Eagles training camp: Jalen Carter obliterates O-lineman. Is Cooper DeJean punt returner?
- Jalen Carter participated in team drills for the first time in Eagles training camp.
- Rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell took reps at edge rusher, showcasing the team's high expectations for him.
- What are Eagles plans for Cooper DeJean as a punt returner?
PHILADELPHIA − Through the first week-plus of training camp, it's clear that the Eagles' defense is ahead of the offense.
That was especially true on July 31, when defensive tackle Jalen Carter took part in team drills for the first time, albeit on a limited basis. Carter had missed the first few days of practice with a shoulder injury, then was limited for a few practices upon returning, doing only individual drills.
So this represented Carter's first time in 11-on-11 drills, and it didn't take long for Carter to, ahem, introduce himself to running back Kellan Robinson. Carter clotheslined the running back on a run up the middle (Carter got flagged for a facemask on the play).
Carter later bowled over rookie tackle Myles Hinton, who's 6-foot-7, 323 pounds, on his way to the quarterback. Hinton got up slowly, but stayed in for the next play in the series.
It was a first glimpse on what the Eagles' interior defensive line can look like with Carter, Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo wreaking havoc on opposing offensive lines.
Ojomo had already been doing that in Carter's place on the left side of Davis, especially against right guard Tyler Steen. Carter took over that spot, while Ojomo moved to the other side of Davis.
Davis, who admitted last week that he lost 26 pounds during the offseason, ended practice with a "sack" of Jalen Hurts.
Clearly, the Eagles' interior defensive line, with a healthy Carter, is the strength of the team.
Jihaad Campbell debuts as edge rusher
Linebacker Zack Baun sat out a second straight practice with a back injury and Nakobe Dean is still on the PUP list. That means first-round pick Jihaad Campbell continued to get first-team reps with Jeremiah Trotter, a fifth-round pick in 2024 who played sparingly last season.
Campbell has also played edge rusher in college at Alabama, and the Eagles are expecting him to assume both inside linebacker and edge rusher duties in Philadelphia.
It's just that Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said he wants Campbell to focus on inside linebacker for now because there's more to learn there.
So it was noticeable when Campbell took a rep at edge rusher for the first time in training camp. It was nothing spectacular, other than a glimpse of the big expectations the Eagles have for Campbell.
Campbell has already stood out. During the first padded practice, on July 29, Campbell knocked over Dallas Goedert after Goedert made a reception over the middle.
"It's fun competing against him," Goedert said. "He’s a great dude. He’s funny, talks to you a lot, asks questions. But I mean he’s got everything you want from a linebacker. He’s big, he’s tall, he’s strong, he’s fast, he flies around and likes to hit."
Did Goedert think Campbell went too hard on the hit in practice?
"Obviously, the one he tackled me on a little bit, maybe that’s not a play we want in practice, when (Goedert's) back is turned, a shot like that," Goedert said. "But it didn't bother me at all."
Then Goedert added that he prefers a defender who's too eager as opposed to someone who needs prodding to be aggressive.
"He’s definitely got that (aggressiveness) in him," Goedert said. "He’s been doing a great job."
Cooper DeJean as punt returner
The Eagles are making it clear that they have little intention for defensive back Cooper DeJean to be the punt returner this season.
It's not that he can't. After all, DeJean averaged 10 yards per return last season, and tied for fourth in the NFL with three returns of at least 20 yards.
But the Eagles' plan for DeJean is to be on the field for every down on defense. So DeJean hadn't been working with the punt returners during special teams drills until July 31st.
"As of now, do I feel it? Probably not," Eagles special teams coordinator Michael Clay said about DeJean as the punt returner. "But you never know what’s going to happen. If the player wants to be out there, then he wants to be out there. But for right now, let me get these young guys in there and see if they can catch a couple of punts."
Ainias Smith, Avery Williams are among a group of players vying for punt return duties.
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Eagles injuries, other observations
- Two new players didn't practice in WR Terrace Marshall (knee), who was hurt during the padded practice on July 29, and TE E.J. Jenkins (hamstring). They joined Baun, WR DeVonta Smith (back), Edge Nolan Smith (concussion) and S Drew Mukuba (shoulder) on the sidelines.
- Backup QB Tanner McKee threw two really nice deep balls to the front corner of the end zone that were either broken up or the receiver couldn't hold onto. On the first, Tariq Castro-Fields and Andre Sam combined to knock the ball free from WR Elijah Cooks, who was injured on the play. On the second, WR Johnny Wilson couldn't hang onto the ball as he dove for it.
- CB Eli Ricks, hoping to make the 53-man roster for a third straight year, intercepted a Jalen Hurts pass that Hurts had overthrown.
- The Eagles are back at practice on Aug. 1.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a new hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com