The offseason is finally over. The rookies and selected vets, including quarterback Carson Wentz, reported to the NovaCare Complex on Sunday. The first practice of Training Camp kicks off at 8:50 a.m. We'll have complete coverage throughout the day including a live broadcast of head coach Doug Pederson's press conference at 10:40 a.m., but here's a look at what you need to get the week started.
1. LB Jordan Hicks Should Not Miss Any Practice Time
Coach Pederson provided Dave Spadaro some insight on some of the big questions regarding the Eagles heading into Training Camp. One of those was the status of linebacker Jordan Hicks, who suffered a hand injury earlier this month while on his honeymoon.
"He injured his hand and he needed a minor procedure to fix that," Pederson said. "He shouldn’t miss any time. We're going to keep on top of it and take it day by day with him. We may limit him a little bit, but he should be out there every day."
Hicks showcased his ability to make plays last season as he led all NFL linebackers with five interceptions. He was the first linebacker to lead the Eagles in interceptions since William Thomas, who had seven in 1995.
In his first two seasons, Hicks recorded 11 takeaways becoming the first NFL linebacker to reach that mark since Hall of Famer Jack Ham.
2. Roster Moves Ahead Of The Start Of Camp
The Eagles took care of some housekeeping Sunday by placing defensive tackle Beau Allen and cornerback Sidney Jones on the Active/NFI list. They do count toward the Eagles' 90-man roster. While there is no timetable set for Jones' return from an Achilles injury, it will be interesting to see how long it is before Allen, who has not missed a game in his first three NFL seasons, can practice after suffering a pectoral injury in the offseason.
In addition, the team officially signed quarterback Dane Evans, who was in the full-team minicamp on a tryout basis, and released cornerback Dwayne Gratz. That move is interesting only because Gratz was one of the few experienced corners on the roster with 43 career games under his belt.
3. Report: Canadian Rugby Player Gets Tryout
According to The Province, 26-year-old Adam Zaruba, a Canadian rugby sevens star, is participating in the rookie and selected vet practices with the Eagles on a tryout basis. The 6-5, 265-pound Zaruba played football in high school. The article indicates he is a tight end, but I'd wonder if fullback is a possibility as well. He is coming off the end of the World Rugby Sevens Series season that wrapped up in May.
4. The MMQB: Eagles Come In 11th In Power Rankings
Guest MMQB columnist Robert Klemko thinks the biggest threat to unseat the Cowboys in the NFC East resides in Philadelphia.
"Will challenge Dallas in the NFC East on the strength of a tremendous offensive line and an underrated pass rush," Klemko wrote.
He added that the Training Camp battle to watch is at left guard between Allen Barbre, Isaac Seumalo, and Chance Warmack. Don't forget about Stefen Wisniewski as well.
5. Other Eagles-related Pieces Of Note
• Don't forget the first open practice of Training Camp is this Saturday.
• Dave Spadaro has also been tackling some of the biggest Training Camp questions. The fifth and final part will be online later today, but his latest column looked at the strength of the front seven.
• Tommy Lawlor researched the pitfalls that trapped previous coaches and looked to see if Doug Pederson can overcome them.
• Fran Duffy takes fans into the scouting world's year-round quest to unearth the top talent.
• Malcolm Jenkins hosted elementary school students on Friday to teach them about Sports Science.
6. Just Another Typical Evening For Jon Dorenbos
