PHILADELPHIA − It was fitting metaphor last week when Eagles center Jason Kelce used plastic bubble wrap to cover the Guardian Cap helmet that linemen, linebackers and tight ends are required to wear during the first two weeks of training camp.
That’s because it’s a good bet that the Eagles will place many of their top players in that proverbial bubble wrap during the three preseason games, the first this Friday at Lincoln Financial Field against the Jets.
That leaves the open practice Sunday (7 p.m., tickets available for $10 through Ticketmaster) at the Linc as the only opportunity until the regular season begins Sept. 11 for the general public to see most of the Eagles starters in action.
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That includes seeing if quarterback Jalen Hurts really has improved his accuracy, timing and pace on his deep ball; if newly-acquired wide receiver A.J. Brown is as impressive catching the ball on the outside as well as slants over the middle; and if Miles Sanders can finally have that breakout season entering Year 4.
It’s the same on defense with defensive linemen Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox, and cornerbacks Darius Slay and James Bradberry, with 12 Pro Bowl selections among them.
“I haven’t heard anything like that,” said tight end Dallas Goedert, who qualifies as a bubble-wrap candidate for the preseason, about sitting out the preseason games.
Then he added: “That’s obviously the worst part about football, the injuries. You gotta make sure your body is ready for the grind that you’re going into. The work you put in during the summer and just coming out here and banging every day gets you ready for the season.”
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni set that precedent last season.
Hurts didn’t play in any of the three preseason games, while many of the starters played a series or two in the first game. For the next two games, Sirianni used the joint practice sessions with the upcoming opponent as a game situation − without the tackling − before sitting most of the starters for the remaining two games.
The Eagles seem to be following that plan again this season. After facing the Jets, they’ll have joint practice sessions at the Cleveland Browns’ practice facility before playing them Aug. 21. Then they’ll be at the Miami Dolphins’ facility for two practices before playing them on Aug. 27.
The games, then, will serve as the proving ground for many of the younger players and undrafted free agents fighting for roster spots. NFL teams are required to trim their roster from 90 to 85 on Aug. 16, then down to 80 on Aug. 23, then to 53 on Aug. 30.
So the preseason games could settle the third quarterback battle between Reid Sinnett and Carson Strong, while Hurts watches from the sidelines.
Sirianni said often that he takes into account “the health of the players first” when designing the preseason schedule. This year, for example Sirianni has a walkthrough scheduled every third day during training camp.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman agrees with that philosophy, saying the joint practices with the upcoming opponents, “is part of how hard this camp is.”
So fans at the Linc on Sunday night will see the starters get their share of snaps. But they’ll also see rookies like first-round defensive tackle Jordan Davis, third-round linebacker Nakobe Dean and even some of the surprises of camp, such as undrafted free agent Britain Covey, a wide receiver.
At practice on Saturday, Davis, who’s 6-foot-6, 336 pounds, showed his speed for a man that large when he chased Hurts as Hurts was rolling to his left. Hurts threw the ball away just before Davis arrived.
Brown and Slay continued their must-see matchup on Saturday. On one play, Brown had a chance to haul in a pass over his shoulder deep down the sideline. Slay was with him step for step and he couldn’t haul it in.
On another play, Slay caught the ball over the middle, then used his strength to stiff arm a defender and speed to break into the open field.
Slay, meanwhile, had the play of the day during 7-on-7 drills. He stayed with Quez Watkins stride for stride deep down the sideline, then outleaped Watkins to intercept Hurts’ pass.
These are the kinds of things that fans could see Sunday night. And that will likely be their only chance.
Zach Pascal’s ordeal
Blame a bad chicken quesadilla for wide receiver Zach Pascal missing the first week of training camp and needing to stay at the hospital for four days.
Pascal, in his first season with the Eagles after spending the previous four with the Indianapolis Colts, said he lost 16 pounds through the ordeal, and he’s only getting back to full strength now. He was a full participant in practice for the first time on Saturday.
“It was rough,” Pascal said. “I wouldn’t wish this on no man at all … I felt great (Saturday). I felt my legs were back under me. I’ve been in the weight room getting my strength back. I’m still on the rise, still getting it back.”
Pascal is expected to serve as the Eagles’ slot receiver this season. Pascal is also familiar with Sirianni, who was the Colts’ offensive coordinator for Pascal’s first three seasons.
Injury update
Left tackles Jordan Mailata and Andre Dillard missed their second straight day of practice Saturday with concussions, while WR DeVonta Smith also sat out a second straight practice with a groin injury. It wasn’t known if any of the three were able to return for the Sunday night practice. With a walkthrough scheduled for Monday, it’s likely none of the three will return until Tuesday.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.