Skip to content
Eagles
Link copied to clipboard

Eagles Notes: Todd Herremans moves to right guard

As expected, Todd Herremans was moved to right guard after the Eagles took tackle Lane Johnson with their first overall draft pick.

As expected, Todd Herremans was moved to right guard after the Eagles took tackle Lane Johnson with their first overall draft pick. (David Maialetti/Staff Photographer)
As expected, Todd Herremans was moved to right guard after the Eagles took tackle Lane Johnson with their first overall draft pick. (David Maialetti/Staff Photographer)Read more

As expected, Todd Herremans was moved to right guard after the Eagles took tackle Lane Johnson with their first overall draft pick.

Herremans played every snap with the first-team offense on Monday, the first day of organized team activities. Johnson did not run with the starters - he had only a three-day rookie minicamp under his belt before Monday - but that is certainly the expectation.

In Johnson's place was second-year lineman Dennis Kelly. Jason Peters was at his usual spot at left tackle. Danny Watkins filled in at left guard as Evan Mathis recovers from "minor" ankle surgery. And with Jason Kelce (knee) being eased back into action, Dallas Reynolds manned center.

"I don't know when Jason will be back," coach Chip Kelly said. "He's been fantastic, been there every day working his tail off. He did almost everything in phase two, so he's running around doing a lot of things."

Peters (Achilles tendon) and Herremans (foot) are returning from injuries but were able to do everything at practice. Herremans was at right tackle during last month's minicamp. Even though he's been at right tackle the last two seasons, Herremans has more NFL starts at guard.

All those starts, though, have been on the left side. He was asked about the differences between playing right and left.

"You put your other hand down," Herremans said. "Other than the obvious, nothing really. Same angles, same leverage, stuff like that."

It's early, and Kelce and Mathis' injuries affected the depth chart. But the second-team offensive line was made up of Ed Wang at left tackle, Allen Barbre at left guard, Matt Tennant at center, Matt Kopa at right guard, and Johnson at right tackle.

Cornerback excused

Cary Williams, a presumed starter at cornerback, is excused this week after getting married this past weekend. Williams signed a three-year, $17 million contract this offseason. Kelly expects him back next week.

Williams' absence opened a spot for Curtis Marsh, a 2011 third-round pick who's been unproductive during his first two seasons. Marsh didn't know where he'd line up had Williams been present, but he wanted to maximize his time with the starters.

"All I know is I was out with the first team today," Marsh said. "I love it. One of my favorite things to do is compete. Just like you saw, on a couple plays, we're not supposed to go to the ground, not supposed to contact, but it's hard. I have one speed, and I want to compete."

Marsh is 6-foot-1 and 197 pounds and has the long frame that Kelly desires in a defensive back. Kelly said he's seen on film that Marsh has "made some plays," although there really isn't an expansive track record. The best news for Marsh is probably a fresh start with a new coaching staff.

"It's all I want," Marsh said. "It's all I'm thinking about. When I'm home, I'm watching film. The whole offseason, I spent most of the time here, training here. I changed my diet, everything. Every little thing I could do to get better to prove to these coaches that I'm the best."

Bradley Fletcher, a free-agent acquisition, was the other first-team cornerback. Free-agent signee Patrick Chung and four-year veteran Nate Allen were the starters at safety.

Extra points

DeSean Jackson fielded practice punts along with Damaris Johnson and Jeremy Maclin. He seemed to imply that he will handle the majority of returns this season, something he's done less of in recent seasons. . . . The Eagles signed wide receiver Will Murphy, defensive end Daryell Walker and tackle Nic Purcell after tryouts. Tackle Matt Reynolds, wide receiver DeMarco Sampson and defensive tackle Ronnie Cameron were released.