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Eagles Training Camp Practice Notes: Andre Dillard leaves early due to injury, again [UPDATE]

Takeaways from Thursday’s session.

Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp Photo by Yong Kim-Pool/Getty Images

UPDATE: Andre Dillard is reportedly out for the 2020 NFL season due to a biceps injury. Yikes!

ORIGINAL STORY BELOW.


Today marked the tenth 2020 Philadelphia Eagles training camp practice open to media. Here’s what I saw!

PRACTICE NOTES

• The Eagles held a full practice despite other NFL teams postponing/canceling their sessions in response to the Jacob Blake shooting. The Eagles were in pads today for the hottest day of camp so far. Things were physical.

EAGLES INJURY UPDATE: Andre Dillard held his hand/arm in pain after going up against Josh Sweat in 1-on-1. Dillard was squatting and kneeling for a bit off to the side as trainers examined him. Dillard left the field and did not return to practice. Concerning that he’s been banged up throughout camp. He previously left practice early on Sunday. During a recent BGN Radio podcast, my co-host Jimmy Kempski also said Dillard was spotted on crutches at one point before camp started. So ... he might be dealing with more than one injury? [UPDATE: I didn’t see the following Derrick Gunn report until after I published my notes.]

Vinny Curry, Lane Johnson, Miles Sanders, Derek Barnett, and Javon Hargrave are all still out. Genard Avery is being listed as “day-to-day” with a lower body injury, which seems like an encouraging sign after getting carted off on Wednesday. Still not great for him that he’s missing any time at all. [UPDATE: More clarity on Avery’s injury.]

Joe Ostman is also now day-to-day with a lower body injury. Jordan Mailata returned to practice and worked at first team left tackle with Dillard hurt. Jason Peters had a maintenance day today; the Eagles seem to be confident he doesn’t need a ton of right guard reps to make the transition to his new position. Sidney Jones and Marcus Epps had helmets on but did not participate in team drills.

• With Dillard getting hurt, Johnson missing practice for a fifth straight day, and Peters being rested, this was the Eagles’ first team offensive line:

Left tackle — Jordan Mailata
Left guard — Isaac Seumalo
Center — Jason Kelce
Right guard — Nate Herbig
Right tackle — Matt Pryor

Not exactly ideal.

It goes without saying the Eagles need to get healthy here before Week 1, which is only 17 days away.

• Mailata was also taking some second team right tackle reps so it was a busy day for him.

CARSON WENTZ UPDATE: Wentz made some real nice throws. He hit DeSean Jackson, who got past Darius Slay, on the money for a deep touchdown. He had a bunch of other nice completions to Jackson because the veteran wide receiver is basically always open at some level of the field. Wentz threw a heater to a tightly covered J.J. Arcega-Whiteside for a 20-yard gain ... and another to Zach Ertz. Wentz connected with Jalen Reagor on the fade for a touchdown ... or maybe not because I wasn’t nearly close enough to tell if his feet were in. Regardless, good to see an accurate throw.

Today’s inaccurate throws include: Wentz sailing a red zone throw to the left for Dallas Goedert too high for the tight end to even have a chance. Wentz throwing high over the middle and going through Craig James’ hands. Wentz overthrowing an open JJAW along the left sideline where the receiver didn’t have a chance. Wentz throwing a little too high to an open DeSean Jackson along the left sideline. Do you happen to notice a theme here?

• I’ve noticed some fan consternation with Slay getting beat for big plays in practice. Perhaps it’ll help put your mind at ease to know he had a nice pass breakup while tightly covering Jackson deep down the field. Wentz’s throw was accurate but Slay had good position and made the deflection. Good to see.

• Making difficult catches in traffic has not been a problem for Jalen Reagor. The 2020 first-round pick continues to be unstoppable on slant routes.

Nate Sudfeld uncorked a deep ball to undrafted rookie free agent Manasseh Bailey for a touchdown. Bailey got by fellow UDFA Michael Jacquet on that rep.

John Hightower made a highlight catch for the second day in a row. Sudfeld lofted a fade pass to the rookie wide receiver and Hightower made the play with James tightly contesting. Hightower has demonstrated he’s good at tracking the ball and winning on contested catches. He’s had a good camp. Don’t know how big of an offensive role he’s going to have but he should at least provide some depth.

• James redeemed his loss to Hightower by breaking up another Wentz throw for the rookie receiver. Nice bounce-back effort. James is more deserving to make this roster than Sidney Jones consider how he also contributes on special teams.

• I’ve typed it a lot and I’ll type it again: Deontay Burnett deserves to make this team. He shows up every day. Burnett made a real impressive leaping catch along the sideline on a throw from Wentz. He made a nice adjustment on the ball while keeping both feet in to basically “Moss” Cre’Von LeBlanc. Burnett got up and flexed after the play. Burnett’s unquestionably had a strong summer and he’s only 22 years old. The Eagles just might have to keep seven wide receivers on the 53-man roster.

• Another day, another good play from Nickell Robey-Coleman. He knocked down a Wentz pass for Greg Ward.

• Ertz made a sick one-handed catch while running back towards the line of scrimmage as a dump off option for Wentz. That snag drew a lot of “ooooohs!” from his teammates.

T.J. Edwards did a great job of blowing up an end around to Ward. The second-year linebacker is a smart player.

• The Eagles ran another Ward end around where he threw the ball to JJAW for about a 15-yard gain. Such trickeration excited the offensive sideline. Looking forward to finally seeing the Ward trick pass in a real game.

Elijah Holyfield has been a pretty intense dude in practice. He enthusiastically celebrated a touchdown run from Wednesday. He followed that up by aggressively spiking the football after a goal line run for a score. Also noticed Holyfield telling Jalen Reagor to be a violent blocker while going up against Slay.

• Michael Warren had a nice stretch run that earned praise from the offensive sideline, including Peters. It’s been an overall quiet camp for Warren.

Jalen Hurts overthrew a fade pass on the final play of practice. Didn’t notice much else from him.

• Sanders caught some passes from the Eagles’ quarterbacks on a side field while the rest of the team was working on special teams. He wasn’t running full speed at all but still a good sign to see him moving around a little. No reason to not believe he’ll be ready for Week 1.

• Noticed Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie at practice for the first time this summer. Lurie talked to Slay for a bit before practice. He also elbow bumped Corey Clement and Sanders as they walked by. Lurie came up to a kneeling Peters (Best Friends Forever) on the sideline during practice and patted him on the back multiple times. This concludes my Lurie interaction observations.

Jake Elliott attempted a bunch of field goals. I didn’t see any misses.

• Do you think I look cute?

UP NEXT: The Eagles are off tomorrow before returning to work on Saturday. Stay tuned to BGN, as always.

REMAINING SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28

Off day - No practice

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29

10:30 AM - Practice begins

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30

10:30 AM - Practice begins

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