August 07, 2026
Colleen Claggett/For PhillyVoice
Jalen Hurts and the Eagles QBs behind him look like they're getting a grip on Sean Mannion's new offense.
The heat hammered down, and the Eagles powered through their reps as training camp continued on Friday at the Jefferson Health Training Complex.
Here were the heroes and zeroes from practice No. 7 – an overall good day for the offense performance-wise, but not the most comfortable one to work through weather-wise:
• The quarterbacks: The QBs, at least 1-3 on the depth chart, all had solid days on Friday.
Jalen Hurts only had two outright bad passes, and they were both late into practice; a hurried throw way short into the dirt meant for DeVonta Smith in the flat, and then a low pass that got batted down at the line by Jalen Carter in what appeared to be a two-minute drill down the field to close out. Other than that, Hurts looked pretty stellar, and continues to do all the things needed to make Sean Mannion's new offense work – like snapping from under center, throwing over the middle, etc. – and that he was criticized for all offseason for being rumored to either be unable to do it, or unwilling to do it.
Once again, he looks just fine. Speaking of throwing over the middle, Hurts rolled out right in play action on one 11-on-11 rep, and zipped a pass across his body for a completion to Darius Cooper, who was streaking across the middle to the other side. It was a nice play.
Tanner McKee looked a lot more comfortable on Friday. He wasn't a world-beater, but he led the second-team reps and got his throws out quickly and far more accurately.
Andy Dalton continues to look like a steady veteran backup, which likely continues to cloud who will be the No. 2 QB by Week 1. Again, not a world-beater, but made the quick and smart passes, and led probably the most efficient two-minute drill down the field at the end of practice.
McKee and Dalton each had a clear highlight throw, though, and it was to the same target.
• WR Johnny Wilson: Early into practice, Dalton aired a ball down the left sideline that the 6-foot-6 Wilson tracked down with reserve corner Mac McWilliams on him. Wilson cut to the inside and used his big frame to space McWilliams away from the ball, then fell to the grass to haul it in for a completion that would've put the Eagles inside the 10-yard line in a live game scenario.
Later into practice, McKee took his turn, sailing a pass up to the back-right corner of the end zone for Wilson to go up and grab. The receiver leaped up and over his man, plucked the ball out of the air, and appeared to fall down inbounds for what would've been ruled a touchdown.
It was a big day for the 25-year-old receiver.
A year ago, the Eagles had plans to use Wilson's size to their advantage in the regular offense, but a brutal leg injury in practice and resulting surgeries sidelined him for the season.
He has to work his way back up with this training camp now, especially because the receiver depth for the Eagles only got deeper in the time since. On Friday, he posted two great catches for the tape.
• CB Kapena Gushiken: Tight end E.J. Jenkins mixed into first-team reps, and on one play, Hurts saw him open and tried to zip him a pass on a quick slant inside.
Jenkins appeared to have caught it, but Gushiken, an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi, closed in fast and wrapped his arm inside to rip the ball out.
Fumble? Incompletion? It wasn't clear from most vantage points, but the players treated it like a live ball, so great read by Gushiken to crack down quick and make a play.
• TE E.J. Jenkins: On the other side of it, though, Jenkins might be showing up on the film study when head coach Nick Sirianni is preaching ball security again.
They keep a big banner for it above the projector screen in the Jefferson Health Training Complex auditorium and have for years now.
Protecting the football is a major staple of the Eagles. Hold on to it.
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