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Morning Roundup: Full steam ahead as Training Camp is underway

Good morning, Eagles fans! Happy Friday and Day 2 of Training Camp! Today's practice will begin at 9:15 a.m. Following practice defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will meet with reporters and it will be livestreamed here and on our social media platforms. In this edition of Morning Roundup presented by Microsoft, get caught up on all that went down at the first Training Camp practice. With players returning from injury, new faces, and the return of familiar faces, there is a lot to know about the 2019 Eagles. Let's dive right into the action.

1. Who shined in the Eagles' first Training Camp practice?

In this season's first edition of Practice Notes, Fran Duffy and Ben Fennell discuss the big takeaways from Day 1. Practice was a 10-10-10 session, a 90-minute workout that consisted of repetitive series of 10 offensive plays, 10 defensive plays, and 10 minutes of special teams work.

"As the team stretched before practice, my eyes went to the defensive linemen in the middle of the field. Two players who really stood out to me were Malik Jackson and Josh Sweat. Jackson, a big free agent signee from Jacksonville, looks like a monster at 6-5, 390 pounds. You think of a quick, penetrating defensive tackle as more of a shorter, squattier frame, but he has long arms, a muscular lower half, and is rocked up from head to toe." – Fran Duffy

2. Carson Wentz putting all the pieces in the right places

The franchise quarterback will always be a hot topic in the City of Brotherly Love. Carson Wentz held his opening-day press conference and addressed many questions regarding his health. He is here on the first day of Training Camp and feels better than ever.

"Wentz said he "felt great" in the 10-10-10 practice, a 90-minute workout to knock off any rust accumulated during the six-week layoff from the spring practices to now," wrote Eagles Insider Dave Spadaro. "He knows what's ahead – the coming together of a talented roster, the nuances of the scheme to be mastered, and the general camaraderie and chemistry that is a daily build."

3. Miles Sanders wants to find his role in the Eagles' offense

Rookie Miles Sanders participated in his first Training Camp on Thursday. He made his presence known on his second snap of team reps with a nifty cutback for a big gain. Sanders explained how the quality of depth in the running back room is helping with his development.

"It's just real competitive," Sanders said of the running back room. "For me, I've been in a talented running back room basically since high school. In college with Saquon (Barkley) and the rest of the running backs there now at Penn State. Now, it's even more talented. It is competitive. We hold each other to a high standard. Just getting better every day."

4. Doug Pederson's expectations for the team

Head coach Doug Pederson headed to the podium Thursday to address media on the status of this team after the first official Training Camp practice. Coach Pederson focused on what he saw on the field and what he expects from this group of players.

"The guys came out, had a lot of energy, they're fresh right now," Pederson said. "It's always a good day just to get back out in shorts, kind of get in rhythm. There weren't a lot of pre-snap penalties, which is good to see. Usually there's quite a few the first day. It was good. Good energy out there today."

5. DeSean Jackson 2.0 on full display to start Training Camp

Following Thursday's practice, wide receiver DeSean Jackson was running sprints on the field with fellow wideouts Shelton Gibson and Alshon Jeffery.

Jackson has done everything in his power to maintain the breathtaking speed that's made him one of the premier deep threats in NFL history. He's added to his arsenal by improving his route running, knowing when to use that speed, break it down, and cut on a dime.

He plays smarter than when he first entered the league in 2008 with the Eagles as a second-round pick.

He's also wiser.

Entering his 12th season, he came back to Philadelphia to win what has been an elusive Super Bowl for him. He's got Pro Bowls and all-time NFL records, but for as fast as he is he hasn't been able to snag a ring. In the five seasons since he left Philadelphia, Jackson has played in just one postseason game.

"It's a good group of guys who had success early in their careers," Jackson said on his new teammates. "For me to be an addition to that, to come back here and work for one common goal, we all came together and we have a task and we want to accomplish our task and that's going to start out here on this field."

But Jackson doesn't want a cloud over the team the entire season. The Eagles mentioned the aspirations of winning another Super Bowl in their team meeting on Wednesday night and don't want to bring it up again. There's no need to put an unnecessary target on their backs.

"We know what's at stake," Jackson said. "We don't want to keep harping on something that's so far away and down the road."

Check out the best photos from the first practice of 2019 Training Camp.

6. Brandon Brooks wants to return as the 'same player, if not better'

Six months after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon in the NFC Divisional Round loss to the New Orleans Saints, guard Brandon Brooks was on the field at the NovaCare Complex participating in individual drills on the first day of Training Camp practices.

"I'm fortunate enough, to be honest, to play in a league where I can get some of the best doctors, some of the best rehab, and treatment. All of that together really helped," Brooks said.

"I've got to work twice as hard because it's not just getting the strength and everything back with the Achilles. I need to be the same player, if not better, than I was. That's just extra motivation when it comes to playing."

Brooks spent about four to five days a week at the NovaCare Complex during the break before Training Camp to do rehab. With other players in the building also working their way back from injury, Brooks said it was an excellent opportunity to bond and build camaraderie.

Head coach Doug Pederson said that the Eagles still have to be smart with how they bring Brooks along, but the team was excited to see him on the field.

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