Eagles practice observations: Tank Bigsby and run game juice; expendable cornerbacks; Jake Elliott’s pressure

The Eagles held the second practice of their 2026 training camp on Thursday at the Jefferson Health Training Complex. These were my observations from Day 2 (and this reminder of Day 1):

I’m going to start with how practice started: Jake Elliott kicking field goals. It might not be as sexy as the new offense or how the rookies look, but the Eagles need Elliott to return to form this season. He’s coming off back-to-back down years, and yet the team didn’t add competition in camp. Kickers are essentially competing with whoever is on the street. But special teams coordinator Michael Clay’s comment about Elliott during the spring — that his job was to help the 10-year veteran “fall in love with the game again” — made me wonder if Elliott could have benefited from additional pressure.

His camp got off to a solid start in windy conditions. He made 6 of 7 kicks, hitting from around 33, 35, 37, 43, 43 and 46 yards. He hooked a 40-yard try wide left. Elliott has a natural tendency to draw the ball, and the wind was blowing in that direction, so it was a tough kick from the right hash mark. Nevertheless, he has more riding on this summer’s performance than he has in years.

The Eagles’ best (offensive) seasons during the Nick Sirianni-Jalen Hurts era have come with a dominant run game. Last season’s regression on the ground can be attributed to many factors, but the switch to the Kyle Shanahan-Sean McVay scheme could be just the medicine needed for a unit that has many of the same returning parts. There were positive signs on Day 2 with running backs Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby bolting into space on outside zone runs.

» READ MORE: Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio talks Jonathan Greenard absence, safety battle, and Zack Baun’s green dot

There was one stretch when Barkley jetted through a gaping hole off the left only to be followed by Bigsby a play later turning the corner on the right. There was success up the middle, too. Bigsby benefited from wide receiver Makai Lemon’s misdirection motion and had a seam through the front seven into the secondary.

The defense is still limited in terms of contact without pads. So I don’t want to get ahead of myself. But clearly the offensive line is already taking to the increased usage of wide zone blocking. How Hurts fits into the equation remains to be seen, but I can’t see the Eagles completely abandoning him as a plus-one factor in the run game.

That being said, there’s likely going to be less of Hurts on the ground on designed runs because of the marrying of the run with the pass off under-center plays. A perfect example of its effectiveness came off a play-action fake to the left as Hurts rolled naked to the right and hit a wide-open DeVonta Smith on a short crosser. These aren’t just layups for the quarterback, but also for the offensive linemen, who don’t have to necessarily block at the point of attack.

There were still struggles in the pass game. Hurts completed just two passes on his first six dropbacks. He tucked the ball and scrambled on two pass plays and once threw the ball away — not necessarily “bad” decisions — but there was a toss to receiver Darius Cooper that linebacker Zack Baun deflected from underneath and a wounded duck to a double covered-Smith that fell short.

Hurts and Smith had more chemistry during 7-on-7s. In fact, it looked like child’s play, even with the receiver up against Quinyon Mitchell. Smith flashed late hands near the sideline on a pass thrown just out of the All pro cornerback’s reach. Lemon has often lined up in the slot, but he motioned outside during one repetition, and caught a pass underneath corner Riq Woolen during 7-on-7s. Woolen nearly had an interception a play later, but Hurts’ forced throw sailed through his hands.

The pass offense had some nice moments late in the workout. Hurts sidestepped a rusher and hit receiver Dontayvion Wicks at the second level in team drills. And Wicks ended the main portion of practice by high-pointing a jump ball his quarterback threw up for grabs.

The Eagles’ starters at cornerback are set, but they also have depth and could be open to moving players like Kelee Ringo or Jakorian Bennett if some youngsters develop and trade partners open up. Here’s how I see the depth chart at the position (knowing several players are cross training at outside/slot cornerback and safety):

Vic Fangio confirmed that the safety job opposite Andrew Mukuba very much remains a competition, although it will likely be a by-committee approach with Cooper DeJean at the spot in base personnel and maybe more than one guy filling the role in nickel.

Marcus Epps and Michael Carter II have taken turns working alongside a combination of DeJean and Mukuba. Sometimes it’s just been the two of them at safety with the first unit. I think the best I can say about each of them is that neither has made a glaring mistake or busted a coverage.

Fangio said both starting safeties — whoever they are — will take over the departed Reed Blankenship’s responsibility as the main communicator on the back end. Baun will once again wear the “green dot” on his helmet and call plays for the entire defense.

Fangio wasn’t as sanguine about the injured Jonathan Greenard as general manager Howie Roseman was the day prior. The Eagles don’t expect the outside linebacker, who recently strained a pectoral muscle, to be out long term. But what exactly does that mean? They wouldn’t have placed him on PUP if there wasn’t at least a chance he’d miss part of the regular season.

No Greenard by Week 1 would likely mean the Eagles are back to where they were a year ago when it was clear they lacked a top-end edge: with Nolan Smith Jr. and Jalyx Hunt starting. Both have shown obvious promise, and there are options off the bench. But Fangio threw some cold water on the notion that all is well with Greenard.

A few of the reserve edges stood out on Thursday. Arnold Ebiketie shed a block and stopped Barkley at the line on a run play. A.J. Epenesa was Johnny-on-the-spot after a Cole Payton pass deflected off receiver Danny Gray’s hands to him.

» READ MORE: Jalen Carter got his money. The Eagles have to hope he has grown up enough to earn it.

Payton had a rough day. While the Epenesa pick was hardly his fault, he tossed two other interceptions. Linebacker Chance Campbell undercut a seam route by tight end Dae’Quan Wright for one, while rookie linebacker Keyshawn James-Newby had the other on a poorly thrown pass during the developmental period.

Carson Steele has gotten his share of handoffs, but not as a fullback. It’s unclear how much coordinator Sean Mannion will feature the position in his offense. Tight end Cameron Latu handled the job at times last season, but veteran tight end Johnny Mundt could fill the role. He’s been the primary second blocking tight end in “12″ personnel so far.

Payton’s potential could factor into whether the Eagles feel comfortable enough to trade Andy Dalton. I can’t see Tanner McKee being on the market, although the two quarterbacks continued to split snaps with the second unit.

Dalton hooked up with receiver Quez Watkins and rookie tight end Eli Stowers on short passes in team drills. Latu couldn’t hang onto a heave into traffic later in the set. McKee found receiver Britain Covey alone off play-action and later in the soft spot of a zone during 7-on-7s.

» READ MORE: Saquon Barkley says he loves the challenge of ‘learning a new language’ in Sean Mannion’s offense

The Eagles had their first injury of camp when second-year tackle Cameron Williams went down during team drills. He waved off a cart, then walked off the field with trainers. Williams never returned after a visit to the medical tent. … Fangio said rookie defensive tackle Uar Bernard, who never played organized football, was on the “PP plan — lots of patience, lots of persistence.” You don’t have to be an expert to see the native of Nigeria is extremely raw. … Eagles legend Brian Dawkins was in attendance and watched practice. … Friday’s walk-through is closed to reporters. We’ll be back at the Jeff for Saturday’s session.

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Jeffrey Lurie has owned the Philadelphia Eagles, which he purchased in 1994, longer than his son, Julian, has been alive. But in recent years, the younger Lurie, heir to the franchise and now 31, has assumed a more pervasive and influential role in the organization. While the Eagles have made no secret about Julian’s increased involvement with the team, specifics about his role have been scant. In recent months, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane spoke to nearly two dozen sources on and off the record to gain a better understanding of not just who Julian Lurie is and what he does, but — most important of all — whether he’ll be ready to assume the reins as Eagles chairman and CEO, whenever the time comes. Jeff shares the biggest takeaways from his reporting with Inquirer columnist Mike Sielski in this companion episode to Jeff’s feature article about the Eagles' succession plan. Listen here.

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