Eagles Training Camp Practice Notes: Jalen Reagor did some good things
5 min read
#NFLBeast #NFL #NFLTwitter #NFLUpdate #NFLNews #NFLBlogs
#Philadelphia #Eagles #PhiladelphiaEagles #NFC
By: Brandon Lee Gowton
Latest observations and updates.
Today marked the eighth 2021 Philadelphia Eagles training camp practice. Here’s what I observed! (Stay tuned for the daily BGN Radio podcast that’ll be posted here once it’s live.)
PRACTICE NOTES
• No pads today after two straight practices in them.
• JALEN HURTS UPDATE: The Eagles started team drills with the offense pinned up against their own end zone. Hurts threw a ball behind J.J. Arcega-Whiteside over the middle but the receiver made a good adjustment for a tough catch. Hurts threw to JJAW again but the receiver wasn’t even looking for the ball (miscommunication?) and Steve Nelson knocked the pass down. Hurts had another pass batted down at the line of scrimmage. Hurts got “sacked” by Fletcher Cox after being slow to get rid of the ball. Hurts rolled right and wanted to go to Travis Fulgham deep but saw the receiver double covered so threw it his way out of bounds.
• EAGLES INJURY NEWS: JaCoby Stevens (hamstring) is a new addition to the report after standing out during Wednesday’s practice. The Eagles are describing him as week-to-week, which is an unfortunate development for the rookie.
John Hightower left practice early to get looked at in the trainers’ tent. He didn’t return as a participant but he did stay on the field to watch the rest of practice.
Davion Taylor (calf) was seen wearing a boot.
• JALEN REAGOR: We’ve been waiting for Reagor to do something and he finally did on Thursday during WR vs. DB 1-on-1s. Nick Mullens lofted a fade to the Eagles’ 2020 first-round pick in the back right corner of the end zone. It didn’t look like it was going to be completed as it was a little too high … but Reagor stuck his hand up and made an incredible one-handed grab to ‘Moss’ Darius Slay. Easily the best catch of training camp thus far. Nice to see!
Unfortunately, Reagor failed to win his next two reps. Slay’s sticky coverage prevented him from getting any separation on their next battle. Reagor absolutely dusted Slay on their final matchup but failed to catch the pass after getting wide open. Really nice route! But gotta finish that.
Reagor had a solid catch along the sideline during an 11-on-11 that prompted Nick Sirianni to run up to him and put his arm around the receiver. Some positive reinforcement for Reagor after Sirianni previously chewed him out on Wednesday. That rep might’ve been Reagor’s most successful play in team drill; he’s been more effective in 1-on-1 than 11-on-11. Though, Reagor did have another short catch on the boundary where Nelson really tried to rip the ball out and he held on.
Reagor failed to catch a deep ball from Hurts that looked catchable but might’ve been a little too far out in front. A flag was thrown on the play and Nelson indicated it was offensive pass interference against Reagor, though I’m not 100% sure if that was actually the call.
So, hardly a perfect practice for No. 18. But he did some good things, which might be a step in the right direction. We’ll see if he can build on it and be more consistent.
• Joe Flacco had two nice throws that stood out. The first one came on a play where he was rolling right and threw across his body to hit an open Greg Ward for a chunk gain. Flacco’s made some nice throws while on the move recently. Flacco also hit JJAW — who actually got separation (!) — over the middle to JJAW for about 20 yards. On the downside, Flacco badly threw behind Kerryon Johnson on a slant. Flacco also sailed a downfield target to Reagor out of bounds.
• Emptying out the rest of my WR vs. DB 1-on-1 notes: JJAW dropped a pass while being covered by Kevon Seymour. Reagor double-caught a ball on a slant. Nelson broke up a fade pass to Fulgham. Zach McPhearson knocked down a throw to Andre Patton. Patton came back to beat ZMP with a one-handed catch of his own. Quez Watkins, who continues to display crisp route-running, beat Michael Jacquet despite the fact the cornerback got called for defensive holding. Watkins pulled off a smooth stutter step that created separation against Lavert Hill.
• Josh Sweat turned the corner on Jordan Mailata during an 11-on-11 rep to get pressure on Hurts. Mailata later had a good win against Derek Barnett in 1-on-1, driving him too wide to get near the quarterback.
• Emptying out the rest of my OL vs. DL 1-on-1 notes: Jack Driscoll stifled Tarron Jackson, had him locked him with nowhere to go. TJack failed to beat perpetual training camp body Casey Tucker. Andre Dillard avoided getting totally destroyed by Sweat on one rep but didn’t exactly earn a clear win.
• Avonte Maddox forced a fumble on Miles Sanders, which really fired up the defense. Not great to see Sanders struggling with ball security and drops after those were two big issues last season and coming out of college.
• Craig James, who I haven’t written much about this summer, had a near pick on a Nick Mullens throw along the sideline.
• Patrick Johnson was taking some first team reps at linebacker in the Genard Avery/Joe Ostman role.
• 2020 UDFA signing Grayland Arnold came down from playing safety to explode in the backfield for a tackle for loss.
• Not being able to practice hasn’t stopped DeVonta Smith from getting on the JUGS machine.
DeVonta Smith getting some pre practice JUGS work in. #Eagles pic.twitter.com/efx5YyJY9s
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) August 5, 2021
• Some post-practice high jinks:
Darius Slay was yelling at Anthony Harris from far away to get his attention during a press conference. Finally moved up closer: pic.twitter.com/TOeDv6Maeb
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) August 5, 2021
Jordan Mailata removed Boston Scott from his security detail. #Eagles pic.twitter.com/DRG2dZcfZh
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) August 5, 2021
• Mailata is typically one of the very last players to leave the practice field. He’s been staying after to work with Eric Wilson. Joe Ostman also joined them at one point today.
• Never expected to hear Hootie & the Blowfish at a football practice. But it happened. And I just listened to the entirety of Cracked Rear View as I typed up today’s notes. (Side note: I’ll never forget Hootie performing the official pregame Super Bowl LII show. Feeling incredibly anxious about the Eagles and listening to Hootie.)
Eagles warmups ft. Hootie & the Blowfish pic.twitter.com/xPDep80zJG
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) August 5, 2021
UP NEXT: No practice tomorrow; it’s an off day for the players. The Eagles will be giving media members a tour of some new features at the Linc, so we’ll have coverage of that. The team returns to practice on Saturday, August 7 at 10:00 AM.
