Eagles Training Camp Practice Notes: Riq Woolen intercepts Jalen Hurts twice at The Linc

JALEN HURTS UPDATE (continued):

• THE BAD:

  • Hurts threw wide and out of bounds to DeVonta on a play where it looked like the ball kinda slipped out of his hand.

  • Hurts overthrew Wicks deep on a play where he was probably “sacked” anyway.

  • Hurts rolled left and wasn’t able to get the ball within Lemon’s catch radius.

Let’s talk Riq Woolen! Well, we’ve already mentioned him. But just wanted to stress that he had a strong night with the two picks. As we said last week, it’s not always going to be pretty with him. He will be frustrating at times. But while there might be some low lows, there will also be pretty high highs. He’s a playmaker and a net positive.

Kinda feel like Nolan Smith is being slept on. He beat Lane Johnson (!) to the inside to notch a “sack” on Hurts early in practice. Not sure if this was the rep where Lane got banged up. Smith’s been overshadowed by Jalyx Hunt‘s ascent to potential stardom but he’s no chopped liver.

Speaking of Jalyx, he was cooking Fred Johnson tonight. There was a rep where he beat Big Fred around the edge for what probably would’ve been a strip-sack by getting to Hurts in his windup. Hunt also had a nice rep in coverage where he was in position to blow up DeVonta Smith in the flat after a short reception from under center play-action.

Drew Kendall logged first-team left guard reps tonight with Dickerson resting.

Tank Bigsby had a couple nice runs that looked like they would’ve went for big gains.

BACKUP QUARTERBACK BATTLE UPDATE: Andy Dalton was first up at QB2 tonight. He overthrew Darius Cooper to the left side, not unlike how the veteran previously missed Cooper and Eli Stowers on Saturday night. Dalton did later hit a crossing Elijah Moore, who was schemed wide open, for a catch-and-run touchdown. Tanner McKee threw a good ball to Hollywood Brown along the right sideline at one point. He also made another connection with Darius Cooper to move the offense into plus territory during a two-minute drill towards the end of practice. McKee also found Moore to get into field goal range before the drive ultimately stalled just outside of the red zone.

Darius Cooper had a couple nice catches tonight. He also had a bad drop and there was a rep where it didn’t look like he was on the same page as McKee. Even so, I’d argue that Cooper is more ready to contribute early in the season than Lemon is. Obviously, the Eagles’ 2026 first-round pick is making his way back from injury. It’s possible that Lemon will look more ready by the time Week 1 is here. Or maybe he won’t but the Eagles playing him to work out the kinks will pay off later in the season. But if the Eagles had to play a game today, Cooper is one of the Eagles’ best three receivers at this moment in time.

The Eagles’ defense was all over designed touches to Lemon. Hurts and Lemon have also yet to totally sync up.

Jose Ramirez doesn’t have a chance to make the roster, in part because the Eagles are really deep at edge rusher. But he’s popped in practice and the preseason games. Would be a good guy to get on the practice squad. He was pretty dominant in his final year at Eastern Michigan, when he logged 19.5 TFLs and 12 sacks in 12 games played. Ramirez showed up with a TFL tonight.

With Lane Johnson getting banged up, Markel Bell not practicing, and Fred Johnson filling in at right tackle, John Ojukwu saw some first-team left tackle action with Jordan Mailata getting some reps off.

No fight this time around but Moro Ojomo drove Fred Johnson multiple yards into the backfield on a rep where Barkley was stopped for just a short gain to bring up a fourth down.

For those wondering why the players were wearing jerseys with bright green numbers, it’s to promote the Eagles Autism Foundation. They’ll be auctioned off for charity if you want to get your hands on one.

Today I learned that former Eagles long snapper Jon Dorenbos has really long hair now.