At the start of Eagles training camp, there are a half dozen battles to be won or lost over the next month or so. Here we'll keep track of each of those battles and add analysis after each practice.

✔️ = Good day
🚀 = Great day
🚨 = Alarming day
❌ = No longer a contender
✅ = Camp battle won

WR2

The combatants: Makai Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, Johnny Wilson, Darius Cooper, Elijah Moore

Pre-camp favorite: Lemon

Pre-camp analysis: DeVonta Smith will be the WR1 after being something of a WR1b alongside former WR1a A.J. Brown. Who will get the most playing time opposite Smith will be decided in camp. The Eagles added Lemon, Wicks, and Hollywood Brown this offseason to help offset the eventual trade of A.J. Brown.

• Makai Lemon, the team's first-round pick, was a tough, polished slot receiver and chain mover at USC.

• Dontayvion Wicks is a dirty work type of player with upside as a route runner and toughness as a blocker. The Eagles traded for him.

• Marquise Brown has elite speed, and although he has a low career yards per catch average, the Eagles intend to use him as a player who can threaten opposing defenses deep down the field. The Eagles signed him in free agency.

These three players have different skill sets and will be used situationally to some degree. However, if one is clearly outshining the rest, then, I mean, that guy is going to play more than the others.

We'll also keep an eye on Johnny Wilson, Darius Cooper, and Elijah Moore, who could all earn various other roles.

• 7/29: Darius Cooper had the play of the day, when he ran past Cooper DeJean down the seam and made a diving catch from Jalen Hurts.

Lemon, Wicks, and Brown were mostly quiet, though it's worth noting that Lemon was often in motion pre-snap, which perhaps is an indication that Sean Mannion is trying to scheme up ways to get him open for easy receptions. 

• 7/30: Wicks made a highlight reel catch deep down the field, earning some oohs and ahhs from the fans in attendance, plus a salute from Hurts.

• 8/1: Wicks had a nice catch for the second straight practice. Today's was a reception on a slant with Michael Carter in close coverage. I thought Wicks showed strong hands with Carter swiping at the football post-catch.

It's early, but Lemon has been really quiet.

• 8/3: Lemon disappeared from practice early in the day and did not return. His actual injury is unknown, but according to Jeff McLane of the Inquirer it's not a "significant" injury. Still, it's alarming, given that Lemon missed half the spring with a hamstring injury.

Wicks has been consistently making plays each day. If the season started today, he'd be the WR2, in my opinion. Long way to go.

Brown probably had his most active day of camp so far, making a bunch of catches, mostly from Andy Dalton.

Moore had an active day, mostly working with the first team offense, filling in for Lemon. His most notable play was a reception deep down the seam from Hurts.'

• 8/4: We found out that Lemon's injury is a hamstring, which, as noted above, is what also caused him to miss half the spring.

Wicks was a rare bright spot on an otherwise bad day for the offense. He had a really nice route on an out-breaker that beat Riq Woolen, and Hurts got it to him in rhythm. Wicks also beat Cooper DeJean near the front corner of the end zone. Hurts also probably had his best throw of the day on a curl route to Wicks, who was being covered by Quinyon Mitchell. Hurts delivered that pass away from Mitchell, to a perfect spot near Wicks' outside shoulder. Wicks was able to shield off Mitchell and make the reception.

I like what I have seen from Wicks as a blocker as well, which we highlighted in a film breakdown of him earlier this offseason. Andrew Mukuba slammed into Wicks on a run play, but then Wicks turned the tables on Mukuba and blocked him through the whistle. At the end of the play, Wicks fell into Mukuba's leg. Mukuba didn't like that and the two players got into a fight that broke up quickly.

Through five practices, Wicks pretty clearly looks like the second-best receiver in camp.

• 8/5: Wicks ran a crisp corner route, and Hurts completed an on target throw to him in between Jonathan Jones and Andre' Sam. Wicks continues to build a case every day that he should be the WR2.

• 8/7: Wicks was absent for most of practice, but he was walking around and signing autographs afterward so I don't think he's hurt. If he is, it's not bad.

Darius Cooper keeps on stacking good days. He has been the Eagles' third-best receiver this camp, behind Smith and Wicks.

• 8/8: The catch of the day was made by... oh hey... Cooper again. Cooper was running toward the sideline, and when he ran out of real estate, he planted both feet on the ground and made a catch while falling to the ground. Great catch. He is clearly going to make the team, and I'm beginning to wonder if he might be the WR3. If fact, let's change this camp battle from WR2 to WR2 / WR3, and add Cooper to the mix.

• 8/10: Cooper had to have been close to double-digit receptions during 11-on-11's today. But what has been impressive about his camp so far is that he's doing it in a variety of ways. 

1) He had a contested catch with Michael Carter in coverage.

2) He's consistently getting open in the middle of the field and making catches on the run.

3) He ran an out route today and got all kinds of separation against Riq Woolen, and then shortly thereafter hit Woolen with a double move and dusted him down the sideline. Jalen Hurts was able to connect with Cooper on that play, and even though he underthrew it Cooper was so far behind the defense that he was able to wait for the ball to get to him.

He has simply had a tremendous camp, and I thought today was his best day yet.

Moore was really active, too.

• 8/11: The highlight of the day was a deep ball to the post that was caught for a long TD by Moore. Moore was streaking down the field from the slot, and he faked to the corner, turning Andre' Sam around and then broke to the post, getting wide open. Great route. Hurts also delivered a clean, easy throw that hit Moore in stride. Great looking play by the offense all around.

Wicks has cooled off a bit the last few days, but he had a nice toe-drag catch along the sideline.

• 8/13: Hurts connected on a little speed out to Wicks, who got open on an impressive little shimmy that beat Riq Woolen's jam at the line of scrimmage. Hurts threw with anticipation and hit Wicks on the money, with Wicks toe-tapping for the TD. 

It's pretty clear to me that Wicks is going to be the Eagles' WR2 this year, at least to start the season. He and Cooper have both had good camps, but Wicks has more game experience, and he has quickly developed good rapport and timing with Hurts. And you know what? Let's just call it.

• 8/15 (Eagles at Ravens): Wicks did not play against the Ravens, which more or less confirms his WR2 status.

Cooper played deep into the second half and only had 2 catches on 5 targets.

• 8/17: Brown showed a little juice today. He settled into a zone, turned, and caught a pass, then shook Riq Woolen for some additional yards. A common thing that showed up on Brown's tape when we evaluated him this offseason is his ability to often make the first guy miss after the catch. He is known for his long speed, but he has short area quickness too.

Lemon was listed as a non-participant and was not in uniform, but he did participate in some drills, and it seems a return to the field is on the horizon.

Starting safety in sub-packages opposite Andrew Mukuba

Pre-camp analysis: Andrew Mukuba will start at one spot. Cooper DeJean will play safety opposite Mukuba on the semi-rare occasions the team is in its base defense. But who will start at safety when the Eagles are in nickel, when DeJean moves into the slot? 🤷‍♂️

With the roster as is, Epps and Carter are the top two options, but neither is ideal, in my opinion, and they could also be competing against outside options in addition to each other.

• 7/29: There was nothing notable that I saw from the safeties. However, Wisniewski missed the entire spring with an undisclosed injury, and he was a full participant on Day 1.

• 7/30: Nothing much to report from the safeties again today (which is probably a good thing for them), but Epps has been solely running with the first team over the first two days.

• 8/1: We already know that Mukuba has a spot locked up, but I liked the way he broke on a pass over the middle to Lemon. Good recognition, and he trusted what he saw.

Wisniewski is a longshot to win a starting job in the first place, but he also missed practice with a knee injury.

• 8/3: Wisniewski was out again. His margin for error was probably pretty thin, so we can eliminate him from starting contention.

• 8/4: On a Hurts deep ball to Hollywood Brown, the ball sailed a bit past its target and was intercepted by Carter. 

Carter caught the ball initially, but it popped up in the air when he hit the ground and he was able to concentrate and catch the ball again on its way down. Nice play.

• 8/5: Nothing of particular note from the safeties today.

• 8/7: Again, nothing of particular note from the safeties today.

• 8/8: I like what I have seen from the safeties so far. Mukuba is definitely a better player right now than he was this time a year ago, and Epps is generally where he needs to be.

Today, while playing safety, Carter broke on a pass intended for E.J. Jenkins and was able to break it up. Carter flexed his muscles after the play. He got first-team reps at safety.

If the Eagles don't make any moves at safety, I think they'll be fine there. However, if I were Howie Roseman, I'd still be very tempted to go get a guy who can force turnovers, because that's not Epps. I think a playmaking safety could kind of put this already ridiculous defense over the top.

• 8/10: Nothing super notable from the safeties today.

• 8/11: Again, nothing super notable from the safeties today.

• 8/13: Just as a general statement, Carter is around the ball a lot.

• 8/15 (Eagles at Ravens): Epps got the night off, cementing his status as the favorite to land the starting job.

• 8/17: Carter had a big day for the defense. He picked off Jalen Hurts deep down the middle of the field, beating Quez Watkins to the ball, and he also got home for a "sack" on a blitz. Carter is listed at 5'10, 184, so, you know, he's small. But he also ran a 4.36 40, and is one of the fastest safeties in the league, if that's what we're calling him. And you can see it on the field. He buzzes around out there.

Nolan Smith has had a slow start, relative to the rest of the starting D-line. In a red zone situation, he had an angle on Hurts, who was running with the football, but Hurts was able to easily beat Smith to the front pilon.

Smith ran a 4.39 (!) 40 at the Combine, and that speed has shown up in games. However, he looks a little bigger this season, which I understand because he's a violent player and a little more heft might keep him healthy. But if indeed he is bulked up, did he lose some speed as a result?

It's also probably a little alarming that he is still wearing a big arm brace.

• 8/3: Both Hunt and Smith acknowledged after practice today that they bulked up this offseason.

• 8/4: Jalen Carter was able to successfully draw the attention of both Tyler Steen and Markel Bell (at RT), and Smith was able to take advantage by looping inside unblocked for a sack. 

Smith also had a nice play in coverage. The offense ran a misdirection play to the left, and tried to sneak Tank Bigsby into open spaces on the right, but Smith wasn't fooled and was all over Bigsby, forcing Hurts to throw the ball at Bigsby's feet.

• 8/5: Because Hunt and Smith both said that they have bulked up this offseason, Vic Fangio was asked if that was a team directive or if they did that on their own.

"I don't think they have," Fangio said. "Jalyx is weighing the same that he was last year. Nolan came back in the spring heavier and now he's back down to where he should be."

In other words, Hunt packed on more muscle but maintained his same weight. That's great. Smith showed up heavier than the team wants him, but not in a muscular kind of way. That's not so great.

• 8/7: Nothing super notable from the edges.

• 8/8: You can probably count on two hands the number of times Lane Johnson has lost a rep in 1-on-1s during training camp the last decade, but Hunt got him today on an inside move. 

Later, Hunt was going up against Markel Bell, and Bell did a really nice job on him for the win. But even on a lost rep, I was impressed by Hunt's ability to stack one pass rush move after another. A lot of pass rushers will try one move, and if it doesn't work, that's it. But after Bell blocked Hunt's initial move, Hunt tried an inside spin that somehow had a lot of force behind it, and Bell was able to block that, too. Still, the best pass rushers are able to keep throwing more and more at opposing offensive linemen after they are initially stopped, and I've seen that from Hunt this camp in a way I hadn't previously.

After Hunt's loss to Bell, they lined up against each other again, with Hunt getting the best of Bell around the edge.

I thought Hunt had a breakout season in 2025. I think he's going to go "double breakout" in 2026.

Jordan Mailata pretty easily handled Smith on back-to-back reps.

• 8/10: I watched a lot of Nolan Smith - Lane Johnson matchups today, and that's no contest. Smith couldn't get a whiff of pressure vs. Lane.

• 8/11: Vic Fangio said Greenard “won’t be back for another couple weeks, at least.”

• 8/13: Smith had a great day. He got a tackle for loss when he was able to fight through what I thought was a poor block by Dallas Goedert. On the next play, he yanked Jordan Mailata to the ground and got another run stop. You don't often see Mailata get yanked to the ground. For me, that was the biggest "wow" play of the day.

Smith also sniffed out a throw to the flat to Saquon Barkley. That play went nowhere with Smith making the quick "tackle."

• 8/15 (Eagles at Ravens): Hunt and Smith both got the night off, unsurprisingly.

• 8/17: Nothing much to say on the edges from this practice.

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