Eagles OTA Practice Notes: Walter Thurmond is making plays

The Philadelphia Eagles opened their Tuesday OTA practice to the media after also doing the same on Monday. I was there to take it all in.

Keep in mind that these are all non-contact drills at this point. Players aren't allowed to wear shells yet. There's only so much to be gleaned from players running around in shorts, but here's what I learned from Tuesday's session.

• Injury update: Marcus Smith (groin), Earl Wolff (knee), DeMeco Ryans (Achilles), Julian Vandervelde, and Kenjon Barner started out practice with the trainers once again. Smith and Ryans participated in team drills. Wolff participated in some individual drills. More on him later. Barner and Vandervelde didn't really practice from what I saw.

• Here's [video] of defensive line coach Jerry Azzinaro putting his big guys through a drill.

• Eagles Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie was out at practice today.

• Add Connor Barwin to #WeeWeeWatch2015. Twice.

• Walter Thurmond, whom Chip Kelly praised prior to practice, had a nice strip on Jordan Matthews. As the second year receiver was approaching the sideline, Thurmond attacked the ball with a rip move and knocked it out. Matthews was nearly out of bounds so it wouldn't have caused much trouble in a game situation, but it's still good to see how Thurmond tries to make plays. Thurmond drew praise from ESPN analyst and former Eagles scout Louis Riddick on Monday.

• Misc WR notes: Miles Austin dropped a short pass from Sam Bradford after UDFA DB Denzel Rice played him tight. Bradford hit Quron Pratt with an intermediate pass in the middle of the field in tight coverage.

• Remember how Mark Sanchez just loves throwing to Jordan Matthews? Well, now Matt Barkley has a man crush of his own: Seyi Ajirotutu. The veteran is largely considered to be a special teams ace but he's had a solid spring. He's not a playmaker or anything but he seems like a decent depth option to have on the team.

• Scary moment: Bradford threw a short pass intended for Matthews. Mychal Kendricks tipped the ball before he and Matthews got tangled up on a bang-bang play. Matthews got up quickly with the help of a trainer. Kendricks stayed on the ground for a little bit before getting up and walking off the field by himself. Seems like no major damage was done but both guys were a little shaken up.

• Malcolm Jenkins picked off Mark Sanchez on a tipped ball. Not sure who tipped it, but it seemed like it may have been an inside linebacker. Good job by Jenkins to track the ball in traffic.

• Sanchez hit Riley Cooper with a well-thrown deep ball at one point. Cooper beat Byron Maxwell in coverage. Matthews ran up to Cooper and started yelling to celebrate the play. Before you panic about Maxwell, keep in mind these drills are non-contact (see: no press) and there's no rush on the QB. Also keep in mind there are no real refs. Later in practice, Cooper got away with a push off. Maxwell wanted a flag, but the invisible refs didn't respond.

• TEBOW TIME: He out ran the defense and got to the pylon for a rushing touchdown on a red zone play. Unstoppable. He also hit UDFA receiver Rasheed Bailey on a touchdown pass.

• Nelson Agholor caught a screen pass from Tebow and looked good in space. Obviously no one was allowed to tackle him, but his shiftiness was on display.

• Backup OL Josh Andrews was carted off. It turns out he only had cramps, apparently.

• DeMarco Murray had to take a break at one point in practice after getting hit where the sun don't shine.

• Andrew Gardner took first team reps at right guard. DeMeco Ryans and Mychal Kendricks were taking first team reps at inside linebacker. Take this for what it's worth since guys are rotating in and out.

• Eric Rowe made a great play by breaking up a Sanchez pass intended for Ajirotutu along the sideline. Then on the next play he got beat on a deep route by Ajirotutu.

• Defensive end Frank Mays almost sacked Tebow, which is obviously a big no-no. The quarterbacks wear red jerseys for a reason. Don't touch! One of the Eagles' coach stressed this point like so: "STAY AWAY FROM THE F***ING QUARTERBACK!"

• The Eagles huddled up and ended practice with a "USA" chant. This obviously means they are now America's team.

Up next: No more OTA practices are open to the media. The Eagles will practice again on Wednesday and Thursday but those sessions are closed. The Eagles will next practice in front of the media when mandatory minicamp begins next week on Tuesday, June 16.

BGN will have a lot more OTA coverage today so check back often.

Remaining offseason workout schedule:

OTA Offseason Workouts: June 10-11.

Mandatory Minicamp: June 16-18.

BGN Coverage: The following practices are open to the media: June 16-18.