Eagles Minicamp Practice Notes: Kelee Ringo shines

The Philadelphia Eagles held the first of three mandatory minicamp practices on Tuesday afternoon and I was at the NovaCare Complex to watch the action unfold. Here’s what I saw!

• JAMES BRADBERRY UPDATE: The big news from Nick Sirianni’s pre-practice press conference was that Bradberry is not only in Philly for minicamp ... but he was set to take reps at safety. Keyword being “was” because Bradberry got injured very early in practice and largely did not participate. I don’t want to dismiss the possibility that Bradberry is legitimately hurt ... but this seemed a little fishy to me. Entering this week, my expectation was that Bradberry was going to show up to avoid being fined but he would not actually practice due to a non-disclosed, non-serious injury (ex: a stubbed toe). We’ll see if Bradberry is able to practice at all on Wednesday or Thursday.

• OTHER INJURY UPDATES: Still no practice for Sydney Brown. Nakobe Dean seemed to be a full participant in practice after being limited last week. Ditto for Ainias Smith, who saw his first team drill action. Jacob Harris still isn’t practicing.
• ATTENDANCE UPDATE: The only player missing from minicamp is Landon Dickerson, who’s been excused and thus won’t be fined.
• DEPTH CHART NOTES, DEFENSE: First-team secondary: LCB Darius Slay, RCB Kelee Ringo, nickel CB Avonte Maddox, safeties C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Reed Blankenship. Zack Baun and Devin White were the first-team linebackers with Dean, who mostly worked with the second-team unit, not rotating in as often as he did last week. The second-team cornerbacks: Quinyon Mitchell LCB, Isaiah Rodgers RCB, Cooper DeJean nickel CB. The Eagles used a look with Slay and Ringo on the outside with Maddox in the slot and Mitchell lined up as a dime linebacker. DeJean also saw some outside CB reps with the backup units.
• DEPTH CHART NOTES, OFFENSE: With no Dickerson, the offensive line looked like this from left to right: LT Jordan Mailata, LG Mekhi Becton, C Cam Jurgens*, RG Tyler Steen, RT Lane Johnson. Prior to practice, Johnson had mentioned Becton was getting some work at guard but this is the first time he’s lined up there in a media-attended practice. *(I totally started typing “Jason Kelce” here. Apparently I’m still getting used to him being gone.) Parris Campbell was the third WR along with DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown, as expected.
• JALEN HURTS UPDATE: Hurts had some solid connections with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith but nothing too flashy. He hasn’t really made many highlight throws in practice this spring. Hurts got picked off on a short throw that got tipped. He overthrew an open Dallas Goedert at one point and then failed to connect on multiple downfield attempts (two overthrown/off target, one broken up by a great defensive play). Hurts is adjusting to a new offensive approach and he’s never been the greatest practice player, so, not trying to make a ton out of what we’ve seen. But it would be nice to see him look a bit sharper than he’s been so far.
• Kelee Ringo was the top standout at today’s practice; the second-year cornerback took advantage of his first-team opportunity. Ringo prevented a downfield catch with tight coverage and a pass breakup at the catch point against Parris Campbell. Good effort by Campbell and an on-target throw by Hurts but just a better play by Ringo. Ringo gave up a completion to A.J. Brown on a comeback that almost couldn’t have been defended better; most receivers probably wouldn’t have held onto the ball in that situation. Ringo also had sticky coverage on a deep Hurts overthrow intended for speedster John Ross. The competition for CB2 across from Slay appears to be pretty fierce with Ringo and Isaiah Rodgers shining so far.
• Speaking of Rodgers, he came close to having another interception on a Kenny Pickett pass that was thrown a little behind his target. Ended up being a pass breakup instead. Rodgers is making a habit of getting his hands on the ball.
• Reed Blankenship was the one who deflected a short Hurts pass to create an interception opportunity for Devin White.
• More up and down from Kenny Pickett. The good: multiple solid connections with Ross and a good throw to Grant Calcaterra along the right sideline. The bad: multiple overthrows, including missing an open Kenny Gainwell on the wheel route, missing Calcaterra wide, and overthrowing his deep target on the final practice rep. Speaking of that play, I thought his throwing motion reminded me of Philip Rivers’ on that one. Pickett has looked like a QB2.
• Saquon Barkley lined up wide at one point but the ball did not go his way.
• Nick Sirianni was chewing out some players during a special teams drill where the Eagles were practicing downing punts deep in opponent territory.
• Not the best day for Ainias Smith, who muffed a punt (also had one last week) and had a ball doink right off his face mask. Perhaps a little rusty.
• Tanner McKee made a nice anticipatory throw to C.J. Uzomah for at least 15 yards. He’s had some nice in-rhythm passes this spring.
• CJGJ was back with the punt returners and even took a rep there. Probably more for fun/emergency than a serious option there.
• Today was our first look at Josh Sweat in No. 19. Yuck. Another reporter commented that he looks slower in the new number.
• Jersey number update: New Eagles guard Max Scharping is wearing No. 50. Acceptable for a center but not a great look for a guard.
• Either a really bad drop or fumble (hard to tell if he totally established possession) from down-the-depth-chart receiver Shaquan Davis.
• The Eagles have some tryout players in mandatory minicamp this week: WR Griffin Hebert, K BT Potter, CB Parry Nickerson.

UP NEXT: The Eagles will practice again on Wednesday starting at 1:30 PM Eastern. Their final minicamp practice starts at 1:50 PM Eastern on Thursday. We’ll have full coverage of those practices here at Bleeding Green Nation, so, stay tuned!