PHILADELPHIA – The Eagles’ offense needed a spark Sunday night and it found it by using Jalen Hurts’ athleticism with a plethora of run-pass options plays in front of nearly 30,000 fans at Lincoln Financial Field during the team’s only open practice this summer.
The highlight for most was a 35-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline in which A.J. Brown hauled in a beautiful pass with James Bradberry providing excellent coverage and Marcus Epps closing in.
Here is the 30 yard TD pass from Jalen Hurts to AJ Brown beating James Bradberry, who had good coverage
AJ Brown celebrating with Eagles fans
🎥 @EROCK_Eagles pic.twitter.com/xSdrNRQJ8z
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) August 7, 2022
Overall, the passing game wasn’t that consistent, however, due to injury issues at the left tackle spot on the offensive line but the offense as a whole really excelled with the RPO game, which is expected to be a major part of the offense come the regular season.
It was a surprise to see it featured so prominently on Sunday, though, because you typically don’t see such a well-conceived ground game in a controlled environment like practice.
Perhaps Nick Sirianni was looking for a momentum change and he captured it with Hurts’ legs as the QB ran four different RPOs in which a defense that has played like gangbusters during much of the summer was spinning like tops.
On one occasion Brandon Graham was fooled so badly that all he could do was applaud as Hurts scampered down the field.
Another big highlight of the open practice at the Linc
Jalen Hurts jukes Brandon Graham, like the Saints game
🎥 @EROCK_Eagles pic.twitter.com/vvHMxaO863
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) August 8, 2022
Hurts was already known for his impressive movement skills but he’s even quicker this year after remaking his body a bit during the offseason by giving up sugary drinks.
Another notable development in the 97-minute practice was Reid Sinnett getting one period with the second-team offense and excelling with it. Sinnett has been solid this summer, well ahead of his competition for the third spot, undrafted rookie Carson Strong, and now closing the gap on veteran backup Gardner Minshew, who has struggled in camp.
Sinnett was able to get Olympic track star Devon Allen involved with the offense on a WR screen and nearly hit the speedy receiver for a TD but Allen couldn’t drag his second foot in bounds for the score.
After practice Hurts broke down the team in the huddle and received a big hug from offensive line coach Jeff Stoutalnd after an impressive performance on what was his 24th birthday.
JAKIB SPORTS NOTES:
-Sirianni noted that former Chargers wideout Dontrell Inman is serving as a training camp intern in a role similar to what another former NFL receiver, Eddie Royal, had last summer.
-Before practice also lavished some high praise on Lane Johnson, calling him “the best right tackle in the world.”
Coincidentally, Johnson spoke before that via video conference and said the next two years feel like his prime.
“I feel like my best football is coming. …The next two years is my prime. …Whatever I may have lost in speed, I’ve made up in power.”
-Le’Raven Clark tweaked his hamstring in practice on Saturday so he joined Jordan Mailata (concussion) and Andre Dillard (concussion) on the sidelines. Add in Brett Toth, who remains on the PUP list as he recovers from a torn ACL, and the Eagles were really down to their fifth left tackle in second-year man Kayode Awosika. Undrafted rookie Josh Sills took the second-team reps.
-Needing a body at the position the Eagles brought back Jarrid Williams, who they signed as an undrafted free agent before releasing him right before camp began. The move makes sense because Philadelphia is familiar with Williams and needed a body at the position
-Others added to the injury list were DT Javon Hargrave (groin), CB Jimmy Moreland (ankle), CB Kary Vincent (groin), and S Jaquiski Tartt (personal reasons). Remaining sidelined were TE Grant Calcaterra (hamstring), RB Boston Scott (concussion) and WR Greg Ward (toe).
-Tarron Jackson and Patrick Johnson had nice days rushing the passer.
-One RPO that didn’t work when Landon Dickerson grabbed outside his body and got caught with his hand in the cookie jar for holding.
-Brown continues to get a ton of traffic in the passing game and also had a nice gain on a slip screen.
-Rookie CB Mario Goodrich stopped a potential TD pass with a PBU.
-Smith spent most of the practice near offensive coordinator Shane Steichen, staying mentally engaged when on the sidelines.
-Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Jordan Davis:
Jordan Davis made this look too easy 😳
Warning: Strong Language
(via @Rich_Bussey) pic.twitter.com/qDzSLlONHr
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) August 8, 2022
JAKIB SPORTS’ PRACTICE GAME BALL
Jalen Hurts: The birthday boy set the tone and had his second best practice of the summer.
“He looks quicker, he looks more explosive.”
– @JFMcMullen on Jalen Hurts pic.twitter.com/9F8EXWvs8q
— JAKIB Sports (@JAKIBSports) August 8, 2022
