Eagles OTAs practice begins this week

The Philadelphia Eagles will begin the third and final phase of their 2019 offseason workout schedule this week.

Tuesday, May 21 marks the beginning of the Eagles’ organized team activities (OTAs). These workouts are essentially the first “real” practices the Eagles will have ahead of the 2019 NFL season. This is when we’ll start to learn how this year’s roster will take shape.

As always, Bleeding Green Nation will have full coverage of Eagles OTAs. I’ll be covering practices live from the NovaCare Complex in South Philly. The first day of OTA practice open to the media is tomorrow, May 21. This is the first full practice we’ll get to see this year. We’ll also get to hear from Doug Pederson prior to practice (10:45 AM ET) and Carson Wentz at some point after practice.

The other practices open in their entirety to the media this spring take place on the following dates: May 28, June 3, and June 5. The Eagles’ mandatory minicamp practice dates from June 11 through June 13 are also open to reporters.

Be on the lookout for my practice notes and our BGN Radio podcast coverage after practice each day. Make sure you’re following me on Twitter for live updates (@BrandonGowton). Also make sure you like on the Bleeding Green Nation Facebook page (click here) in order for live videos of practices, press conferences, player interviews, and more.

Here’s a look at the remaining Eagles offseason workout schedule. Keep in mind all of these events are voluntary save for the mandatory minicamp taking place from June 11-13. It remains to be seen which players (if any) won’t be attending voluntary workouts this year.

OTA Offseason Workouts: May 21-23, May 28, May 30-31, June 3-6.

Mandatory Minicamp: June 11-13.

Eagles training camp, which is also mandatory, doesn’t begin until late July or early August. An exact start date has yet to be announced.

See below for a full explanation of the limits of Phase Three workouts per Article 21 Section 2 of the CBA.

(iii) Phase Three. Phase Three shall consist of the next four weeks of the Club’s offseason workout program. Subject to the additional rules set forth in Subsec­ tions 5(a) and 5(c) of this Article and Appendix G to this Agreement, during Phase Three each Club may conduct a total of ten days of organized team practice activity (“OTAs” or “OTA days”). The restrictions set forth in Subsection 5(b) of this Article shall not apply to OTA days. The Club may conduct a maximum of three days of OTAs during each of the first two weeks of Phase Three. A maximum of four days of OTAs may be conducted during either the third week or the fourth week of Phase Three, with the Mandatory Veteran Minicamp (Article 22, Section 2) to be held during the other week. During weeks in which the Club conducts only three days of OTAs, the Club may also conduct a fourth day of non-OTA workouts, but such activities shall be subject to the rules governing Phase Two workouts, as set forth in Subsection 2(b)(ii) of this Ar­ticle. During Phase Three, all coaches shall be allowed on the field. No live contact is permitted. No one-on-one offense vs. defense drills are permitted (i.e., no offensive linemen vs. defensive linemen pass rush or pass protection drills, no wide receivers vs. defensive backs bump-and-run drills, and no one-on-one special teams drills involving both offense and defense are permitted). Special teams drills (e.g., kicking team vs. return team) are permitted, provided no live contact occurs. Team offense vs. team defense drills, including all drills listed in Appendix G to this Agreement, are permitted, provided no live contact occurs. Clubs may require players to wear helmets; no shells are permit­ted during Phase Three of the Club’s offseason workout program or any minicamp.