Good morning, Eagles fans! Welcome to the final week of the preseason. Today, offensive coordinator Mike Groh and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will speak to the media at 11:30 a.m. Both press conferences will be livestreamed here and on our social media platforms. Practice will begin at 1:30 p.m. In this edition of Morning Roundup presented by Microsoft, we will cover everything that happened over the weekend. Let's get to the most notable stories.
1. Doug Pederson reacts to Andrew Luck's retirement, offers positive news on injury front
During head coach Doug Pederson's press conference yesterday, he was asked about the Andrew Luck situation. Pederson had only positive things to say Luck and his career. He also mentioned that he spoke with Colts head coach and former Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich about the retirement. For the full piece, click here.
"A lot of respect for Andrew and what he has done in his career as a quarterback. I've been in situations too where I've been hurt but obviously not to the extent he has been," Pederson said. "It's tough. It's tough. You obviously could tell through his comments last night that he put a lot of thought and a lot of conversation with family, friends, coaches, the owner, and it's a tough thing."
2. Jason Kelce and Brandon Brooks shed light on the physical, mental toll of playing in NFL
With the news of Colts quarterback Andrew Luck retiring due to the physical and emotional toll of football, many other players around the league have voiced their sympathy with what he is going through. Eagles linemen Jason Kelce and Brandon Brooks share their experiences with injury and thoughts on the announcement. Check out the full story here.
"Trying to battle through rehab while trying to play and be the player you want to be and you can't, is very frustrating," Brooks said. "Psychologically, it definitely wears on you because the second you get off the field you have to come in here to do extra."
3. A shoutout to an outstanding Eagles coaching staff
Head coach Doug Pederson puts a lot of value on the coaches he brings into the building. He views them as teachers for the players. Dave Spadaro talks with position coaches, including quarterbacks coach Press Taylor and tight ends coach Justin Peele about how they do their jobs. For the full piece, click here.
"Part of, for me as the head coach taking this job a few years ago and hiring assistant coaches, I wanted guys who could teach football and take the complex situations or concepts and make them easy to understand for players. That's what we have here," Pederson said.
4. 10 ways the Eagles have had a spectacular summer
Eagles Insider Dave Spadaro details the 10 takeaways of this successful Training Camp. Although Thursday night was filled with penalties, Spadaro gives a full analysis to why this summer was helpful for the Eagles in deciding their final 53-man roster. Click here for the whole story.
"Left tackle Jason Peters has been durable and impressive this summer, unlike last year when he was coming off his knee injury and rested here and there. Not now. Peters is really sharp and he's been on the field just about every day. Isaac Seumalo has quietly improved his game to the point where the Eagles think he's one of the top players at his position in the league. Jason Kelce looks great. Halapoulivaati Vaitai has adjusted very nicely from swing tackle to right guard and Jordan Mailata has come a loooooong way at right tackle."
5. Lane Johnson: 'I'll be ready for Week 1'
As Week 1 quickly approaches, the Pro Bowl tackle has his sights set on playing in the season opener. Eagles Insider Dave Spadaro caught up with Lane Johnson about how his recovery has been going. Spadaro also gives updates on other Eagles on the injury list and their rehab timeline. For all the news regarding injury, click here.
"I'm using this time now to get my work in and get my body right," said Johnson, who has been out of Training Camp practices the last couple of weeks with a knee injury. "I'm in meetings, I'm getting the mental reps. I'm not worried about that. It just takes time."
6. Eagle Eye: Report card time for the rookies
In this edition of Eagle Eye in the Sky, Fran Duffy evaluates the rookies through the three preseason games. He breaks down everything from J.J. Arcega-Whiteside's standout game last Thursday to Andre Dillard's impressive start in Jacksonville. Check out all of the reports here.
"Dillard has great feet, impressive hands, and he shows a savvy that you love to see from such a young and relatively inexperienced player. Dillard has flashed all of the traits that made him such a coveted prospect this spring, whether if he's matched up against fellow rookies or seasoned veterans. Has everything been perfect? No, of course not, but you love seeing these bright moments from a rookie."
