PHILADEPHIA − There is a lot riding on the Eagles’ rookie class in a circuitous way.
Ideally, first-round pick Jordan Davis will work in a rotation at defensive tackle, while second-round pick Cam Jurgens, a center, is only expected to play if Jason Kelce gets hurt. Third-round pick Nakobe Dean, a linebacker, currently has two veterans ahead of him in Kyzir White and T.J. Edwards.
Sixth-round picks Grant Calcaterra, a tight end, and Kyron Johnson, a rush linebacker, are expected to be reserves heading into the season.
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Here, then, is a look at how the Eagles’ draft picks and some of the undrafted free agents are faring so far in training camp, along with their readiness to assume a major role this season.
But first, a quick wrapup from camp Thursday’s practice in the heat. The Eagles, in fact, started practice an hour earlier to account for the weather. They practiced for 1 hour, 45 minutes, the longest practice of camp so far.
Here are a few observations:
∎ The practice was noticeable for who didn’t practice. That included both left tackles − starter Jordan Mailata and backup Andre Dillard − who both sat out with concussions, even though all linemen are wearing the Guardian Caps over their helmets, which are supposed to reduce impacts from collisions by 20%.
WR DeVonta Smith sat out Thursday with a groin injury.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said the Eagles are being cautious with all three players. The Eagles will practice next on Saturday.
WR Zach Pascal (illness) practiced for the first time in camp after missing a week with an illness. TE Grant Calcaterra (hamstring), CB Mac McCain (knee) and WR Greg Ward (toe) didn’t practice.
∎ The defense seemed to outshine the offense Thursday, but QB Jalen Hurts and WR A.J. Brown continued to progress. During 7-on-7 drills, Hurts hit Brown in the back of the end zone for a touchdown. Overall, Hurts was solid, but unspectacular.
No. 3 QB Reid Sinnett had the nicest play by a quarterback. He escaped pressure, then rolled to his left where he found WR Keric Wheatfall along the sideline. Sinnett pumped his fist after that play.
Defensively, Haason Reddick had a nice play chasing down RB Miles Sanders on a run to the outside. LB T.J. Edwards made a nice diving play to break up a pass over the middle intended for Quez Watkins.
Back to the rookies:
Jordan Davis, 1st round, defensive tackle
The first thing you notice about Davis is his size. At 6-foot-6, 336 pounds, he almost dwarfs Kelce when he lines up over the Eagles’ veteran center.
It’s just a matter of how quickly Davis can learn. For that, he’s turning to none other than Kelce, who has given him pointers and advice to go against NFL centers and guards.
“Oh man, he’s not going to give me the whole game plan how to beat him,” Davis said with a laugh. “But at the walkthroughs, just putting my hands there, or just getting out on the front side. Little things like that.”
Even this year, Davis will be a prominent part of the defensive tackle rotation with Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave. The faster Davis learns, the more he’ll play. Both Cox and Hargrave are in the final year of their contracts, and it’s likely that only one of them will return.
Cam Jurgens, 2nd round, center
Jurgens was drafted with Kelce’s approval to eventually replace Kelce at center. But the Eagles didn’t use a second-round pick for Jurgens to redshirt this year.
That’s why Jurgens has been working at right guard, a position he’s never played before after working exclusively at center at Nebraska. Veteran Isaac Seumalo is the favorite to start, with Jack Driscoll also in competition. But don’t rule out Jurgens.
“Early on in practice, I feel like I belonged right away,” Jurgens said.
Nakobe Dean, 3rd round, linebacker
Dean has perhaps the best chance to play the most right away. But he has a lot of work to do.
At Georgia, Dean said he played so much as a freshman because “I faked it till I made it.” Dean knows that won’t work in the NFL.
“You gotta become more of a student of the game,” Dean said. “It’s a lot of people who have been playing this game for a long time. People on Year 10 or Year 12 … so I’m thinking where I was at 10, 11, 12 years ago.”
He was 9 years old when Brandon Graham was drafted in 2010.
Grant Calcaterra, 6th round, tight end
During the first three days in practice, Calcaterra had a good connection with backup quarterback Gardner Minshew. But Calcaterra hurt his hamstring last Saturday and hasn’t practiced since.
Still, he has made an early impression, and it’s more than likely that Calcaterra will have a role this season. He might even be the No. 2 tight end behind Dallas Goedert.
Kyron Johnson, 6th round, linebacker
Johnson, at 6-foot, 235 pounds, is built similarly to pass rusher Haason Reddick, whom the Eagles signed to a three-year deal worth as much as $45 million.
Johnson, of course, has a long way to go before he’s at Reddick’s level.
“The kid is fast,” Reddick said. “He’s shot out of a cannon. When you have that type of speed, that type of get-off, it reminds me of me.”
Johnson said he leans on Reddick and other veterans for advice, then added: “I also try to do it on my own because this is a big-boy league … The only person who can really help me is me.”
For now, Johnson will have to do that on special teams, where he’s expected to be a major contributor as a rookie.
Best of undrafted players
∎ Carson Strong, QB: Many draft experts expected Strong, who threw for nearly 10,000 yards in three seasons at Nevada, to be selected in the middle rounds. But a chronic knee issue knocked him out of the draft. The Eagles, enamored with Strong’s arm, gave him a $300,000 guarantee, among the largest sums for an undrafted player.
Strong has mostly struggled in the few reps he has received so far. He and Reid Sinnett will battle for that third QB spot. The loser would likely be headed to the practice squad.
∎ Josh Jobe, cornerback: The Eagles have a crowded room at cornerback behind the starters Darius Slay, James Bradberry, nickel Avonte Maddox and backup Zech McPhearson. There are second-year players Tay Gowan, Kary Vincent and Mac McCain, along with fellow undrafted players in Mario Goodrich and Josh Blackwell vying for a spot.
Jobe, the Alabama product, has an early leg up on the other undrafted players after an interception Tuesday. But the preseason games will likely settle this battle.
∎ Britian Covey, wide receiver: The Utah star might be undersized at 5-foot-8, 173 pounds, but he has made some nice catches in training camp. That included a TD catch Thursday from Gardner Minshew.
∎ Ali Fayad, linebacker: The Western Michigan product has stood out early, but he is also in a crowded room. Fayad would have to beat out a returning player in order to get a spot.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
