The Eagles’ training camp is more than two weeks old, and certain position battles are heating up.
We have spent all summer discussing the backup quarterback battle between Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee. So let’s give that discussion a break and focus on more intriguing position battles that have flown under the radar.
We will start with the most entertaining battle, at the wide receiver position, then work our way down to the cornerbacks, safeties and interior offensive linemen.
Wide receiver
DeVonta Smith,Makai Lemon and Dontayvion Wicks will be Philadelphia’s starting wide receivers this season, but that leaves the other wide receiver spots up for grabs.
Darius Cooper has dominated during training camp, and he deserves a role on offense. It would be shocking if the Eagles waived him. He is close to locking up the No. 4 wide receiver spot.
Elijah Moore, Johnny Wilson and Hollywood Brown are competing to fill the remaining roster spots. Moore has outplayed Brown and Wilson on offense this summer and is competing for the punt returner role. He is creeping closer to a roster spot.
The Eagles signed Moore and Brown to one-year deals this offseason, guaranteeing Brown $5 million, while Moore received no guaranteed money.
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Brown has not looked like a player worth his $5 million guarantee. Once known for his top-end speed and dynamic quickness, Brown has not been explosive and has not made many plays in practice. He has struggled to get on the same page as quarterback Jalen Hurts and has been the intended wide receiver on three of Hurts’ interceptions.
Brown’s guaranteed money makes it likely he will make the roster, but he’s not a lock. If he continues to struggle, perhaps the Eagles will look to trade him for a late-round pick or for another player. That will be easier said than done, but Brown is currently not providing much value on the field.
Wilson offers more as the fifth or sixth wide receiver on the depth chart because he can do the dirty work on offense and play on special teams.
Brown needs to finish strong over the next two weeks to hold off Wilson and Moore and secure one of the final spots.
Cornerbacks
Second-year cornerback Mac McWilliams is emerging as the team’s top backup outside cornerback. He jumped a Hurts’ pass intended for Brown and picked it off during Thursday’s practice. He has consistently made plays on the ball during training camp.
Outside of McWilliams, the final one or two spots at cornerback are wide open. Ten-year veteran Jonathan Jones missed the last three practices with a shoulder injury and had done little to impress before the injury. The Eagles may value his experience, but he has to show more to become a roster lock.
Kelee Ringo and Jakorian Bennett both remain in the mix, but Ringo is more likely to make the roster because of his impact on special teams.
The Eagles view Michael Carter II as a nickel and safety, so they could count him as one of their backup cornerbacks. If they keep six cornerbacks, the decision could come down to Jones vs. Ringo for the final spot.
The Eagles would be wise to add another backup cornerback because their depth looks weak at this point.
Safeties
With seventh-round pick Cole Wisniewski out for the last two weeks with a hamstring injury, rookie undrafted free agents (UDFAs) Kapena Gushiken and Maximus Pulley have both performed well with the extra reps. One of those two UDFAs will have a good chance to beat out Wisniewski for the fourth safety position. Gushiken is fast and sticky in coverage, while Pulley is physical and instinctive.
Interior offensive linemen
It appears that second-year player Drew Kendall will be the team’s top backup at guard and center this year, but the other interior spots remain unsettled. The extremely undersized Willie Lampkin, who is 5-foot-11 and 290 pounds, has won most of his one-on-ones and flashes great strength and athleticism during team periods. He is more likely to make the roster than not.
Jake Majors has received second-team reps all summer at guard and center. He is also firmly in the mix for a roster spot.
Sixth-round rookie Micah Morris has flashed since returning from a shoulder injury. His size (6-foot-5, 334 pounds) and movement skills are impressive. The Eagles could choose to keep him over Majors or Lampkin. Philadelphia will likely carry two of those three players (Lampkin, Majors and Morris) onto the roster.
It’s a close competition that will be decided in preseason games, like so many other position battles this summer.
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