The Philadelphia Eagles held their first open practice after trading A.J. Brown, and it was clear the offence is still figuring things out. The focus has shifted toward DeVonta Smith and Saquon Barkley, with more action over the middle of the field, but early June showed just how uneven that process can look.
The changes in focus were obvious from the start. Head coach Nick Sirianni emphasised a shorter passing game, leaning heavily on routes over the middle and giving Smith an increased role outside. The team used less play-action than before, but often had Hurts taking deep drops.
While there were some positive moments in tight **** es near the end zone, consistency was lacking throughout practice, especially as passes became more frequent on later downs. Jalen Hurts discussed how he’s approaching these changes during a recent press conference:
Jalen Hurts started 7-on-7 drills with an interception, as linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. dropped into zone coverage and picked off the first throw of the session. It took some time for things to settle down from there, as Hurts adjusted to a new setup without A.J. Brown drawing defenders his way.
With Brown now in Pittsburgh and rookie Makai Lemon sidelined, Smith became the clear focal point, while Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown and Johnny Wilson took turns with first-team reps.