Eagles training camp observations: Exciting play from veteran pass rusher

Eagles training camp observations: Exciting play from veteran pass rusher originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

After an off day Saturday, the Eagles were back on the practice field Sunday morning at the NovaCare Complex.

The Eagles were in shorts and shells for a practice that lasted 1 hour and 37 minutes. The Eagles will practice again Monday and Tuesday ahead of the first preseason game on Thursday night.

Here are some Day 8 practice observations:

1. As always, we start with some housekeeping:

The injury report:

Did not practice: A.J. Brown (hamstring), Zack Baun (back contusion), Lewis Cine (hamstring), Montrell Johnson (hamstring), Terrace Marshall (knee), Mac McWilliams (quad), Ben VanSumeren (ankle), Trevor Keegan (back)

Limited: DeVonta Smith (back tightness), Nolan Smith (concussion), Jihaad Campbell (shoulder), Drew Mukuba (shoulder), E.J. Jenkins (hamstring), Charley Hughlett (neck)

Brown was held out of the second half of Friday's intense practice and now we know why. He did come out to practice as a spectator on Sunday morning but with a soft-tissue injury, the Eagles won't rush him back. The key is to get him completely healthy for the season opener in just over a month.

Both DeVonta Smith (back) and Nolan Smith (concussion) returned to practice on Sunday. Smith was even able to participate in 11-on-11s.

2. Some depth chart notes:

Adoree' Jackson was up first at outside cornerback before Kelee Ringo rotated in. Jackson has now been up first five of eight practices.

Drew Mukuba (shoulder) is still limited and isn't participating in 11-on-11 drills. Sydney Brown got those first-team reps again on Sunday. Mukuba had just one day up first with the ones before his injury.

Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Jihaad Campbell were up first at linebacker. But we did see rookie Lance Dixon get some first-team reps later on.

Without Nolan Smith in team drills, Azeez Ojulari got the first reps at left outside backer. The starting line was Ojulari, Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Jalyx Hunt. When the Eagles went to a five-man front, Moro Ojomo took the field.

3. The defensive play of the day came from veteran edge rusher Josh Uche. Working as the right edge rusher, Uche hit veteran left tackle Kendall Lamm with a powerful one-arm stab that sent Lamm to the seat of his pants. During camp, Uche has shown his speed around the edge so to see him win with a power move was really impressive.

Through eight days of training camp, Uche has been a pleasant surprise. While Azeez Ojulari got the first snaps with the first-team on Sunday, Uche has made more plays this summer.

4. The play of the day on offense was a pretty back-shoulder throw from Jalen Hurts to Dallas Goedert on the left sideline. Rookie Smael Mondon had good coverage on the play but there's just no defending a perfect back-shoulder ball to a big and athletic tight end like that. Without A.J. Brown at practice, Goedert saw a lot of passes go his way.

But it was also good to see DeVonta Smith back on the field. He caught an intermediate crossing route from Hurts during 11-on-11s and looked healthy.

5. The offense had a chance on a deep ball Sunday but just missed. Jahan Dotson was able to run past Adoree Jackson in coverage and Hurts unleashed a downfield pass but just overthrew Dotson, who had a couple steps on Jackson. It would have been about a 40-yard gain.

6. Some notes from OL vs. DL 2-on-2s:

I really enjoy watching rookie Ty Robinson on these drills. He was able to win going inside on a stunt. His next rep, he hit Laekin Vakalahi with a devastating club.

Rookie Antwaun Powell-Ryland has had a very quiet camp but beat Kendall Lamm clean with a speed move around the edge.

Jordan Mailata and Landon Dickerson looked really smooth passing off a stunt from Moro Ojomo and Jalyx Hunt. That's where O-line cohesion really helps.

It's almost comical to see Jalen Carter in some of these 1-on-1 or 2-on-2 situations. Darian Kinnard barely touched Carter, who beat him with an impressive swim move. Later on, Carter blew up a rep and Josh Uche ended up almost running free toward the QB.

Jalyx Hunt used a power move on Brett Toth and showed some pop. Hunt's go-to is going to be his speed but he looks much stronger in Year 2.

7. Third-year cornerback Eli Ricks and training camp standout Elijah Cooks had a fun back-and-forth battle today that Ricks won. Ricks had a couple pass breakups in the matchup and Cooks couldn't haul in a leaping grab in the end zone against Ricks during a red zone period.

8. Jihaad Campbell broke up a pass in the middle of the field that was intended for Ainias Smith. Campbell is violent when he drives downhill to the football like that.

9. Practice ended with an intense situational drill that was capped with the third-teams in the tight red zone. Dorian Thompson-Robinson's late-game, 4th-down throw in the middle of the field was picked off by linebacker Dallas Gant. The defensive sideline erupted.

10. Some odds and ends:

While Kelee Ringo didn't get the first first-team reps on Sunday, he came in to spell Quinyon Mitchell and got a pass breakup on Dallas Goedert. Ringo timed it perfectly to get his hand in there to knock the ball free in the left flat. He hit a pose after the play too.

Andre Sam made a diving pass breakup near the goal line during a situational drill.

Tristin McCollum dropped a sure-thing interception that hit him in the hands. He did also break up a pass on the right sideline.

Second-year DT Gabe Hall knifed into the backfield for a TFL on running back Keilan Robinson. Hall is starting to come on a bit.

Receiver Darius Cooper got a step on Eli Ricks on the ride sideline and hauled in a perfect pass from Tanner McKee for a gain of 20 or so yards.

During a situational drill, Reed Blankenship wisely batted down a Hail Mary pass into the end zone. Blankenship basically spiked the football. Good situational awareness.

Another burst from rookie running back ShunDerrick Powell, who has stacked a couple good practices. Looking forward to watching him in the game Thursday.

Stupid Observation of the Day: During Sunday's practice, the Eagles played Jhoan Duran's intro song El Incomprendido" and I half expected it to go dark at the NovaCare Complex like it did at Citizens Bank Park on Friday night.