Eagles rookie wide receiver, first-round pick Makai Lemon returns to practice
Lemon and the Eagles will play the Patriots in the second preseason game for both teams on Saturday.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Makai Lemon is officially back.
On Thursday, the Eagles wide receiver — who had been nursing a hamstring injury for over two weeks — returned to practice for the first time since Day 4 of Eagles training camp on Aug. 3.
It’s an eventful week for the rookie to return as the Eagles are taking on the Patriots in the second of two joint practices at the New Balance Athletics Center adjacent to Gillette Stadium.
This comes one day after the Eagles listed Lemon as limited on a day when Lemon was not in full uniform and was mostly held out. Last week, Lemon was on the field prior to practices at Jefferson Health Training Complex, catching passes from the JUGS machine and partaking in light warmups.
DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore and Darius Cooper have topped the wide receiver depth chart as Lemon was sidelined.
Lemon’s return is crucial for an Eagles passing offense that struggled against New England on Wednesday and was held to seven points in their preseason loss to the Ravens last Saturday. The Eagles selected Lemon with the No. 20 overall pick in April’s draft with the expectation that he would bolster the offense. Quarterback Jalen Hurts praised the former USC star last week.
“I think he’s been very intentional with [learning]. I think he’s all ears,” Hurts said. “I think he’s a very intentional, quiet, mild-mannered hard worker. He’s hungry.
“[USC] Coach [Lincoln] Riley has always said a great number of things about Makai and how he prepares and how intense he is in the walkthroughs. I’ve seen the same thing here.”
Lane Johnson rejoined training camp this past week after a multi-day absence, but his return brought with it the announcement that 2026 is “probably” going to be his last NFL season. What does the prospect of the All-Pro’s retirement mean in both the short- and long-term? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Ryan Novozinsky take a look at what the Eagles can expect from Johnson in his 14th year as a pro, and who might be waiting in the wings to replace him. Listen here.
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