Eagles OTAs: 10 Practice Observations

The Philadelphia Eagles' first OTA practice open to reporters revealed some interesting tweaks.

PHILADELPHIA – The thing to remember about OTAs is that they are optional, and there were several Philadelphia Eagles who took advantage of that clause on Thursday afternoon during an hour-long session that was open to the media.

Not in attendance were Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, Haason Reddick, Josh Sweat, DeVonta Smith, Lane Johnson,  Devon Allen, and Noah Elliss, who is working his way back from a torn Achilles. 

Derek Barnett wasn’t there, either, but that could be because he is still rehabbing from a torn ACL suffered in last year’s season opener.

Avonte Maddox didn’t practice but he watched in street clothes. Maddox was also injured quite a bit last season.

Smith may not have been in attendance after mentioning to reporters last week that he was still rehabbing a toe injury suffered late last season.

The Eagles will have one more open-to-the-media OTA and that will likely be next Thursday.

This one featured strictly seven-on-seven work as well as special teams.

There were no team drills.

Here are 10 observations:

QUARTERBACKS - Jalen Hurts and Marcus Mariota got most of the work. Ian Book and rookie Tanner McKee had a couple of leftover scraps.

The deep ball needs work, as you would expect on the first day of June. Hurts underthrew Dallas Goedert on one down the right sideline with Darius Slay in good coverage.

Hurts, who will probably speak to reporters next week, looked like he has bulked up. His arms looked bigger. He was mostly accurate with his throws, especially quick slants, and there was one intermediate dart that Quez Watkins hauled in between Slay and safety Terrell Edmonds that was both a great throw and a great catch.

Mariota had a nice day, on time with slants to Britain Covey and Greg Ward, and a nice intermediate connection with undrafted free-agent receiver Joseph Ngata from Clemson.

Mariota, however, threw the lone interception of the day, with linebacker Christian Elliss going up to snag a ball intended for tight end Tyree Jackson.

Book had a nice throw to Dan Arnold for a big gain.

PUNT GAME - Arryn Siposs and Ty Zentner went head-to-head during special teams drills, with each taking turns launching kicks into the blue, cloudless sky.

Siposs was better with his hangtime, a stat tracked by NJ.com’s Chris Franklin.

Siposs had the best hang time of the sessions with a 5.11. He also had times of 4.98 and 4.95.

Zentner’s best hang time was 4.76 and shanked one kick. Two of his punts only stayed airborne for 3.73 seconds and 3.64.

JANARIUS ROBINSON - Claimed last year when the Minnesota Vikings released their fourth-round pick from 2021, Robinson worked on the edge. While there was no rushing allowed, you remember why the Eagles liked him enough to keep him on their 53-man roster. He very much looks the part of a defensive end at 6-6, 260, and he’s just 24. Perhaps there will be a role for him this season.

ZECH ATTACK - With Maddox not available, third-year cornerback Zech McPhearson got the first-team work in the slot, a notable sea change created to the team's added depth at outside cornerback in the form of talented rookie Kelee Ringo and Greedy Williams, once a second-round pick in Cleveland.  Josh Jobe, meanwhile, got first-team reps at right corner while James Bradberry sat out and second-team looks at left corner when Darius Slay exited.

GREEN DOT - Although it wasn't the best-kept secret, second-year linebacker Nakobe Dean will be wearing the green dot as the on-field leader for new defensive coordinator Sean Desai, something weakside linebacker Nicholas Morrow confirmed after practice. The No. 2 man when it came to communication was Christian Elliss, who made the play of the day on defense with a nice zone drop for the aforementioned pick of Mariota.

STARTING SAFETIES - The Eagles started rookie third-round pick Sydney Brown slowly. The starting safeties were Reed Blankenship and free-agent pickup Terrell Edmunds, followed by a pairing of K'Von Wallace and another free-agent pickup in Justin Evans. Brown did eventually get a few second-team reps, however.

DEFERENCE - The backfield was a story with the questions over the lead back focused on trade pickup and Philadelphia native D'Andre Swift vs. the talented but oft-injured Rashaad Penny. You're going to have to wait until the summer for that battle because the offensive staff deferred to the incumbents early on with Boston Scott and Kenny Gainwell getting the first reps, followed by Trey Sermon, something that is unlikely to continue in July.

PODIUM TREATMENT - Among those getting the podium treatment after practice were Morrow and Cam Jurgens, a sign that they are the leaders in the clubhouse at Will linebacker and right guard, respectively.

BRITAIN COVEY - Covey remains the Eagles' top punt returner and showed far more confidence as a receiver, flashing impressive quickness getting off the line in press-coverage drills.

SIXTH-MAN - Jack Driscoll got first-team work at right tackle for the spent Johnson and is shaping up as the top backup up and down the line with the exception of center. Right now Driscoll would surely be the first man off the bench at right tackle, and right guard, as well as the likely top option at left tackle and left guard.

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Ed Kracz covers the Philadelphia Eagles for SI's EaglesToday.

Please follow him and our Eagles coverage on Twitter at @kracze.

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