were* on the field also had a tough go of it. Hurts was often working behind an offensive line made up mostly of backups, which is a challenge for any quarterback. He wasn’t shy about throwing deep, but those attempts weren’t fruitful.
It wasn’t all on Hurts either. Receiver Quez Watkins failed to track one of those deep throws. On another play, Michael Carter II picked off Hurts, bobbling the ball but holding on, after it looked like Hollywood Brown wasn’t even expecting the pass to come his way initially. Hurts targeted Brown deep again, and while the ball hit his hands, Brown couldn’t make the catch, with Cooper DeJean right there in tight coverage. A deep pass to Elijah Moore was overthrown, lacking a tight spiral. And in perhaps the most frustrating moment, Will Shipley was wide open on a wheel route, only to drop the ball. Brutal is right. This isn’t the kind of offensive showing you want to see this early in camp, no matter who is missing.
This Eagles squad needs to shake off Tuesday’s performance quick. While it’s only one practice, seeing an offense this disjointed, especially with the depth chart getting thinner at receiver, should absolutely be a motivator to tighten things up. Philly fans are gonna expect a much sharper look next time out. Here’s hoping they can get healthy and back in sync real soon.
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.
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