Eagles practice observations: Saquon Barkley isn’t letting up; Jahan Dotson thriving; Andrew Mukuba’s uneven return

The Eagles held their 10th open practice of training camp for the 2025 season on Tuesday at the NovaCare Complex. Links to Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Here are my observations from Day 10:

Wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) and linebacker Zack Baun (back) remained out, but as I wrote on Monday, the Eagles don’t have any long-term concerns about either. They were joined on the sideline by defensive tackle Byron Young (groin) and running back Montrell Johnson (hamstring).

» READ MORE: The Bengals will play their starters in the preseason opener. Don’t expect the Eagles to do the same.

The following were upgraded to limited participants: offensive lineman Trevor Keegan (back), receiver Terrace Marshall (knee), and safety Lewis Cine (hamstring). Safety Andrew Mukuba (shoulder), cornerback Mac McWilliams (quadriceps), offensive lineman Matt Pryor (shoulder), and long snapper Charley Hughlett (neck) were also held out of various portions of practice.

Outside linebacker Nolan Smith (concussion) and fullback Ben VanSumeren (ankle) were cleared for full returns.

» READ MORE: Ben VanSumeren is embracing the switch from linebacker to fullback: ‘I want to be the best at something’

For the Eagles’ third practice in as many days — the first such stretch of camp — players were only in shorts and shells. It was a relatively light workout with a lot done in the red zone. Mukuba and McWilliams took part in seven-on-seven and team drills for the first time since their injuries.

They each got beaten for touchdowns early on during seven-on-sevens. Tight end Dallas Goedert boxed out Mukuba on a post route and scaled high to catch quarterback Jalen Hurts’ pass. Receiver Darius Cooper made a diving grab on a corner fade with McWilliams in man coverage. I’ll have more on Cooper’s recent ascension later on, but the rookie defensive backs may have still been adjusting to the pace of play after their layoffs.

Later on during team drills, Mukuba broke up a Tanner McKee throw to tight end Kylen Granson.

At the risk of going overboard, linebacker Smael Mondon continues to grab my attention. During seven-on-sevens in the red zone, Hurts scanned his options. As he got to maybe his third read, he looked to Saquon Barkley scurrying across the back of the end zone. He couldn’t make the throw, though, because Mondon was on the running back’s tail and had prime position underneath.

Jihaad Campbell has gotten more snaps with the first unit than Mondon, and his first-round stock should give him the advantage over other competitors at inside linebacker. But it’s not like he hasn’t earned the playing time. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is throwing a lot at the rookie and he often responds. Campbell has the occasional hiccup, of course, just like Mondon.

He took a bad angle on a screen to running back AJ Dillon that allowed center Cam Jurgens to kick-out block the linebacker. But on the very next play, he navigated through bodies and two-hand-touched Barkley for a stop near the line.

Barkley just hasn’t let up in camp. Is it possible he could eclipse last season’s MVP-caliber performance? Probably not with defenses likely intent on stopping him more than ever. But he seems committed to trying. He ran only a few times in abbreviated team drills, but was active as a receiver.

Hurts went deep to Barkley on a wheel route with Nolan Smith having to drop and cover the running back. The pass sailed long and it appeared that Smith had compensated for what would normally be a mismatch. But offensive players on the sideline signaled that Barkley’s jersey was held.

There was no touching Barkley on a later play. On first-and-goal on the 10-yard line, he ran a Texas route in between linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and cornerback Kelee Ringo and skipped into the end zone.

It was a mixed bag for the first-unit offense a day after one of its better recent showings. Hurts’ best throw came a period later when he found receiver Jahan Dotson ahead of cornerback Cooper DeJean in the back of the end zone.

McKee and the second unit had a little more success. They ended both of their red-zone sets with touchdown passes. The first went to Will Shipley. The running back set it up with an outside slant he took to the 3-yard line before safety Andre’ Sam touched him up. On the next play, Shipley was wide-open when outside linebacker Ochaun Mathis and cornerback Adoree’ Jackson bit on a fake. I’ll have a description of the second touchdown further down.

» READ MORE: Ben VanSumeren is embracing the switch from linebacker to fullback: ‘I want to be the best at something’

Fangio sent a fair number of overload blitzes at Hurts. It almost felt like offensive coaches wanted the quarterback to be “hot” in the pocket with so many rushers coming in unblocked. Edge rusher Jalyx Hunt was first to pressure Hurts into throwing wide of receiver DeVonta Smith with Quinyon Mitchell on his shoulders.

Azeez Ojulari hasn’t generated much pressure on traditional rushes off the edge. Some of that could be the cost of doing business vs. tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata. Some of it could be adjusting to a new team and scheme. He did get to Hurts when Fangio’s blitz packages left him free on back-to-back drops. He eased up before the quarterback hit Dotson on the touchdown, but Ojulari forced Hurts to throw wide of Dotson when he and Smith failed to execute a rub route.

Ringo seemingly did everything right but catch the ball when he undercut an ill-fated Hurts toss to Smith. He had the interception until he dropped it. He jumped in frustration, landed on the sideline official, and knocked him with force to the ground. I was a few feet away — “Why couldn’t it have been you?” I’m sure a few readers are saying — and it was quite the collision. But the ref said, “I’m all right, give me a sec” to Eagles trainers who rushed over and soon enough he was up and finished the practice. He gets a game ball.

DeJean snatched his first interception of camp. It was a gift. Hurts, nearly sandwiched by the blitzing Mondon and Trotter, lofted a throw to Goedert. Maybe he was trying to throw the ball away and got hit as he cocked, but the pass sailed over a stumbling Goedert. DeJean made the easy pick in the end zone.

Moro Ojomo probably heads the list of players I want to see face new competition. He won’t likely suit up for the preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday. But the Cleveland Browns come to Philadelphia next week for two joint practices that should give a better indication of the defensive tackle’s progress.

Ojomo has given Eagles interior linemen all they can handle in the first 10 practices. On Tuesday, he opened with a tackle for loss on a run play. Two plays later, he slipped through guard Landon Dickerson and Jurgens and flushed Hurts outside. Hurts threw to receiver Johnny Wilson, but safety Sydney Brown knocked the ball to the ground. There was a flag, but I couldn’t tell who was the guilty party.

During the last team period, I credited Ojomo with two sacks. He beat Dickerson inside on the first. Hurts still threw to Smith, who had gotten behind edge Joshua Uche for a catch-and-run touchdown. On his second, Ojomo circled around guard Brett Toth, and when Hurts backtracked, he ran into a sack.

» READ MORE: Moro Ojomo’s hot start to Eagles training camp suggests he’s ready for a more prominent role

Cooper deserves mention in the fourth-fifth wide receiver competition. (I don’t see the Eagles keeping six at this stage.) His touchdown grab on the corner fade was the highlight of his day. But he had two other catches on checkdowns during seven-on-sevens, and beat cornerback Eli Ricks inside on a slant during team play.

Coach Nick Sirianni didn’t offer much when asked about the competition, other than to praise Ainias Smith and Wilson — returning second-year former draft picks. But he did briefly mention Cooper and Elijah Cooks, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound receiver who was signed to a futures contract in February. Cooks had another touchdown when he caught an inside slant ahead of Ricks and ran the rest of the way for the score. He then caught the conversion on a slant inside against McWilliams.

» READ MORE: Elijah Cooks is turning heads at camp as he battles for a roster spot: ‘I’m ready to be an Eagle’

Smith continued to be first up as a returner during punt drills, but I’ve yet to see much improvement as a receiver. He ran an in route from the slot but wasn’t looking when McKee fired a pass that skimmed behind him.

Kendall Lamm has been the primary backup left tackle, but he did some work on the right side. … Newly-acquired cornerback Jakorian Bennett was at practice wearing No. 49, but he didn’t participate. … Brown hung out with former Titans teammates Taylor Lewan and Will Compton, who host the popular podcast Bussin’ With The Boys, before practice. … The Eagles have a closed walk-through on Wednesday before Thursday’s preseason opener. Friday will be an off day. Practice will resume on Saturday.