Eagles Practice Observations: Bradford increases workload; Agholor smooth; Barkley moves up

Some notes and observations off Tuesday's Eagles OTAs:

-- Sam Bradford, as Chip Kelly said was likely, practiced during seven-on-seven drills. The new Eagles quarterback took about five snaps, splitting time with Mark Sanchez, with the first team on Tuesday. He didn't participate during the second set of seven-on-seven drills and sat out all of team drills, as expected. Bradford threw the ball well. The drops he took weren't strenuous. While his full return still appears to be a ways off, Bradford took a small step forward. That is a positive.

He warmed up to the side as most of the team went through conditioning at the start of practice. He then partook in individual drills with the other quarterbacks, jogging to the next station whenever the drill moved. I didn't notice a hitch in his step as he ran. Bradford walked with a noticeable limp after practice last Thursday, but I didn't get to see him walk off the fields on Tuesday.

-- Thursday offered the first opportunity to watch top draft pick Nelson Agholor. The wide receiver was excused from Thursday's practice because he was picked to attend the NFLPA's rookie symposium in California. Agholor was one of several players to return kicks. He may have been the fastest. He moved well and didn't lose much speed when he shifted or made a slight cut. With Josh Huff not practicing because of what he said was a hip injury, Agholor split returns with Darren Sproles, Ryan Mathews, Matthew Tucker, JaCorey Shepherd and Raheem Mostert.

Agholor did most of his work with the second team offense. He had a quiet day in terms of catches, but he lined up in various spots. Riley Cooper and Jordan Matthews took most of the first team reps on the outside. Matthews made a one-handed catch on a deep throw from Sanchez. He often went against corner Byron Maxwell and on one play they both got their hands on a pass at the same time. Neither let go as they wrestled on the ground. Finally, after about ten seconds, Matthews emerged with the ball.

-- Quarterback Matt Barkley said last week that he had been getting the occasional series with the first team offense. He did most of his work with the second team on Tuesday, but he got late snaps with the starters. Barkley looks like he's playing with more confidence. The reads appear to be quicker and the throws have come out a little crisper. Barkley lofted a deep pass to receiver Miles Austin that the receiver ran under for a touchdown. He later hooked with Austin on a corner route.

-- Walter Thurmond took most of his safety reps with the first team alongside Malcolm Jenkins after spending last Thursday with the twos. The Eagles typically move their defensive backs up and down the depth chart in the spring, so you can't make much of the change. But Thurmond seems to have as good a chance as anyone to win that job even though he spent his entire career at corner. Nolan Carroll was still the first team opposite Maxwell. Brandon Boykin was the first team slot. He was very candid about whether he thought he would have a legitimate chance to win the outside opening.

-- Allen Barbre was once again at left guard, while Matt Tobin remained at right guard. David Molk has been the second team center and Julian Vandervelde has been at guard. … Safety Earl Wolff (knee) and outside linebacker Marcus Smith (leg pull) didn't practice again. DeMeco Ryans (Achilles) started off practice with the training staff, but eventually joined individual and 7-on-7 drills. He didn't appear to participate in team drills. Defensive end Brandon Bair and running back Kenjon Barner also spent most of practice with the training staff with unknown injuries.

-- Quarterback Tim Tebow was with the third team offense. He struggled. Perhaps it was the rain, but two of his passes to the flat fell awkwardly to the ground well short of their target. He short hopped a swing pass to Sproles. He threw high and wide of Agholor when he was matched up with rookie corner Eric Rowe near the sideline. He took off and ran more than any other quarterback when he went through his reads. He threw to Agholor in double coverage and was intercepted by safety Jaylen Watkins. When Tebow threw an accurate pass to Trey Burton over the middle, the tight end couldn't hang on and dropped it. Tough luck.