The Eagles' offense remained in white with the defense in midnight green for Wednesday's practice that lasted just under two hours. The team period began with a quick kickoff practice before getting into 11-on-11 action. Saquon Barkley was in pads, but did not participate in team drills, leading to a big day with the first team from Kenneth Gainwell. Jalen Hurts threw his first interception on the final day of Training Camp as the defense continued getting pressure on the quarterback in the scrimmage-styled practice.
Highlights
- Kenneth Gainwell caught a shovel pass from Hurts amid pressure from the defense and quickly made the defender miss before getting up the sideline for a gain.
- Brandon Graham and Devin White both got into the backfield on separate plays to disrupt Hurts and force him out of the pocket.
- Jalen Carter bulldozed his way into the backfield for a potential "sack" on a read-option play.
- Darius Slay jumped a route to give the defense their first interception against the first-team offense of Training Camp, causing the defensive sideline to erupt in cheers. The pick could have gone the distance in live action.
- Slay made another strong play shortly after the interception, breaking up a pass intended by A.J. Brown in the end zone.
- The first touchdown of the day came on a Hurts short pass to Gainwell, who started the play as a receiver on the outside before running in motion to the right side and slipping out to make an easy catch and run into the end zone.
- DeVonta Smith was left open on the right side of the field for a strong gain on a nice pass from Hurts.
- Ainias Smith made a nice one-handed catch off of a slant in the middle of the field on a Tanner McKee throw.
- Hurts found Gainwell again and the running back made a diving catch in the back corner of the end zone for a touchdown.
- One of the best plays of the day came on a Hurts throw to DeVonta Smith in which the Slim Reaper leaped up and made the catch on a beautifully thrown ball from Hurts for the quarterback's third touchdown pass of the day.
- Practice ended with select one-on-ones, as Cooper DeJean, Quinyon Mitchell, and Nolan Smith all appeared to win their respective reps. – Liam Wichser
Nick Sirianni met with the media ahead of the last practice of Training Camp on Wednesday morning.
The Eagles have had high-intensity practices filled with competition throughout camp.
"I think we've had a good Training Camp," Sirianni said. "Guys have worked hard, guys have competed well, and it's been a really exciting Training Camp, feel like we've gotten better,
"When you grind together like we have throughout this Training Camp, I think guys get closer, naturally, they get better."
Defensive tackle Jalen Carter – playing in Year 2 – has noticed the stronger bond between the team this year compared to his rookie season.
"You just see the energy and the chemistry in the team right now, not just the defense itself or offense itself, you see how we're all together," Carter said.
The head coach once again praised Hurts' play in what has shown to be the best Training Camp of his five-year career.
"I just feel like he's had an outstanding camp, and I'm really excited about where he is, in complete control of the offense, delivering accurate balls, protecting the ball. Man, he's had a really, really outstanding camp," Sirianni said.
Gainwell, who had a big day working in the backfield with Hurts today and has played three seasons with him, spoke about the difference between Hurts this year compared to years past.
"I just feel like he's more locked in," Gainwell said. "He's doing everything he had to do, the small details, you know, that's what he's been doing, so, he's showing that and basically, he's just more of a leader. You can tell he's more vocal. He's doing exactly what he needs to be doing."
The quarterback was quick to pay his respects back to Gainwell when he spoke to the media after practice.
"It's funny because we had that drive, I think it was a two-minute drive, where he literally caught every ball and then he made that unbelievable catch in the corner. He's been growing. He's been growing," Hurts said. "It's been kind of surreal just thinking back and saying, 'Man, Kenny's on his fourth year.' He came in and you kind of get to see someone grow into where they are. He's a hell of a player. He's really the epitome of a team-first guy, embracing his role and attacking that with all of his might. I'm excited to see what type of year he has."
Gainwell has shown improvement in each year he's played since being drafted by the Eagles in 2021. He heads into Year 4 after tallying a career-best 364 yards, 442 snaps, and two touchdowns in 2023.
"For me, I'm more alert and I'm more I'm more prepared," Gainwell said. "I'm doing everything I have to do and I'm staying locked in and I'm happy and I'm excited. I'm doing everything I have to do." – Liam Wichser
Jalen Hurts shares his message to the team
Yes, Jalen Hurts threw his first interception in all of Training Camp on the final day of practice on Wednesday. Hurts joked with the recipient, cornerback Darius Slay, that it was "about time."
It's also almost time to see how the offense with new coordinator Kellen Moore will look in a game situation.
"Everybody has a vision for how something should operate. But to execute that vision, to fulfill it, you have to have a good foundation. You have to have a strong foundation and a strong process in there. We have just been very, very oriented around the process, not necessarily the results, and really just learning from everything every day," Hurts said.
Hurts understands that there will be peaks and valleys during the season. He told the team that the team must learn from the positive and negative situations that will unfold in the coming months.
"It's about how you handle frustration. It's about how you handle these moments. Everything you do is about how you respond to it," Hurts said. "We want to be a team that responds to adversity the right way. We want to be a team that embraces certain things because we know that it will propel us forward. We know that there's purpose behind that friction. We know that there's purpose behind that frustration, and so learn from it." – Chris McPherson
Big Play Slay's advice to the rookies
Darius Slay has taken immense pride in helping guide the young defensive backs as Quinyon Mitchell has roamed between nickel and outside corner in Training Camp and Cooper DeJean is eyeing his first preseason action this Saturday.
Slay was asked what the most difficult transition will be for the rookies as Training Camp comes to a close and the preparation for the regular-season opener ramps up in earnest next week. He said "just playing ball."
"The tough part about being a rookie I think it is to just have fun and not take things too personal," Slay said.
Slay reminded everyone that he wasn't "Big Play" as a rookie. He was benched. Twice.
"Keep playing with confidence. Keep playing with swag and let your talent shine," Slay added.
Of course, Slay has a way with words, but he's also a role model with his play. He recorded the first interception thrown by Jalen Hurts in all of Training Camp on Wednesday.
"Twelve years in, I've been intercepting quarterbacks for a long time. Long time," said Slay, who compared the pick to fishing with the way he baited Hurts into throwing the ball. "Some great ones, so that's good. It's fun." – Chris McPherson
Lane Johnson: Communication is key
The Eagles will have a new starting center in Cam Jurgens and whoever takes over for Jurgens at right guard – either Mekhi Becton or Tyler Steen. All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson says the emphasis for the offensive line during Training Camp is making sure everyone is on the same page.
"Coaches can only do so much. They can emphasize so much. But when we go on the practice field, if you ever see any scuffles, or us chatting a lot, it's about that," Johnson said. "Everybody has a job to do. Whenever communication isn't going on, people have missed assignments. People get blown up in the backfield, incompletes, intercessionsinterceptions, a lot of bad stuff can happen. The coach is going to do so much, but I think Landon's (Dickerson) taken a step. I've taken a step with our O-line. We don't have Kelce anymore, so a lot of it's helping out Cam. Cam has done tremendous. But just know that he's not alone. We're all there with him, and we're all in this together." – Chris McPherson
Injury Update
Did Not Practice
TE Dallas Goedert (Oblique)
OL Matt Hennessy (Back)
DE Jalyx Hunt (Oblique)
G Trevor Keegan (Hip)
TE Albert Okwuegbunam (Abdomen)
WR John Ross (Concussion)
G Tyler Steen (Ankle)
S Caden Sterns (Knee)
WR Johnny Wilson (Concussion)
