PHILADELPHIA — The Darius Cooper show took center stage Monday morning.
It was the Philadelphia Eagles’ ninth practice of the summer and the start of their first preseason week, but anyone watching likely left discussing No. 80. The Eagles’ second-year receiver was a standout in this session and continued an eye-opening start to training camp, during a period when the Eagles’ wide receiver depth chart remains in flux.
What else happened on Monday? Here’s a running diary of practice:
10 a.m.: Practice begins. There are changes to the injury report while the Eagles begin stretching. The good news is that Cam Jurgens is practicing. He left the previous two sessions early, but there does not appear to be a concern.
Wide receiver Britain Covey is back at practice on a limited basis after missing time with a hamstring injury.
Makai Lemon and DeVonta Smith remain sidelined with hamstring injuries. Johnny Wilson is a new addition to the injury report; he’s down with a knee injury. Cornerback Jonathan Jones (shoulder) is also absent.
The others missing practice: Wide receiver Danny Gray (concussion), edge rusher Keyshawn James-Newby (ankle), running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) and safety Cole Wisniewski.
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The Eagles also made a few roster moves. They signed defensive tackle David Blay, running back Ja’Quinden Jackson and edge rusher Tarron Jackson while placing RB Elijah Mitchell on injured reserve and waiving guard Jaeden Roberts and tight end Dae’Quan Wright. You might remember Tarron Jackson from his stint with the team from 2021-2023. (He was also on the practice squad in 2024.)
10:09 a.m.: Among those watching from the sideline? Michael Vick, the Norfolk State coach and former NFL star. Delaware State coach DeSean Jackson, another former Eagles great, later arrives. They’re in town to promote “One Philly HBCU Week” in October, when four HBCU schools will play at the Eagles’ stadium. The marquee game is Norfolk State vs. Delaware State on Oct. 31 with the two Philadelphia icons on opposite sidelines.
“I never forget my first entrance into Lincoln Financial Field and the reception that I got,” Vick said after practice. “I knew that this would forever be some sort of home for me.”
“I feel like I’m at home,” Jackson said. “I call it my second home, but really it’s my first home.”
10:45 a.m: Fight! (Or at least a modern-day, training camp version of one.) Guard Tyler Steen and defensive tackle Ty Williams are scuffling after an 11-on-11 rep. No punches were thrown — it was quickly broken up — and others were in the pile. Jurgens appeared to be in the mix. Those watching the O-line vs. D-line closely say it’s been simmering.
10:49 a.m.: Riq Woolen had a near interception. He read a route well in 7-on-7s, but could not haul in the pass. It hit his hands, and he was peeved after the play. Woolen was a spring standout. He hasn’t been in as many headlines this summer, although cornerbacks don’t usually make practice notes if they fulfill their assignment and the ball doesn’t go in their direction.
It was still an impressive pass breakup. Woolen knows that splash plays — like interceptions — garner more attention.
“Yeah, that’s why I was frustrated,” Woolen said. “As a DB, you will play a route so nice and the ball don’t come your way. A ball coming your way, you play the route nice, and you want to get an interception.”
11 a.m.: Cooper keeps making plays. (He could be in this diary on five different occasions. “80” is scattered on different pages in my notes.)
Within a span of two minutes, Cooper caught an out route and then made an over-the-shoulder grab down the right sideline. He can run himself open, and he also makes contested catches. I was impressed by his ability to track the ball and make adjustments. There have been a few times when he had to come back for a ball or extend his body for a catch, and he has the control and spatial awareness to do so. I’m running out of ways to say that if you didn’t know the context — he was an undrafted player who had nine total catches last year — you’d think he’s one of the top receivers on this team. It’s why I asked coach Nick Sirianni how a player can “graduate” from a specific role — the “dirty work” receiver, in Cooper’s case — to a prominent role.
“You graduate by trust and by consistently doing what you’re supposed to do and say, ‘Man, OK, we look at him as this dirty work guy, but man, he’s had opportunities in training camp to win on third down, and he has done that. Let’s give him those opportunities,” Sirianni said. “ Everything that we do is built on trust, and you get that through practice, you get that through meeting films, you get that through walkthroughs that you consistently do.”
If Sirianni wants to see consistency, it’s showing with Cooper.
11:15 a.m.: Lane Johnson is taking a few snaps off during practice. In those instances, Fred Johnson is working with the first-team offensive line at right tackle over Markel Bell. That’s still a competition. Bell has played better this summer. Fred Johnson has experience. There are still a few weeks remaining for the Eagles to make a decision.
Another lineup note from this practice worth noting: Jeremiah Trotter Jr. mixed in with the first-team defense next to Zack Baun in Jihaad Campbell’s spot. Trotter is having a good camp, but I don’t perceive this as Trotter usurping Campbell. In previous seasons, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has mixed and matched personnel groupings to prepare for different in-season possibilities.
“If one goes down you don’t want that play in that game or that rest of that game to be the first time those two guys have played together,” Fangio said last summer. “You just don’t want to always be ones, twos, threes. You want to mix guys up because you never know when somebody’s going down and now they got to play next to somebody that they’ve never played next to before, even in practice. You want that done in practice.”
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said quarterback Jalen Hurts is “having a great camp.” (Photo: Mitchell Leff / Getty Images)
11:17 a.m.: Here’s the best pass of the day by Jalen Hurts: over the middle of the field, in stride to Elijah Moore for a big gain. Moore sprinted ahead for a potential touchdown. This was a pass with precision and touch — what you want to see from Hurts over the middle of the field.
“He’s just doing a really good job,” Sirianni said before practice. “You can see how quickly he’s getting through progressions and onto the next read with great footwork. Jalen’s a very accurate passer, and you’re seeing that continue to shine. Some of the new things (he’s doing) with different footwork, particularly under center. You’re just seeing the growth of him daily within this offense and getting more and more comfortable, and you’re seeing that on the field. Jalen’s having a great camp.”
11:21 a.m.: … And now the bad from Hurts. First play of a two-minute drill, Quinyon Mitchell jumped in front of a Hurts pass attempt for an interception. It was Mitchell’s second interception off Hurts this summer, although this one did not appear to be a miscommunication on a route. Mitchell stayed in tight coverage on Hollywood Brown and then cut on the ball after the release.
11:24 a.m.: Willie Lampkin walks to the medical tent with the training staff. This will be one to monitor on Tuesday morning because Lampkin has impressed the past week (and in this practice). He’s pushing to make the team.
“You’ve really seen Willie continue to get better and be more — and you notice him even more once the pads have come on,” Sirianni said. “He has the ability to play on the inside at center or guard, good versatility, smart guy, really athletic. He’s been fun to watch at camp. We find ourselves as coaches when we’re watching tape, just kind of being like, ‘Man, Willie did it again.’”
11:25 a.m.: Eli Stowers was apparently more active earlier in practice (including a touchdown on a different field when the Eagles split fields), but he just had the ball knocked out of his grasp when Michael Carter II hit him with a thud. Nice closing speed in coverage by Carter, yet it’s still a pass you want to see Stowers grab.
I should add: I’m not panicking about Stowers this summer. I’m curious how he looks in the game. This was a pick made with 2027 in mind. I still think he can carve a role in the passing game — especially if Dallas Goedert is injured — but August 10 is far too soon to form any sweeping conclusions on a player as athletically gifted (and as productive in college) as Stowers.
11:34 a.m.: Here was the end-of-practice scenario: Two seconds remaining in the game, down eight points. The ball was near the goal line. Basically, one play to score and then a two-point conversion.
Hurts threw a touchdown pass — although not without dispute. Hurts ran around the pocket. It was an extended period, well beyond what you typically see, and he eventually connected with Moore for a touchdown on a pass across his body after rolling to his right. (Nice catch by Moore with Cooper DeJean in coverage.)
Of course, there’s no sacking the quarterback in practice. The defense only rushed three players. I thought Jalyx Hunt was closing in, but others watching thought Hurts would have bought the time for a touchdown. One defensive player was vocal that Hurts would not have that time in a game. But the whistle didn’t blow, and Hurts kept his eyes on the end zone.
11:36 a.m.: Practice closes with a developmental period. The Eagles are back on the field Tuesday morning. Let’s see what Cooper does then.
