Training Camp: Eagles 2017 projected starting lineup

Eagles training camp practice begins TODAY. The entire team hasn’t reported to Philadelphia yet; the rest of the veterans will arrive on Wednesday, July 26. The first full day of practice is set to take place on Thursday, July 27.

Here’s an early preview of the team’s projected starting lineup heading into camp. These are likely the players who will be taking the bulk of the first team reps during practices. We'll start with the offense.

OFFENSE

Quarterback - Carson Wentz

Running back - LeGarrette Blount

Wide receiver - Alshon Jeffery

Wide receiver - Torrey Smith

Wide receiver - Jordan Matthews

Tight end - Zach Ertz

Left tackle - Jason Peters

Left guard - Isaac Seumalo

Center - Jason Kelce

Right guard - Brandon Brooks

Right tackle - Lane Johnson

NOTES:

The Eagles have five new projected offensive starters heading into camp compared to this time last year.

Wentz had to split reps with Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel last summer. Now he’s getting all the first team reps.

The Eagles will rotate their first team running back quite often, but Blount should get a majority of the work.

Philadelphia has a couple of options they could go if they want to use a fullback. Doug Pederson suggested the team has a “fullback-by-committe”. Dillon Gordon, Elijah Qualls, and Beau Allen (when healthy) are the names to watch there.

Pederson said Matthews will be limited in practice to some extent. Expect Nelson Agholor to mix in with the first team.

Seumalo is competing with Allen Barbre for the starting left guard spot. The feeling here is Seumalo will win, but nothing is set in stone at this point.

I can’t help but feel like Kelce could be on a short leash. If he really struggles, the Eagles could turn to Seumalo or Stefen Wisniewski to start in the middle of the line.

DEFENSE

Defensive end - Brandon Graham

Defensive end - Vinny Curry

Defensive tackle - Fletcher Cox

Defensive tackle - Timmy Jernigan

Outside linebacker - Nigel Bradham

Outside linebacker - Mychal Kendricks

Middle linebacker - Jordan Hicks

Cornerback - Patrick Robinson

Cornerback - Jalen Mills

Safety - Malcolm Jenkins

Safety - Rodney McLeod

NOTES:

The Eagles have four new projected defensive starters heading into camp compared to this time last year.

Curry could potentially lose his starting job to Derek Barnett. The defensive ends will feature a heavy rotation in any case.

Jernigan was an underrated addition for the Eagles, in my view.

Kendricks is only a starter in the Eagles’ base defense. Philadelphia used a lot of nickel in 2016 so Kendricks only played 27% of the Eagles’ defensive snaps.

In that vein, you could really consider the Eagles’ slot corner as another starter. It remains to be seen who will fill that role, however. Mills, Aaron Grymes, and Ron Brooks are the main names to watch.

The starting corner jobs are up for grabs. Mills will probably take one of them. Robinson starts out with the lead for the other one, but rookie third-round pick Rasul Douglas will challenge for playing time. The Eagles could employ a platoon at corner similar to how they did last year with Leodis McKelvin and Mills.

If the Eagles opt to use Jenkins in the slot, Terrence Brooks could end up getting on the field as Philadelphia’s third safety.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker - Caleb Sturgis

Punter - Donnie Jones

Long snapper - Jon Dorenbos

Punt returner - Darren Sproles

Kick returner - Wendell Smallwood

NOTES:

After a good 2016 performance, Sturgis is running unopposed in camp.

Jones and Dorenbos are both 37 years old. This could be their last Eagles training camp with the team.

Sproles figures to be the main PR but Donnel Pumphrey could see some looks there.

The kick returner spot is more up for grabs. Smallwood is penciled in that spot for now.