Three Things from Eagles training camp: DeVonta Smith, Makai Lemon take steps toward return ahead of Patriots joint practices

Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) looks on during training camp at Jefferson Health Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Before heading up the interstate for Foxboro, Massachusetts, the Eagles held a quick practice to knock off the rust for Day 12 of training camp.

Here are three quick notes I took during the session:

Movement at the top of the receiver depth chart

Makai Lemon, DeVonta Smith made encouraging steps toward returning from their respective hamstring injuries on Monday. Smith returned to practice in a limited capacity, working with the rest of the wideouts during individual drills and doing some rehab work with a trainer before the session began.

Smith didn’t participate in team drills or 7-on-7 and it wouldn’t totally surprise me to see the Eagles hold him back during joint practices against New England on Wednesday and Thursday, but that would likely be out of an abundance of caution for the team’s No. 1 receiver rather than a reflection of his readiness to make a full return from the injury sooner rather than later.

In Lemon’s case, his work off to the side took a notable step forward. The first-round rookie did his customary work on the JUGS machine before practice (something he’s done each of the last few practices), but ramped up his rehab with some sprints on a side field during practice. He also joined in with the receivers for the final individual drill of the day, which was a half-speed drill where the group ran down the sideline to practice keeping their feet in bounds at the catch point. I wouldn’t expect Lemon to take any competitive reps in the coming days, but this was still the biggest uptick in his workload since re-injuring the hamstring that’s given him trouble both in college and during OTAs.

A question stemming from another Hurts interception …

Jalen Hurts threw an interception to Michael Carter during team drills Monday, underscoring what was a relatively quiet and sloppy practice from the starting offense as the group rotated a handful of different receivers into the fold.

Carter was in tight coverage against Quez Watkins on a deep crosser, which put him in good position to undercut the route and come up with what was a poorly placed ball from Hurts a little too far to the inside relative to Watkins’ route. It was somewhat reminiscent to the interception heard ’round the world from Hurts when targeting Hollywood Brown last week.

While this capped off what was an encouraging day overall for Carter, I think the biggest takeaway I had revolves around Hurts’ now-growing interception tally and how Nick Sirianni might feel about it long-term.

Hurts has thrown more interceptions this summer than I can remember in any of his past training camps as the starter, which is understandable given how much more often he’s targeting the middle of the field in traffic in Sean Mannion’s scheme. I wouldn’t overstate the frequency with which he’s been picked off myself — I’d actually argue he’s looked good for the most part adjusting to the footwork and timing of this new system — but that’s precisely the reason why I wonder how Sirianni’s general aversion to turnovers aligns with the new approach. Can he live with more turnovers if it means a more functional passing game, or will there need to be a compromise at some point between an offense that works to exploit an inherently risky part of the field and one that avoids risk at all costs.

A fantasy note on Tank Bigsby/Saquon Barkley

With Tank Bigsby sidelined with a toe injury, Carson Steele got a few carries out of the backfield with the starting offense today.

I report that not to inform you that Steele is now a lock to make the 53-man roster or an ideal late-round sleeper in a fantasy draft, but rather to add some helpful context about the running back rotation this summer. The Eagles seem intent to manage Saquon Barkley’s workload, which makes sense, and the result has been both Bigsby and Will Shipley getting plenty of work in his place with the starting offense. I’d still expect Bigsby to have a limited role in the offense, but the amount of carries he was getting early in camp probably speak more toward the team’s plan for Barkley this summer and less about Bigsby’s chances of spliting carries with him.

For the fantasy drafts to come, Bigsby would be a great handcuff, but probably not someone you should start as a flex in Week 1.