Eagles training camp: Jordan Mailata, Zech McPhearson shine on first day of pads

And on the sixth day, they put on the pads. Here’s everything we saw during the Philadelphia Eagles’ training camp practice Tuesday.

9:40 a.m. — DeVonta Smith, who is sidelined for a few weeks with a knee sprain, is catching balls on the JUGS machine before practice.

“Good, he should be!” coach Nick Sirianni said when informed of Smith’s pre-practice work.

“Just being in the training room, working to attack the training room and get himself healthy and just be mentally in it when he’s out,” Sirianni said of what he expects from Smith. ”The meetings are huge for him, just to stay mentally sharp, and he is very mentally sharp. He’s really into the meetings, really into the practice of watching it while he’s not able to participate.”

Sirianni would not say whether he expects Smith to participate in the preseason. — Zach Berman

10 a.m. — Ryan Kerrigan isn’t practicing after leaving Monday’s session with a thumb injury. The Eagles consider Kerrigan day to day, so it doesn’t appear to be a long-term concern.

Linebacker Davion Taylor (quadriceps) and cornerback Shakiel Taylor (lower body) are limited for practice, although Davion Taylor left practice early with a trainer.

Kerrigan, Brandon Brooks (hamstring), tight end Jason Croom (knee) and wide receiver Michael Walker (foot) are day to day.

Smith, Isaac Seumalo (hamstring) and cornerback Nate Meadors (hamstring) remain week to week. — Zach Berman

10:08 a.m. — Practice gets underway with some individual drills and a special teams warmup. Your first-team field goal block unit for today: Michael Jacquet, K’Von Wallace, Davion Taylor, Brandon Graham, Javon Hargrave, Hassan Ridgeway, Derek Barnett, Genard Avery, Avonte Maddox, T.J. Edwards and Anthony Harris. — Bo Wulf 

10:36 a.m. — On the middle field, we have dual action with the tight ends running routes against safeties and the running backs pass protecting against linebackers. Kerryon Johnson arrived in Philadelphia with the reputation of being a reliable pass protector, and he stood out during this period as easily the best of the seven-man running back pool. Elijah Holyfield had a few good reps, while Miles Sanders gave up a would-be sack against Shaun Bradley. Running backs coach Jemal Singleton saved his hardest coaching for Jason Huntley, who let JaCoby Stevens beat him inside. “That’s exactly what you can’t let happen!”

With the tight ends, Harris had a tough period in one-on-one coverage, surrendering longish completions to Dallas Goedert, Richard Rodgers and Jack Stoll. The Eagles don’t have a safety on the roster who can cover Zach Ertz one-on-one, though Marcus Epps was stride for stride with him down the right sideline before Ertz adjusted well to the Nick Mullens pass and hauled it in. Stoll, the undrafted rookie out of Nebraska, also beat Epps later in the drill. Between Stoll and Tyree Jackson, the Eagles have a pair of interesting young players who will make their roster decisions tough at tight end. Even Caleb Wilson, who has had a mostly quiet camp, made a nice contested catch against Wallace. — Bo Wulf 

10:38 a.m. — A few notes from wide receiver/defensive back one-on-ones:

• Josiah Scott intercepted a Jalen Hurts pass intended for J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. Scott was tight in coverage the entire route, and Hurts didn’t put the ball in a spot for Arcega-Whiteside to catch it. But this was more about the receiver and cornerback. Arcega-Whiteside couldn’t get separation, and Scott remained sticky in coverage and showed the necessary ball skills.

• Travis Fulgham beat Darius Slay at the line on one route, then forced a Slay flag on another route. There’s always a dose of concern when the Eagles’ No. 1 cornerback gets beat in these drills, although credit to Fulgham, who showed in October he can make plays against man coverage.

• Quez Watkins ran a precise route against Craig James to get open downfield. Watkins is known for his speed, but I was impressed with his footwork on this particular play. Watch out for Watkins — he’s the down-the-depth chart wide receiver who could best emerge as a contributor.

• Zech McPhearson drew praise from others on the field with his coverage on Andre Patton. McPhearson has been the Eagles’ promising young cornerback in camp. — Zach Berman

10:42 a.m. — We’re in full-team action now and the setup for these periods is five snaps of ones against ones, four snaps of twos against twos and three snaps of threes against threes. It’s a Jordan Mailata day with the starters at left tackle and he more than looks the part. On the second play of the period, he pancakes Brandon Graham to the ground on a run. Later, he and Rodgers combine to spring a long Boston Scott run. The competition may not be over, but there’s no doubt Mailata has outplayed Andre Dillard through the first week of camp.

With no Smith, your first-team receivers are, mostly, Fulgham, Jalen Reagor and Greg Ward. Jalen Hurts hits Ward on a deep crossing route on the fifth play of the period thanks to a well-protected pocket. Hurts has been better the past two days.

When the second-team offense steps in, Dillard starts things off with a nice push on a run block against Josh Sweat. But on the next play, Sweat, who is not known for his power, bull rushes Dillard directly into Joe Flacco’s lap to blow up the play. It’s another rough play for the 2019 first-round pick.

Johnson has a nice run and has looked sprier as camp wears on. — Bo Wulf

10:45 a.m. — Here’s the lineup for the first-team defense on the first day of padded practice:

Defensive line: Derek Barnett, Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, Brandon Graham

Linebackers: T.J. Edwards, Eric Wilson, Genard Avery

Defensive backs: Steven Nelson, Anthony Harris, K’Von Wallace, Darius Slay

Edwards came off when the Eagles went to nickel and Avonte Maddox played the slot. — Zach Berman

10:51 a.m. — Ah, the big boys. Time for some offensive line/defensive line one-on-ones. Let’s run through the reps:

• Brandon Graham sort of gets around Lane Johnson.

• Javon Hargrave beats Matt Pryor on his second effort after an initial good block by Pryor. Hargrave has been unblockable in one-on-ones this summer. Later, after offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland and Pryor discuss technique, Stoutland bristles at Pryor’s defense of what he did. “You got all the answers? Good luck!”

• Jason Kelce handles T.Y. McGill.

• Hassan Ridgeway overpowers Nate Herbig.

• Mailata blocks Derek Barnett, though a late spin move beats Mailata inside.

• Tarron Jackson gets the edge on Jack Driscoll.

• Luke Juriga stuffs Raequan Williams.

• Sua Opeta handles Williams.

• Sweat eventually gets past Dillard, though it was late enough in the rush that the ball would have theoretically been out already.

• Casey Tucker, who has quietly been better this summer than years past, takes care of JaQuan Bailey.

• Kayode Awosika bats away Graham’s hands, landing Graham on the floor. That elicits a huge reaction from the offensive line and a laugh from Graham. They line back up for a re-do, which Graham wins. “He’s still got it,” Kelce said. Awosika, though, continues a strong camp. With Brandon Brooks still sidelined, I wonder if we’ll see Awosika bumped up to the second-team right guard soon in place of Ross Pierschbacher.

• McGill beats Harry Crider.

• Milton Williams, spending most of his time today on the edge, gets inside and wins his rush.

• Brett Toth, at left tackle, handles Jackson.

• Tucker gets a “Good job, Tuck!” from the offensive line crowd after blocking Bailey.

• Good battle between Ridgeway and Awosika that showcases both of their power.

• Pierschbacher, at center, does well against Raequan Williams.

• Hargrave blows by Opeta, who then bounces back against Marlon Tuipulotu.

• Mailata gets a “Good finish!” from Stoutland after his rep against Jackson.

• Toth stops Milton Williams.

• Barnett, lined up as a would-be 3-4 defensive end, is handled by Driscoll, lining up at right guard.

• Juriga wins again against Raequan Williams.

• Hargrave powers through Herbig.

• Milton Williams beats Dillard inside.

• Graham beats Toth, but come on, that’s a mismatch.

Through one week of practice, I’d give stock ups to Sweat, Hargrave, Awosika, Juriga and Mailata. Stock downs for Dillard, Tuipulotu and Pryor. — Bo Wulf 

11:02 a.m. — Another team drill. The Ertz situation is wild and it’s getting hard to believe he’d be practicing to this extent if the Eagles really didn’t want to keep him around. He makes two catches during the period, including one downfield from Hurts (though the pocket may have collapsed too much for it to be considered a win for the offense).

I’d like to see the split of Flacco targets during team drills between positions. It seems like 80 percent of his throws are either to running backs or tight ends, which he sort of acknowledged after practice, saying this is just the basic part of the offense the team is installing. His three completions during the period are to Kenneth Gainwell, Kerryon Johnson (on a big play when Johnson beats Elijah Riley to the edge) and Tyree Jackson, who has been Flacco’s favorite target of late. Jackson was a player to watch today with the pads going on, and he hasn’t looked out of place.

Raequan Williams then bats down a Flacco pass at the line of scrimmage.

With the third teams, Zech McPhearson nearly picks off Mullens when he jumps a pass intended for Jhamon Ausbon. McPhearson has really flashed the last two days. — Bo Wulf 

11:11 a.m. — Looking at my notes, and I keep seeing “27” — McPhearson’s number. He made plays throughout the day. McPhearson is physical in coverage, but there were officials on site and he wasn’t drawing flags. He had an interception Monday and is often around the ball. This was another strong day for the fourth-round pick. It makes sense why the Eagles added Steven Nelson, and McPhearson can now develop at his own pace. But there was also the school of thought that the Eagles could have taken the first two weeks to see how their young cornerbacks looked. I’m not sure they’ve seen enough to think McPhearson could have started, but he’s been the best first- or second-year player on defense. — Zach Berman

11:17 a.m. — Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie is in attendance — he might have been at another practice this week, but I haven’t seen him yet. Lurie is chatting with Smith, Slay and Nelson on the sideline. — Zach Berman

11:20 a.m. — Joe Ostman is getting work as a first-team sam linebacker. Remember: Alex Singleton isn’t practicing yet because he’s on the COVID-19/reserve list, so it’s hard to get a read of the linebacker depth chart. The Eagles defense continued to mix up formations because they were running a version of a 4-3 under, with Derek Barnett also in a stand-up role. — Zach Berman

11:22 a.m. — Hurts hits Fulgham for a medium gain on a hitch route only for Fulgham to get popped by Harris on what is mostly an accidental hit that still draws a big reaction from the sideline. On the far side of the field, it’s interesting to see Smith looking at a play sheet, following along with practice.

Hey, Flacco completes a pass to a receiver! It’s Quez Watkins, whose speed has shown up upon his return to the field, for a big gain over the middle. Two plays later, Flacco tries to hit Watkins again though the second-year receiver stumbles out of his break. In between those two plays, Flacco is sacked when Dillard and Driscoll both collapse against the rush. — Bo Wulf 

11:28 a.m. — Another big run by Huntley, who seems to have one of those every day. We wondered whether that would keep up with the pads on, so it’s a good sign. He definitely has the most open-field juice among the running backs, and this burst brings out a savage burn from one of the youth football players in attendance watching today’s practice. “See? That’s vision,” said the player to his teammate. “You don’t got that.” — Bo Wulf 

11:31 a.m. — We’re in a two-minute drill period now with the offense backed up. This is the first time we’ve seen the offense have to move the ball during camp, and the results are pretty blah. The starters begin with a Miles Sanders drop, a short completion and a Graham sack. Later, Hurts hits Ertz for a solid gain and scrambles for what would be a solid gain but probably in vain given the waning clock. They don’t cross midfield.

Up next are Flacco and the twos — and it’s even uglier. Raequan Williams bats down his second Flacco pass of the day, then Flacco throws a low pass to Jordan Howard for an incompletion. Then there’s a holding penalty and a short pass to Tyree Jackson. McPhearson breaks up a pass intended for Andre Patton, and that’s about all you need to know.

The biggest play of the period comes on the first play of the third-teamers when Mullens hits Gainwell for a big gain on a swing pass. Sheil Kapadia lets me know he thinks the defense was late getting its 11th defender on the field during the play, which led to the gain. That’s why they pay him the big bucks.

Things quickly settle down after that, with a Genard Avery sack on Tucker, a false start and an incompletion down the seam intended for Adrian Killins with Kevon Seymour in coverage. — Bo Wulf 

11:46 a.m. — Under Doug Pederson, young players often stayed after practice to get the reps they weren’t afforded during regular practice, but it wasn’t necessarily codified as part of practice. Under Sirianni, practice ends with a 10-minute “development” period of seven-on-sevens and offensive line/defensive line one-on-ones for the younger players. The highlight of the seven-on-seven action is another McPhearson breakup that leads to a Grayland Arnold deflected interception. That and a few more completions to Jackson.

With the big guys, Awosika stands out again against Tuipulotu, who also gets stuffed by Crider. — Bo Wulf 

(Photo: John Jones / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)