At the start of Eagles training camp, there are a half dozen battles to be won or lost over the next month or so. Here we’ll keep track of each of those battles and add analysis after each practice.
✔️ = Good day
🚀 = Great day
🚨 = Alarming day
❌ = No longer a contender
✅ = Camp battle won
Pre-camp analysis: For the third straight offseason Steen will be in a battle for the starting RG job. In 2023 he lost to Cam Jurgens. In 2024 he lost to Mekhi Becton. This will be his best chance to finally lock down that job, as this year’s competition is weaker than it was the last two summers.
| Starting RG | 7/23 | 7/24 | 7/26 | 7/28 | 7/29 |
| Tyler Steen | ✔️ | ✔️ | – | 🚨 | – |
| Kenyon Green | 🚨 | – | ✔️ | – | – |
| Matt Pryor | – | – | – | ✔️ | – |
| Trevor Keegan | – | – | – | – | – |
| Starting RG | 7/31 | 8/1 | 8/3 |
| Tyler Steen | – | ✔️ | ✅ |
| Kenyon Green | – | – | – |
| Matt Pryor | – | – | – |
| Trevor Keegan | – | – | – |
• 7/23: Steen was with the first-team offense all throughout the spring, and again on Day 1 of camp.
Green (knee) did not practice, so that’s not an ideal way to start camp with a new team.
Keegan got third-team center reps, which is good for his chances of making the team as a versatile backup, but doesn’t help in any potential pursuit of starting at RG.
• 7/24: Steen took all the first-team reps again at RG, though it’s tough to evaluate OL play when the pads aren’t on.
• 7/26: There haven’t been any padded practices yet, so I haven’t focused on O-line or D-line play, but Moro Ojomo has been a fairly obvious standout so far, and he has primarily been working against Steen, sooooo…
Also, Green practiced for the first time today.
• 7/28: Steen went 0/2 in 1-on-1’s against Thomas Booker, and he gave up some pressures to Moro Ojomo in 11-on-11’s. Matt Pryor had a good day, winning his 1-on-1’s.
• 7/29: Apologies, but the Eagles were on a field where it’s tough to see interior OL action clearly, so I don’t have any real analysis here today.
• 7/31: Steen pulled across the formation from his spot at RG on a run play, and he got popped by rookie LB Smael Mondon. Steen has like 100 pounds on Mondon, and Steen was the one who went backwards. Still though, he’s the only player getting first-team reps at RG.
• 8/1: I thought Tyler Steen did some good things today. He had a nice block in a goal line situation on Ojomo, and he held his own against Jalen Carter, who may or may not be giving full effort.
• 8/3: Steen had some up and down moments, but I thought there was more up than down. He was trying to block Jeremiah Trotter on the second level on a run play, but Trotter sidestepped him, and made the “tackle.”
On a rep shortly thereafter, Steen got a hold of Mondon on the second level and drove him down the field, through the whistle.
The Eagles also love pulling guards across the formation in the play action game and then having them set up in pass protection, kind of like offensive tackles. They can do that with Dickerson, who had college experience playing tackle, and they could do that with Mekhi Becton last year, who was formerly a tackle. For example, they pulled Becton across the formation on had him set up as a blocker in pass pro on the DeVonta Dagger. Because Steen played almost exclusively at tackle in college, he is comfortable doing that as well, and they are using him on those types of plays in practice.
Anyway, Steen isn’t a perfect player, but he’s good enough, and nobody among his competition has given him much of a challenge. I’ve seen enough. Steen will be the starting RG.
Starting outside cornerback opposite Quinyon Mitchell
The combatants: Kelee Ringo, Adoree’ Jackson, Mac McWilliamsPre-camp favorite: Ringo
Pre-camp analysis: The Eagles drafted Ringo when he was only 20 years, and the plan was always for him to develop behind the scenes for a year or two before he took on an important role in the defense. The time for him to make the most of an opportunity to start is now.
If Ringo isn’t ready, the Eagles have something of a safety net in place in veteran Adoree’ Jackson, an experienced vet who has played in 97 NFL games, with 82 starts.
There’s also McWilliams, a tough, aggressive rookie who had a good spring.
| Cornerback | 7/23 | 7/24 | 7/26 | 7/28 | 7/29 |
| Kelee Ringo | ✔️ | – | – | – | ✔️ |
| Adoree’ Jackson | – | ✔️ | – | ✔️ | – |
| Mac McWilliams | – | – | – | ✔️ | – |
| Cornerback | 7/31 | 8/1 | 8/3 | 8/4 | 8/5 |
| Kelee Ringo | ✔️ | – | – | 🚨 | |
| Adoree’ Jackson | – | – | – | 🚨 | |
| Mac McWilliams | – | 🚨 | – | 🚨 |
• 7/23: Ringo had a shaky day at corner, getting beating down the field on a deep pass from Tanner McKee to Terrace Marshall, but we’ll award him a ✔️ because he got all the first-team reps over Jackson.
• 7/24: Jackson got first-team reps today at corner in place of Ringo, who had a tough day on Wednesday. Though that was likely the plan all along, it’s noteworthy.
• 7/26: Ringo gave up a pair of deep plays to A.J. Brown. One was a DPI, the other Brown just beat him down the sideline. No shame in getting beaten by a top 3 wide receiver, but Ringo has still given up a lot more plays so far than he has made. It’s early.
• 7/28: Jackson had a nice rep against A.J. Brown on a go route. He cut off Brown’s route and Jalen Hurts’ throw sailed harmlessly over everyone’s heads down the field.
Jackson also had nice coverage on a back shoulder throw to Terrace Marshall. I’m not sure if Jackson got a hand on the ball or not, but he was all over Marshall, making it a very difficult catch that Marshall could not make.
Jackson has outplayed Ringo so far.
I like what I have seen so far from McWilliams. In a red zone session, he was covering Johnny Wilson in the back of the end zone, and he was able to break up a high throw to the 6’6 receiver. McWilliams isn’t the biggest corner at 5’10, 191, but he is feisty.
• 7/29: Ringo had a better day than Jackson. He jumped a route and nearly came up with an INT. He also had a pair of nice reps against Marshall, one of which was a PBU, the other was an overthrow on a deep ball in which Ringo was in better position to make a play than Marshall.
Jackson had a pretty obvious pass interference penalty while covering Jahan Dotson, and he gave up a TD on a slant to Elijah Cooks.
• 7/31: Ringo had close coverage on a fade route to Johnny Wilson that Wilson could not bring in. Ringo has also pretty clearly been the more physical run defender than Jackson.
• 8/1: McWilliams missed practice with a quad injury, so that’s something to monitor.
• 8/3: McWilliams missed his second day of practice. There wasn’t anything particularly notable from Ringo or Jackson.
We should also note here that Eli Ricks has had a really good camp so far. He has struggled in the past when asked to play in the slot, but he looks far more comfortable playing on the outside, and he’s making plays in practice every day.
• 8/4: Every corner on the roster aside from Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean should be on high alert after the team traded iDL Thomas Booker to the Raiders for CB Jakorian Bennett.
Starting safety opposite Reed Blankenship
The combatants: Andrew Mukuba, Sydney Brown, Tristin McCollumPre-camp favorite: Mukuba
Pre-camp analysis: The Eagles opened up a hole at safety after trading C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Texans this offseason.
Brown was the third pick of the third round (66th overall) in the 2023 draft. He is fast, strong, explosive, and he can hit. His physical traits are very appealing, but he plays a little out of control and doesn’t always see the field well.
In the 2025 draft, the Eagles selected another safety with a second-round pick in Mukuba, who does not have Brown’s bulk or explosiveness but displayed much better awareness in college than Brown ever has.
Vic Fangio was also sure to remind us not to forget about McCollum during a spring interview session when he was asked about a battle between Brown and Mukuba.
There’s also the possibility that the Eagles could sign one of the available veteran safeties, say, like, Justin Simmons?
| Safety | 7/23 | 7/24 | 7/26 | 7/28 | 7/29 |
| Andrew Mukuba | – | ✔️ | – | 🚨 | – |
| Sydney Brown | – | – | – | – | ✔️ |
| Tristin McCollum | – | – | – | – | ✔️ |
| Safety | 7/31 | 8/1 | 8/3 | 8/4 | 8/5 |
| Andrew Mukuba | – | – | – | – | |
| Sydney Brown | ✔️ | – | – | – | |
| Tristin McCollum | – | – | – | – |
• 7/23: It’s not great for any of the safeties competing for a starting spot that Cooper DeJean played safety in base defense. Mukuba and Brown split snaps when the defense was in nickel.
• 7/24: Once again, DeJean got safety reps in base. Mukuba got first-team reps in nickel. It’s a bad sign for Brown that a late second-round rookie is getting first-team reps this early, even if they’re splitting them.
• 7/26: Nothing particularly noteworthy from the safeties today, other than that Mukuba got some slot reps in dime.
• 7/28: Mukuba missed practice with a shoulder injury. He went down late in practice on Saturday. Mukuba can’t afford to miss too much time as a rookie battling for a starting job.
• 7/29: Mukuba missed his second straight practice. The Eagles have a day off on Wednesday, so he’ll have an extra day to heal up.
Fangio had perhaps his kindest words yet for Brown during a pre-practice presser.
“Yeah, he’s finally getting to start in the OTAs, training camp to learn his way through the system and learn how we expect him to play, and he had no chance of that last year, so I see him getting better,” Fangio said.
McCollum had a forced fumble. He hit Darius Cooper after a catch over the middle.
• 7/31: Mukuba missed his third day of practice.
It’s probably also worth mentioning that although Brown hasn’t made any splash plays yet, he also hasn’t been obviously out of position yet either, which is his biggest concern. That maybe deserves a ✔️ after 6 practices.
• 8/1: Mukuba didn’t participate in team drills for the fourth straight day. His limited status at least confirms that he’s likely to return to the field soon.
• 8/3: Mukuba didn’t participate in team drills for the fifth straight day. McCollum had a nice pass breakup near the sideline. Brown continues to solid-but-unspectacular.
• 8/4: Make it six for Mukuba, who is also unlikely to play in the first preseason game, per Fangio.
Starting linebacker opposite Zack Baun
The combatants: Jihaad Campbell, Jeremiah Trotter, Smael Mondon
Pre-camp favorite: Campbell
Pre-camp analysis: Zack Baun will start at one linebacker spot, and Nakobe Dean will almost certainly begin the season on the PUP list as he continues to recover from a torn patellar tendon suffered in the playoffs. That leaves an open starting spot.
Campbell was the Eagles’ first round selection this year, and he is a physical specimen, with an outstanding blend of size and athleticism. Vic Fangio indicated that Campbell wouldn’t be a full participant in practice until sometime in August. But surprisingly, he was a full go on Day 1.
Last season, the Eagles were ready to have Trotter and Oren Burks split snaps in the playoffs after Dean went down, but when Burks immediately played well, Fangio decided to just stick with him. When it was assumed that Campbell would miss a chunk of camp, Trotter was seemingly in a great position to be the short-term starter. But Campbell’s availability probably changes that dynamic.
And finally, there’s Mondon, a rookie fifth-round pick, but one who played in huge games in college at Georgia, and who has obviously played with many of the Eagles’ starters, also from Georgia. He’s a longshot to start, but he has talent, so we’ll see.
| Linebacker | 7/23 | 7/24 | 7/26 | 7/28 | 7/29 |
| Jihaad Campbell | 🚀 | ✔️ | ✔️ | – | ✔️ |
| Jeremiah Trotter | ✔️ | – | – | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Smael Mondon | – | – | – | – | ❌ |
| Linebacker | 7/31 | 8/1 | 8/3 | 8/4 | 8/5 |
| Jihaad Campbell | ✔️ | – | – | 🚨 | |
| Jeremiah Trotter | – | – | ✔️ | – |
• 7/23: Trotter got first-team reps on Day 1, but the fact that Campbell is a lot further along in his rehab than was anticipated has to make him the clear favorite to win the starting job.
• 7/24: Fangio had a press conference this morning and said that the trainers told him for most of the offseason that August was the timetable for Campbell’s return. He was surprised that Campbell was good to go, like us. He joked that trainers “understate and overachieve so they look good.”
Campbell’s athleticism is pretty obvious through these first two days of camp.
• 7/26: Campbell got first-team reps for the first time today. I think this battle has a good chance of being the first one called.
• 7/28: Trotter did some nice things today. He had a pass breakup in the middle of the field, and a nice pop on a run stop of his former Clemson teammate Will Shipley.
In RB vs. LB 1-on-1’s, it was a tough session for Campbell, who went 0 for 5, getting beaten by A.J. Dillon, Will Shipley twice, and Keilan Robinson twice. After the drill, Campbell gave himself some penalty pushups. (I’ll note here that this is a very hard drill for the linebackers.)
Mondon missed practice with an illness.
• 7/29: Though we have assumed that Campbell will be the starter Week 1, Trotter has had a good start to camp. Today he had a nice pop on a Will Shipley run. He also had tight coverage on a corner route by Dallas Goedert, and caused an incomplete pass. He always seems to be in the right spot, and has made plays all over the field.
Campbell made some plays as well. He had a few run stops, and he had close coverage on Goedert, knocking him to the ground as he caught a pass for a short gain.
We haven’t mentioned Mondon much here, but he looks tough and athletic. However, there’s no real path to him starting unless the Eagles suffer some injuries, so we can probably eliminate him from the competition.
• 7/31: Campbell had a rep in which he laid out FB Ben VanSumeren, who looked like he didn’t know what hit him. VanSumeren went to the ground and was shaken up on the play. Campbell also got some opportunities to rush the passer from the edge today, but was shut down by rookie OT Myles Hinton. Still, it’s a positive sign that the Eagles continue to put more on Campbell’s plate.
• 8/1: Campbell has been fast and physical against the run and at times in zone coverage, but he struggled today in man coverage. At one point in practice it almost looked like Hurts was picking on him, because he was targeted three or four times on one drive, and he gave up a long TD to Will Shipley on a wheel route.
• 8/3: Trotter sidestepped a Steen block and made a “tackle.” And again, Mondon isn’t likely to start, but it’s pretty clear that he can play. He seems to make our practice notes every day.
• 8/4: Fangio lamented the short amount of time the coaching staff has to get Campbell ready for the regular season, which is interesting. Trotter will no doubt be more mentally ready Week 1. Could they start Trotter early on and ease Campbell in?
Swing tackle
The combatants: Kendall Lamm, Matt Pryor, Darian Kinnard, Myles Hinton, Cameron Williams
Pre-camp favorite: Lamm
Pre-camp analysis: Here’s how I’d rank the combatants, pre-camp:
1) Kendall Lamm: Lamm is a career backup who has stuck in the NFL for 10 years, playing for the Texans, Browns, Titans, and most recently, the Dolphins. He has appeared in 119 games, with 44 starts, and has experience playing both tackle spots. He has played 973 snaps at LT and 1,611 snaps at RT. He started 15 games over the last two seasons combined for Miami.
2) Matt Pryor: Pryor has played four positions along the offensive line, which is something the Eagles value. He has 427 career snaps played at LT, 718 at RT. The bulk of his work in the NFL has come at RG, where he has played 1,645 career snaps, hence his inclusion in the starting RG discussion above. He started 15 games for the Bears in 2024.
3) Darian Kinnard: Kinnard has experience playing at LT and RT in college at Kentucky. He has only played 71 career snaps in the NFL, 68 of which came at RT against the Giants in a meaningless Week 18 game last season. Kinnard has been in the league three seasons, and he has three Super Bowl rings, having played for Kansas City in his first two. So, you know, he’s also a good luck charm.
4) Myles Hinton: Hinton, a sixth-round rookie, will make the 53-man roster as long as he shows something in camp, but he’ll have to be really good to be immediately trusted as a swing tackle. He has experience playing both sides in collage at Michigan and Stanford.
5) Cameron Williams: Williams is yet another sixth-round rookie, who again will make the roster as long as he shows something, but I less like his potential as a swing tackle in the short term than Hinton, because Williams only played RT at Texas.
| Swing tackle | 7/23 | 7/24 | 7/26 | 7/28 | 7/29 |
| Kendall Lamm | ✔️ | – | – | – | – |
| Matt Pryor | – | – | – | – | – |
| Darian Kinnard | ✔️ | – | – | – | 🚨 |
| Myles Hinton | – | – | – | – | – |
| Cameron Williams | – | – | – | ❌ |
| Swing tackle | 7/31 | 8/1 | 8/3 | 8/4 | 8/5 |
| Kendall Lamm | – | ✔️ | 🚨 | – | |
| Matt Pryor | ✔️ | – | – | ✔️ | |
| Darian Kinnard | – | – | – | – | |
| Myles Hinton | – | – | ✔️ | – |
• 7/23: Lamm got second-team reps at LT, and Kinnard got second-team reps at RT. Pryor got reps at guard. We’ll give checks to Lamm and Kinnard.
Hinton got third-team reps at LT, with Cameron Williams at RT.
• 7/24: Nothing much to say here until we see these guys with pads on and/or in 1-on-1’s.
• 7/26: First padded practice will be 7/29.
• 7/28: Williams had a really tough day, particularly in 1-on-1’s. On Williams’ first rep, recently signed edge rusher Ogbonnia Okoronkwo just ran right around him. On the next rep, Williams false started (they let it go), and Okoronkwo tried an inside move with Williams ending up on the ground. Williams is going to be a long work in progress. I’m already ready to eliminate him from swing tackle consideration. He also feels like a strong candidate for a redshirt IR season.
• 7/29: Kinnard struggled. He gave up a few pressures — and at least one sack — to Josh Uche.
• 7/31: With Lane Johnson getting a rest day, Pryor got first-team reps at RT.
• 8/1: Lamm had a positive day as well. He made a heady play to come across the formation and pick up an unblocked blitzing Campbell. He also had a nice red zone block on edge rusher Ochaun Mathis.
Hinton had a loss in 1-on-1’s against Gabe Hall, and he got beaten for a sack in 11-on-11’s by Ochaun Mathis.
• 8/3: Lamm had a bad day. He got bullied on a run play by Moro Ojomo and Smael Mondon, and he got ran over by Josh Uche when he was off balance on his kick slide.
The best rookie offensive lineman so far has been Hinton, in my opinion. He drove a lineman (I think it was Byron Young?) five yards down the field on a run block today, and just generally speaking looks the part of an athletic, moldable player.
• 8/4: Pryor was up and down in 1-on-1’s, but he had a big block on Patrick Johnson on a trap play.
RB2, behind Saquon Barkley
The combatants: Will Shipley, A.J. DillonPre-camp favorite: Shipley
Pre-camp analysis: I really don’t think this is much of a camp battle, as the team likes Shipley, who will be given every opportunity to be the RB2 / two-minute offense back. We’ll just include it here for the fantasy football community.
| RB | 7/23 | 7/24 | 7/26 | 7/28 | 7/29 |
| Will Shipley | ✔️ | – | – | – | ✔️ |
| A.J. Dillon | – | – | – | – | – |
| RB | 7/31 | 8/1 | 8/3 | 8/4 | 8/5 |
| Will Shipley | ✔️ | 🚀 | – | – | |
| A.J. Dillon | – | – | – | – |
• 7/23: Dillon got reps before Shipley, but it felt like Shipley got more reps overall. Shipley had an impressive run, exploding through the right side of the line.
• 7/24: It felt like Shipley and Dillon got a similar number of reps. Nothing much in the way of highlights or lowlights.
• 7/26: Dillon and Shipley were quiet today. I did like what I saw from rookie UDFA Montrell Johnson, who has caught my eye early in camp.
• 7/28: Montrell Johnson had an explosive run after a nice jump cut on Saturday. He had another explosive run today that got the attention of Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts, who both went out of their way to give Johnson kudos after the run. Johnson isn’t a realistic candidate to be the RB2, but he’s making a case for himself to make the team.
I thought Dillon and Shipley both caught the ball well in 1-on-1’s.
• 7/29: Shipley had a standout day. He made a bunch of catches, including a TD on a nice Texas route. He also had a shifty run in the red zone. His best trait is cutting in the open field while continuing to run forward, almost sort of slalom style.
• 7/31: LB Lance Dixon came free through the line on a blitz, and Shipley wiped him out with a great block in pass pro. Shipley can catch the ball, and he has some big play explosiveness, but can he pass protect? If not, it’ll be hard to trust him in a passing down role. He looked good in that area today.
Dillon was a limited participant, and did not play at all in team drills.
• 8/1: Shipley had a very good day. He smoked Jihaad Campbell on a wheel route that went for a touchdown. That was Jalen Hurts’ easiest downfield throw of the day because of how open Shipley got. And for the second straight day Shipley had a nice blitz pickup, this time on a corner coming off the edge (I didn’t see who). He also had a nice TD run in a red zone session. Shipley can play. To be determined if he can be consistent in pass protection, but I’m pretty confident that he will be an upgrade on Kenny Gainwell as a runner and receiver.
• 8/3: Dillon made a nice jump cut on one of his carries before getting to the outside. When he gets to top speed he looks like a scary player to have to tackle, but it takes him a bit to accelerate.
• 8/4: Quiet day from the backup RBs.
Other positions that I don’t think are legitimate camp battles, but are on watch and could be added later
QB2 / QB3- WR3
- EDGE 3/4
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