PHILADELPHIA – The Eagles were back to work Thursday at the NovaCare Complex with a walkthrough practice, the team’s first in advance of their matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Ariz. on Feb. 12.
The biggest move from a roster perspective was starting the practice window on punter Arryn Siposs, who has not played his injuring the deltoid ligament in his ankle on Dec. 11 against the New York Giants. Philadelphia signed Brett Kern as a replacement but the veteran punter has struggled at times and the hope seems to be that Siposs will be able to punt against the Chiefs.
The Eagles have two more practices in Philadelphia on Friday and Saturday before they head out to Arizona for Super Bowl week where they will practice at the Arizona Cardinals facility as the designated home team in the SB.
Before Philadelphia leaves, offensive coordinator Shane Steichen will be interviewed by the Indianapolis Colts for their head-coaching vacancy. It’s the second interview for Steichen with the Colts and Indy will be sending a delegation to meet Steichen in person.
Also, the nameplate was removed from Josh Sills’ locker after the backup offensive lineman was indicted on rape and kidnapping charges related to an incident in Ohio back in Dec. of 2019. The undrafted rookie was quickly placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List meaning he can not practice or travel with the team.
By rule Sills could attend meetings but that’s not in the cards right now, according to a league source.
BG REMINISCES
Brandon Graham reminisced about his stamp on Super Bowl LII, the strip sack of Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl winner who retired Wednesday, that virtually secured the first Lombardi Trophy for the Eagles.
“It changed my life,” said the veteran defensive end. “Nobody can take that one away, going against Brady in the Super Bowl, somebody who you know that put daggers in people’s hearts and those drives, especially his last drives.
“If anything, I’m happy because it was another Michigan guy, something I can always go back to Michigan, and if I see Brady, we can always have a good conversation about that one.”
Graham also went back to Nick Sirianni’s introductory press conference which went over like a lead balloon for most.
“He won me over when he first got here,” Graham, a Super Bowl LII said. “That press conference he had where he did all that stuff, said all the wrong things and you all got on him, I just felt like he came in here and gave us his honest answer how he felt about it, and he was pissed about it.
“I love that (reaction) because a lot of coaches wouldn’t admit to, sometimes when the media gets under their skin, so it was cool, down to earth, cool, cool guy.”
HURTS AND MAHOMES
The matchup between Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes will be historic for a number of reasons. This will be the first time two African-American QBs meet in the Super Bowl and it will also be the youngest duo in big-game history.
“I’m just glad me and Jalen can set the stage for the kids coming up now,” Mahomes said. “It’ll be a great game. Two great teams and against another great quarterback.”
“I think it’s history,” said Hurts on Thursday afternoon during his turn at the podium inside the NovaCare Complex auditorium. “I think it’s something that’s worthy of being noted. It is history. It’s come a long way. I think there’s only been seven African-American quarterbacks to play in the Super Bowl. So to be the first for something is pretty cool, so I know it’ll be a good one.”
HIGH-SCHOOL TEAMMATES TO SUPER BOWL RIVALS
Eagles’ star receiver A.J. Brown and Chiefs’ linebacker Willie Gay were both stars on a state championship team in Starkville, Miss. who went on to be second-round picks in the NFL, Brown in 2019 by the Tennessee Titans and Gay a year later by the Chiefs.
The two played together and won the 2015 6A Mississippi State Championship before matriculating to Egg Bowl rivals Ole Miss (Brown) and Mississippi State (Gay).
“To be on the biggest stage of football, so blessed to play this game and to know Willie and play high school ball with him, compete against him in college,” Brown said Thursday.
