PHILADELPHIA — Don’t look now, but injuries are piling up at Eagles training camp.
Wide receiver DeVonta Smith missed his fourth straight practice at the NovaCare Complex Friday. He was just one of a dozen Eagles who have been hampered by injuries this summer. Smith worked by himself off to the side before drills began, signaling he may be close to returning from a tricky back strain.
In addition to Smith, among those out on Friday were LB Zack Baun (back), TE E.J. Jenkins (hamstring), WR Terrace Marshall (knee), CB Mac McWilliams (quad), Edge Nolan Smith (concussion) and FB/LB Ben VanSumeren (ankle).
LB Jihaad Campbell (shoulder), DT Jalen Carter (shoulder), LG Landon Dickerson (ribs), C Cam Jurgens (back surgery) and S Andrew Mukuba (shoulder) were all limited.
Evaluation is hindered when players are sidelined, particularly for unproven rookies. The Birds have been wanting to get a close-up look at Mukuba, their second-round selection out of Texas in April, but he mostly hasn’t been available.
“He just has to pay attention to meetings to get mental reps, but there’s no replacing physical reps,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “Meetings and mental reps are good, but the value of them compared to physical reps is night and day.”
Mukuba grew up in Austin after immigrating from Zimbabwe at age 9 with his family. He transferred to the University of Texas at the end of the 2023 season after starting three years at Clemson.
Last year with the Longhorns, he had five interceptions (tied for the most in the SEC), seven pass deflections, four sacks and 69 tackles, including 41 solo.
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Veteran Adoree’ Jackson, who is competing with Kelee Ringo for the second cornerback spot, responded Friday to blunt words from Fangio earlier in the week after the battle for that job.
“I think it’s just to prove it to myself more than anything,” Jackson said. “Every day you come out here, you gotta to prove yourself. It’s that notion that rent is due every day.
“So every day I come out here, I’m proving it to myself, whether I’ve been in here nine years and acting like I’ve only been here one year in the league. … These guys (the Eagles) have a foundation. They’re established — their mantra, their ethos of what they do — and me coming in just showing them I can be one of the guys and fit in with them and still be myself.
“I think that’s the best thing about coming into this situation, learning and taking tidbits from everybody, but at the same time still being myself and not trying to be somebody I’m not. And I’m thankful they’ve welcomed me with warm arms like that.”
General manager Howie Roseman signed Jackson in the offseason after the New York Giants let him walk. The Giants had signed him just before their 2024 opener. He played 47% of their defensive snaps and started in five games, limiting opposing quarterbacks to a 48.8% completion percentage (down from 65.9% the previous season with the Titans).
“He’s played a good bit of ball, but I think this is the place where he’s got to show who he is and be the player hopefully that people have always thought he could be,” Fangio said Monday. “I think it’s time for him to show that. In Tennessee, when it came time to re-sign him after his contract was up, they didn’t. The Giants, his contract was up (at the end of last season), they didn’t. It’s time to show who he is or who he isn’t.”
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NOTES: RB Saquon Barkley and backup Will Shipley were both impressive on Friday, whether it was running, blocking or receiving. … Head coach Nick Sirianni was under the weather and didn’t meet with reporters as scheduled, but he was involved in the team’s practice. … The Eagles resume camp on Sunday after a players’ day off Saturday.
Source: Berkshire mont
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