Bark and Bite

Training Camp is for all 90 players, from the most important starter to the most disposable camp body. We tend to focus more on the backups and young players than the stars. We know what the stars can do. It is more fun to try to figure out which backup or new guy is going to make the team or even become a key player.

But sometimes you have to focus on the stars.

Friday’s practice was basically a scrimmage and the star of the show was Saquon Barkley.

Saquon Barkley looked a little banged up after a red zone catch but he scored a rushing TD on the next play and then got in Jeremiah Trotter Jr’s face. Barkley scored again on 2-point try and talked trash to Trot Jr. again. #Eagles

— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) August 1, 2025

Eagles camp notes, Day 7:

Saquon Barkley put on a show, igniting an offense that had been sagging over the last few days. He jawed with safety Reed Blankenship after a long run down the left side early in practice and didn’t let up over the two-hour session.

2 TDs in all.

— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) August 1, 2025

Barkley made plays and then let everyone know about it. You love to hear that because it shows how competitive he is. Barkley is coming off one of the greatest seasons in football history. He’s not coasting or looking in the rearview mirror. Barkley is out there going hard in practice. He’s playing like it’s a game. That kind of competitive spirit is contagious and is part of what helped this team win big last year.

Last year Barkley racked up a ton of touches. One of the questions this summer was whether the Eagles would be judicious with Barkley, trying to save him for the season. Barkley is getting plenty of work in camp. The team is getting him into game shape so he’s ready to roll on Week 1. It also sets a good tone for the rest of the team. Everybody works hard.

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Let’s stick with RBs for a minute. Will Shipley is in his second season. He was barely used last year, but will have a definite role this year. Some people think he’ll be the clear cut #2 RB. I’m not so sure about that. Shipley is at his best in the passing game. He runs good routes, shows a feel for getting open and has natural hands. Jimmy Bama is high on him.

Barkley’s backup, Will Shipley, also 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.

While I like Shipley as a third down back, I have concerns with him as the primary backup RB. He doesn’t have top speed and didn’t show a lot of wiggle last year. I hope he proves to be better than I think. I would love him to become a terrific role player. I happen to like AJ Dillon a lot. Last year Gainwell was the backup RB and third down back. I hope they mix in both Shipley and Dillon this season.

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LB Smael Mondon continues to impress. Here is a good blurb from Jeff McLane.

Rookie linebacker Smael Mondon received more time with the first unit than Campbell. He had several tackles, but his finest moment came when he picked up Barkley on a wheel route, ran with him step for step, and karate chopped the ball away just as it reached the running back in the end zone.

Mondon is making plays in the run game and the pass game.

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We’ve talked about the need for the backup receivers to play better. It was good to see this.

Jalen Hurts is getting some extra work with Jahan Dotson and Ainias Smith after practice: pic.twitter.com/5SVctYVxmv

— Olivia Reiner (@ReinerOlivia) August 1, 2025

Dotson and Smith are talented players. If they can develop better chemistry with Hurts it will help them play better and improve the passing game. Dotson and Smith seem to understand the need for improvement. It is good that they aren’t taking anything for granted. Let’s see if the extra work leads to better results.

BLG had a note on Elijah Cooks.

• Elijah Cooks was a frequent target on Friday. He made a nice toe-tapping grab along the right sideline. He did have a bad drop after getting wide open in the middle of the field. Really interested to see how Cooks looks in preseason game action. We know he can play receiver. We need to see if he can block and play special teams. At worst, Cooks has been the Eagles’ fourth best receiver this summer. Could make a case for him over Dotson, though the latter will very likely be WR3.

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Young DTs Ty Robinson and Gabe Hall are both making plays. Hall was disappointing as a UDFA rookie, but the Eagles saw potential and kept him on the practice squad so they could develop him. That patience is paying off this summer. Robinson was taken in the fourth round and Howie Roseman sure sounded excited about him. Robinson will make the team. Hall has a great chance to do the same. It will be interesting to see if they can win playing time.

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A couple of OL notes from Jimmy Bama.

• 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.

• Free agent acquisition Kendall 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.

Steen is starting to play better. Very good to see him improving as camp goes on. Lamm has a chance to be the backup LT. I’m curious to see how he does in the preseason. Lamm has more experience than talent, but he could be a good backup.

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