Takeaways

Over the last two days it sure sounds like the Browns had a better showing than the Eagles. Is this a cause for concern? I don’t think so. The teams had different approaches to the practices. The Browns are coming off a disastrous 3-14 season. They want to show they can compete. They’re trying to build some confidence. The Browns ran a pair of trick plays (both successful). That’s not common for joint practices. The Eagles rested some key players. They mixed in backups with the starting lineups. Nick Sirianni knows what he has with most of his team. He and the coaches are trying to figure out depth and a few spots.

Cleveland can come away from the practices feeling good about themselves.

The Browns are dominating the Eagles in practice today.

— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) August 14, 2025

They still aren’t likely to be a good team, but they should be improved from last year. That was a miserable season.

The Eagles will be one of the best teams in the league. They aren’t trying to get a lot of work for their stars. As we’ve discussed, the Eagles are trying to figure out depth on OL, at edge rusher and a couple of other spots. They are looking for a starting CB. They’re figuring out safety, with both Sydney Brown and Drew Mukuba showing promise.

When evaluating players in these practices, the coaches know there are going to be some negative results. The point isn’t to have everyone succeed but rather to test them and see how they respond.

Various players have stepped up at various positions. The one spot where the coaches are waiting for an answer is CB. Quinyon Mitchell and Adoree Jackson were with the starters today. Then Jakorian Bennett and Mac McWilliams took over. Kelee Ringo and Eli Ricks were with the 3’s. Not a great look for Ringo.

Saturday will be a huge test for him. The coaches want him to win the job, but they are not going to give it to him. He’s got to start making plays and being more consistent. McWilliams has started to get regular work at outside corner and it feels like he could be entering the competition. I went back and re-watched his snaps from the Cincy game. I thought he covered well. He needs to show a bit more urgency in getting to the ball to tackle, but overall he played a solid game. I expect we’ll see a lot of him on Saturday.

***

We don’t know who will start opposite of Reed Blankenship. Sydney Brown has started for most of the summer due to injuries to Drew Mukuba. Brown was a bit quiet initially. The light seems to have gone on for him starting in the Bengals game.

Eagles-Browns notes, Day 2:

An active day for Sydney Brown. He shouldered TE Harold Fannin to the ground following a completion near the boundary.

And closed quickly on RB Dylan Sampson to bottle a short reception, then ripped the ball out of his hands as the whistle blew.

— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) August 14, 2025

Brown likes to hit. Hitting and tackling vs the Bengals has gotten him going. Mukuba still has a chance to win the job. Vic Fangio was high on him as a draft pick. He wants to give Mukuba every chance to play. The rookie has to stay healthy and he’s got to play better against TEs.

That’s a wrap on #Eagles practice, which ended with a tip-drill interception from Drew Mukuba courtesy of a Diontae Johnson drop.

Mukuba got beat by Harold Fannin on a corner route for a touchdown the play before but got the pick on the two-point conversion.

— EJ Smith (@EJSmith94) August 14, 2025

Both players have flashed. This is very different from the corner situation where no one has truly emerged.

***

Johnny Wilson and Darius Cooper both played well in the practices. They also got mixed in on STs in a way that shows the coaches are getting them ready for regular roles. That’s a great sign for both of them making the roster.

***

This was an interesting note from Zach Berman.

Campbell rushed the passer from the overhang spot more than usual during this practice, and his athleticism was on display (Campbell caught up with Myles Garrett after practice on Wednesday). This won’t be Campbell’s chief responsibility, but it’s something the Eagles want to develop with the first-round pick.

Campbell offers a player with a diverse skill set. Fangio isn’t going to waste it by having him do the same thing over and over. Expect Fangio to be creative with his star rookie LB.

***

Landon Dickerson may have secured a Pro Bowl spot already.

To an outsider, witnessing a mobile Landon Dickerson one day removed from the operating table might have felt like seeing a unicorn. To Cam Jurgens, it’s Dickerson’s status quo.

“That’s our guy. Never count him out. That’s the toughest guy I know.”https://t.co/ajCWxJHnqP https://t.co/doz1gpOWYP

— Olivia Reiner (@ReinerOlivia) August 14, 2025

Go to practice with a bag of beers and share them will all the big boys. That’s a Pro Bowl move.

_

Browns-Eagles Practice #1

Nick Sirianni doesn’t like playing his starters in the preseason. He prefers to have them in joint practices against another team. There is more control and he can get in the specific work he wants his players to do. The Eagles took on the Browns on Wednesday and will do so again on Thursday. Then the backups will play in Saturday’s preseason game.

If you want to read practice notes, here are the links.

Jimmy Bama

Jeff McLane

BLG

Dave Zangaro

Zach Berman and Brooks Kubena

PHLY Postgame Show

Now let’s talk about what happened.

The search for a starting CB isn’t any closer to being resolved. Kelee Ringo had some struggles. Jakorian Bennett got some work with the first team and he gave up several completions. Adoree Jackson continues to be blah. Mac McWilliams spent most of the day with the 2’s, but played well. He is playing a lot of outside corner, which is interesting since he previously spent a lot of time in the slot. Will McWilliams get more reps with the 1’s on Thursday?

Zach Berman wonders if the team will consider Cooper DeJean outside and someone else in the slot. Very possible. At the same time, he has real value in the slot. Plenty of teams put a top receiver there so you would want a top cover guy. At least on the outside you can have a safety cheat to that side.

There is still time for someone to emerge, but the clock is ticking.

***

Remember when depth at receiver was a big concern? Johnny Wilson and Darius Cooper changed that narrative in the preseason opener. Cooper has continued to practice well since then. Wilson had a strong showing against the Browns and just looks like a different player. He’s playing with more confidence. Fran Duffy noted that both guys have been getting extra work on STs, which tells you the coaches are making plans for them to be active on gamedays. Backup receivers must contribute on STs.

***

Brett Toth got the starting reps at LG. He had an up and down day. 1-on-1’s aren’t ideal for a guy like Toth. He’s at his best when he knows the play, the snap count and his assignment. He’s better at executing a block than winning on natural ability or athleticism.

Darrian Kinnard got the second team reps at LG. He also got some snaps at LT. Interesting. This may be a sign that the coaches are considering Kinnard as the backup at LG and LT and Matt Pryor as the backup on the right side. This is just speculation for now, but that would make some sense.

Lane Johnson and Cam Jurgens both sat for part of the practice to get some rest. That meant snaps for rookie Drew Kendall at center and Pryor at RT. Every rep Kendall gets helps him get better.

***

The Eagles passing game was up and down. Myles Garrett got pressure more than a few times. AJ Brown missed practice and that never helps. Jalen Hurts made some good throws, but didn’t build on the great showing he had on Tuesday.

The run game was very different. Saquon Barkley, AJ Dillon and Will Shipley all had runs where they got to the second level untouched. That is a great job by the OL and supporting blockers.

***

Myles Garrett is a freak. He dominated Lane Johnson on one rep, something Eagles reporters hadn’t seen before. Garrett won with a hard inside move and just blew by Johnson. After practice, numerous Eagles wanted to go talk to Garrett. He is a special player.

***

Azeez Ojulari had his best day of the summer. He had a sack and was more disruptive than other practices. Ojulari has been a good player in the past and that’s what makes his underwhelming summer so disappointing. Josh Uche and Ogbo Okoronkwo have both looked good at times, but no one has jumped out as a sure thing. It would be good if Ojulari came alive. Better late than never.

***

Fran Duffy said Grant Calcaterra had a good day. He needs to take a step forward this year. Chances are that Dallas Goedert, who also had a good showing, is going to get hurt and miss a game or two. It would really help if Calcaterra could replace him and play well. He doesn’t have to be as good as DG, who is one of the better TEs in the league. But Calcaterra has to play better than he did in the past.

***

UDFA Brandon Johnson got some reps with the 2’s as the nickelback. He’s got some physical limitations, but Johnson is tough and confident. Those traits can make a bid difference in the slot.

***

Zack Baun practiced in 7-on-7 drills and broke up a Kenny Pickett pass. Baun is resting his back and sitting out the 11-o-11 stuff.

Jeremiah Trotter Jr continues to play well. Rookies Jihad Campbell and Smael Mondon have their moments as well.

_