Eagles training camp news: Jalen Hurts on relationship with Nick Sirianni; Birds release their first 'unofficial' depth chart

Jalen Hurts is looking to spend time on the field leveling up his game in training camp. But he’s also leveling up as a leader off the field.

Fellow quarterback Tanner McKee said that Hurts has been more involved welcoming rookies and new players, and Hurts confirmed he’s making efforts to reach out to players he might not normally see in the locker room.

The humid weather at training camp hasn’t just been hard on the media — it’s been brutal on the players as well. Darius Slay said this was his hardest training camp as an Eagle.

“It’s good work,” Slay said. “We need to get in better shape, so it’s good for us. Weather with the practice, because we already practiced hard, the weather has got a lot to do with it. It’s tough doing this in this kind of weather, and competing, going hard every day. They get tough. They keep adding on. Your body ain’t going to be as good as it was when it first came into camp. All it’s doing is getting sorer and sorer, you got to fight through it.”

Howard Eskin will return to the Eagles’ sideline for the Birds’ opening preseason game on Friday as WIP’s sideline reporter, per the Eagles’ game notes. Earlier in 2024, Eskin was banned from Citizens Bank Park due to an “unwanted kiss” toward an Aramark employee. The Sixers followed suit, banning Eskin from their Camden training facility.

Eskin was off the radio for three weeks after reports surfaced, but has been at Eagles’ training camp since it opened late last month and apologized on the radio during his return to WIP on July 27.

Five players are sidelined at Eagles practice Wednesday: Oren Burks (knee); Parris Campbell (groin); CJ Gardner-Johnson (shoulder); Mehki Garner (hamstring); Brandon Smith (concussion).

Right guard Tyler Steen (ankle) is no longer listed as limited. He slotted in with the second-team offense, meaning Mekhi Becton again took the reps with the first unit.

The Eagles play their first game of the preseason on Friday in Baltimore against the Ravens. But the forecast for Friday shows a high probability of rain — which head coach Nick Sirianni said he is taking into account when deciding who to play in the game.

Sirianni didn’t play his starters in preseason in 2023, but did play them in a few series in the 2022 preseason.

The Eagles on Tuesday released an unofficial depth chart ahead of their first preseason game (Friday night at Baltimore), and the key word here is unofficial, since it was compiled by members of the media relations department — not Howie Roseman.

It is, however, our first real look at how the Eagles are laying their roster out in training camp.

The opportunities to compete for roster spots will continue on Friday when the Eagles visit the Baltimore Ravens in their first preseason game (7:30 p.m., NBCSP+). At quarterback, Nick Sirianni hasn’t confirmed who will start or play, but both Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee, the Eagles’ third-string quarterback last season, will likely take plenty of reps throughout the preseason.

While everything in training camp is framed as a competition, the roles at quarterback going into the season are well-defined. With Jalen Hurts as their franchise starting quarterback, the Eagles acquired Pickett and a 2024 fourth-round pick from the Steelers in March for a 2024 third-round pick and two 2025 seventh-round picks to fill Marcus Mariota’s vacated role as the backup. The remaining two years on Pickett’s contract are fully guaranteed ($4.61 million total), according to Over the Cap.

Eagles cornerback Isaiah Rodgers is seen after almost every Eagles practice with a smile and spending time with his young daughter, Maliyah, whom he held in his arms Tuesday afternoon while teammates were interviewed in and around the media tent. On the field, he just might be staking his claim to the outside cornerback job opposite Darius Slay.

The Eagles’ retooled cornerback lineup offered one of the most intriguing roster battles entering training camp, and Rodgers has been the one most consistently taking first-team reps over the last week. But after practice Monday, Rodgers disagreed that he was leading a pack that includes Kelee Ringo, Quinyon Mitchell, Eli Ricks, Josh Jobe, and others.

Tyler Steen participated in team drills a day after returning from an ankle injury. He may have lost his spot at right guard with the first offense. Mekhi Becton maintained that role, although Steen did get some reps with the starters. I think it’s too early to say that Steen got “Wally Pipped.” Becton hasn’t been consistent since taking his place. But the expectation here was that the Eagles would give Steen, a 2023 third-rounder, every opportunity to win that job. His supposed demotion could be temporary.

Center Cam Jurgens returned to action after walking off late in practice Monday. He has an illness and was limited the next day. Brett Toth took over at center when Jurgens stepped out. When right tackle Lane Johnson and left guard Landon Dickerson were given a reduction in their workloads, Fred Johnson and Toth replaced them, respectively. Rookie Trevor Keegan then filled in for Toth.