Remember how frustrated we were in June when the only Philadelphia Eagles news centered around whether the team got along? If you were tired of hearing about the relationship between a certain quarterback and his head coach, you’re not alone.
We bring this up not to dwell on past issues or revive old memories but to highlight how thrilled we are to have more engaging topics to discuss now. You could talk about this team for hours before even mentioning Jalen Hurts.
Speaking of Hurts, his much-talked-about streak came to an end during the final training camp practice open to the media. Darius Slay claimed he baited Hurts into making the throw, while Jalen told ‘Big Play’ it was “about time” he made a catch. It was all in good fun. Meanwhile, camp has reaffirmed just how impressive A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are.
With roster battles and depth chart discussions dominating the conversation lately, there are several storylines that deserve more attention than they’ve received. Here are three of about ten that warrant a closer look.
Sydney Brown hasn’t participated in a single training camp practice.
Sometimes, we get so caught up in discussing players as if they were gladiators that we forget they’re human. Take Sydney Brown, for example. He tore his ACL in the regular-season finale against the New York Giants last January, and somehow, we expected him to be back in action before the regular season kicked off.
Perhaps we overreacted when we saw him moving around without a boot. In hindsight, that was a bit unrealistic. This is an ACL injury we’re talking about, so it’s probably wise not to rush his return to the field.
As it stands, Sydney Brown has missed all of training camp. There is still a chance he could be activated from the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list before Week 1. If that happens, his absence will create an opportunity for someone else to step up.
If he remains on the PUP list when the regular season begins, he will miss the first four games. With a bye in Week 5, the earliest we’d see him back on the field would be during a Week 6 home game against the Cleveland Browns.
Forget Tanner McKee for a second. How concerned are we about Kenny Pickett if Jalen Hurts misses time?
Tanner McKee has largely outperformed Kenny Pickett, particularly in the first two preseason games. This narrative has overshadowed some other key points, including the Eagles’ apparent lack of intention to demote Pickett.
When we discussed Pickett’s preseason performance, a Steelers insider remarked, “That’s the Kenny we know,” which isn’t exactly reassuring. While Jalen Hurts is firmly established as the team’s leader, we all hope he stays healthy throughout the season.
Pickett’s struggles are evident, and it seems unlikely that his performance would improve even if he were playing with the starters.
Every rookie and second-team player (who can participate) has gotten better.
Sydney Brown is injured, and Tyler Steen is also dealing with an injury. Steen went down while competing for a starting job and has since been replaced by Mekhi Becton.
On a positive note, the 2023 Eagles draft class has shown significant improvement, with standout performances from Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, Kelee Ringo, Tanner McKee, and Moro Ojomo. This progress is exactly what you hope for from a draft class.
The 2024 draft class is equally exciting. Cooper DeJean has recently been activated from the NFI (Non-Football Injury) list and is just starting to get up to speed. The rest of the 2024 class has steadily improved throughout the offseason and preseason.
Keep an eye on Quinyon Mitchell, Jalyx Hunts, Will Shipley, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Trevor Keegan, Johnny Wilson (currently injured), and Dylan McMahon. Many of these players are poised to make an impact in their rookie year.
Ainias Smith had a challenging start but has shown improvement, thanks in part to a play drawn up by the coaching staff to boost his confidence. He looks promising as the season progresses.
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