Day 2 of Training Camp is in the books. Here is all you need to know in today's Kick Off Camp, presented by Quaker.
1. Kelly Green is almost here!
The Kelly Green jersey has long been clamored for by Eagles fans. A promise made by Chairman and CEO Jeffery Lurie last March left fans on the edge of their seats. The color, jersey, and style that symbolized the grit and grind of the early '90s Eagles is finally hitting the shelves. While it has been a waiting game for fans, Eagles employees have been hard at work preparing for this very moment.
"November of 2022 is when we started to get together our plan of what styles we were bringing in, what players, and how much we needed to order," Director of Merchandise Emily McNichol said. "All of that started to formulate last fall."
The merchandise department has been working tirelessly to make sure they are ready for the barrage of fans that will be purchasing Kelly Green apparel. The first task at hand for McNichol was placing the order. Numerous departments and executives were consulted as to how much gear would be purchased. This specific order was compared to past Super Bowl orders to ensure that all three Pro Shop locations would have enough jerseys and other merchandise to last the entire season.
Once the order was placed, the Eagles' front office moved on to its marketing plan. This consisted of producing a jersey unveiling and creating the best way to tell fans. The seven-month process involved collaboration from multiple departments. Eagles Entertainment worked on the graphic design and reveal video and the communications team worked on press releases that would be sent out upon the release of the new jersey. - Written by Owen Boyle
2. Jalen Carter adapts to life as a pro
The player the Eagles selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft is the one who they thought they were getting – a player who wants to be great, who sets high goals, who has all the tools, and who, above everything else, knows he has a long road to take and can't afford to use shortcuts along the way.
Jalen Carter has to be patient. He has to be meticulous. He has to be relentless. And with all of that in mind now that he's through all of two Eagles Training Camp practices, Carter is pleased with the progress he's made since coming to Philadelphia in the spring.
Carter said on Friday morning after a 75-minute practice in high heat at the NovaCare Complex. "It's a lot different (from playing collegiately at Georgia). Guys are very strong, and the technique is very different. I just have to learn."
Carter said he aspires to become the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year, but that is as far as he goes in speculating or wishcasting. Ask him about his role and he says he is looking to make an impact every time he is on the field. Ask him about bigger goals and he shrugs off the question. Carter is doing it all the right way – he is staying quiet, hunkering down on the responsibility of the NFL. - Written by Dave Spadaro
Check out some of the best photos from Friday's practice at the NovaCare Complex as the heat intensified both on and off the field.
3. Who shined on the practice field?
Pre-practice injury update: Linebacker Haason Reddick did not practice due to groin soreness. Defensive end Derek Barnett (knee) and cornerback Avonte Maddox (toe) were limited.
• When I first get out on the field for the start of practice, I always try to seek out the young players on the roster to get a sense of how they're built and how they move; especially with this being the first time we are seeing many of these players up close. A handful of guys are looking good in this special teams session at the beginning of practice. Rookie UDFA wide receiver Jadon Haselwood caught my eye, however. He's a well-built receiver from Arkansas. Another player's physique stood out as well, as second-year tight end Grant Calcaterra went through blocking drills. The former Day 3 selection looks like he's added more muscle to his frame this offseason as he prepares for Year 2 in the league.
• The team transitioned to ball security circuits, and my eyes are on the defensive backs here. The group gets into a pair of lines, with one acting as a ball carrier and the other coming in pursuit from the middle of the field. The goal? Practicing the "Peanut Punch" – named for longtime Bears cornerback Peanut Tillman who had 44 career forced fumbles – aiming for the ball and punching it to the ground to force a fumble. Veterans Darius Slay and Terrell Edmunds take the first rep, with the latter in pursuit to get the ball on the ground and pounce on it. Edmunds played to the crowd shortly afterwards to draw applause from the fans in attendance. Those punch-out drills came in handy, as Justin Evans would punch a ball out of Jack Stoll's grasp in a 7-on-7 rep and Nakobe Dean would get a forced fumble on a catch by Trey Sermon as well, a ball recovered by linebacker Nicholas Morrow.
• The defensive backs went through a handful of drills during the "individual" periods of practice. First, the corners worked on their angles "tackling" ball carriers coming from the sideline. Afterwards, they worked on their pedaling, moving in reverse on their coach's command before spinning around 180 degrees to catch a ball. Next, they showed off their footwork and reaction quickness in a "wave" drill. Reed Blankenship and K'Von Wallace (who got some reps with the first-team defense today) showed off quick feet here. Rookie Eli Ricks' change of direction showed up as well, especially for a bigger corner. Sydney Brown's burst downhill was evident as well as he finished his reps. Brown would work with the second-team defense today after working with the third-team on Wednesday. - Written by Fran Duffy
4. Big news for two Eagles Hall of Fame inductees
Maxie Baughan and Al Wistert, members of the Eagles Hall of Fame, are part of the 12 semifinalists for the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame Seniors category. Up to three candidates in the Seniors category will be selected for final consideration in late August. Each of the 12 semifinalists played his last game in professional football no later than the 1998 season.
Maxie Baughan earned five Pro Bowl nods in six seasons with the Eagles between 1960-65. Baughan was selected with the 20th overall pick in the 1960 NFL Draft and was a member of the Eagles' championship team that same season. The linebacker collected 18 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries during an illustrious 12-year career. Baughan was inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame in 2015.
Known as "Big Ox," Al Wistert was a dominant force on the offensive and defensive lines. During his nine-year career in Philadelphia, Wistert received NFL All-Pro honors in all but one season. In 1948-49, he was a prominent member of the Eagles' back-to-back NFL Championship teams. He also played in the first-ever Pro Bowl in 1951. Wistert had his jersey No. 70 retired in 1952 and was inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame in 2008. - Written by Owen Boyle
– Kick Off Camp, presented by Quaker, has been compiled by Owen Boyle