The Philadelphia Eagles opened mandatory minicamp with several notable developments, from Jalen Hurts creating one of the top plays of the day to an unheralded linebacker getting a meaningful opportunity with the first-team defense.
Mandatory minicamp does not settle roster battles, but it can reveal early pecking orders, injury timelines, and which players are earning longer looks from the coaching staff. For the Eagles , Day 1 included movement at linebacker, safety, and nickel cornerback, another strong showing from Riq Woolen, more backup quarterback clarity, and a reminder that first-round wide receiver Makai Lemon's hamstring injury will be one of the early storylines to monitor before training camp.
Here are the key takeaways from Day 1 of the Eagles' mandatory minicamp.
1. Jalen Hurts delivered one of the day's best plays
Hurts gave the offense a highlight during 11-on-11 work when he lined up under center, rolled out, ducked a defender, and threw back across the field for a long gain to tight end E.J. Jenkins.
It was the type of play that shows Hurts' combination of strength, balance, and off-platform creativity. The Eagles are still building their post-A.J. Brown passing-game identity, and every rep matters as Hurts works with a reshaped receiver room and a new offensive structure under Sean Mannion. The throw to Jenkins was not just an athletic play. It was a reminder that Hurts' ability to extend plays remains one of Philadelphia's most important offensive advantages.
2. Chance Campbell got a first-team look at linebacker
One of the more interesting developments came at linebacker, where Chance Campbell received some first-team reps next to Zack Baun during team drills.
Campbell is not one of the biggest names on the roster, but first-team work in June is still notable. The Eagles are sorting through a linebacker group that changed after Nakobe Dean's departure, and Jihaad Campbell has not participated in team drills while rehabbing from shoulder surgery. That gives other linebackers a chance to earn trust, demonstrate communication skills, and prove they can function alongside Baun in Vic Fangio's defense.
Baun is locked into a major role after his breakout season, but the spot next to him remains worth watching. Chance Campbell's reps do not guarantee anything for training camp, but they show he is at least in the mix for meaningful evaluation after impressing on the practice squad last season.
3. Jihaad Campbell continued his individual rehab work
Campbell, the Eagles' first-round linebacker, continued working one-on-one with linebackers coach Bobby King while going through coverage responsibilities with a play sheet in hand.
Campbell's physical participation remains limited as he rehabs from shoulder surgery, but the mental work is important. Philadelphia drafted him to become a central piece of its defense, and the missed team reps make every classroom, walk-through, and individual period more valuable. The Eagles need Campbell to eventually compete for a major defensive role, but his spring has been more about recovery, installation, and keeping him connected to the defense.
The longer he remains out of team drills, the more important training camp becomes. Campbell still has the talent to contribute early, but he will need live reps to close the gap before the regular season.
4. Makai Lemon remained sidelined by a hamstring injury
Lemon did not practice at mandatory minicamp because of a hamstring injury, delaying the first-round wide receiver's push for an early role in Philadelphia's reshaped offense.
The Eagles do not need Lemon to replace Brown by himself, but his development is one of the biggest offensive storylines of the summer. DeVonta Smith is the unquestioned No. 1 wide receiver, while Hollywood Brown, Dontayvion Wicks, Elijah Moore, Johnny Wilson, Darius Cooper, and others are competing for roles. Lemon's draft status gives him a clear path to playing time, but every missed practice creates more opportunity for other receivers to build timing with Hurts.
Hamstring injuries can be tricky for wide receivers because of the acceleration, deceleration, and top-end speed required at the position. The Eagles are likely to be cautious in June, but Lemon's availability will be worth monitoring closely when training camp begins.
5. Riq Woolen continued his strong spring
Woolen had one of the top coverage moments of the early 7-on-7 period, running with Smith on a deep crosser and forcing a difficult window.
The Eagles' coaches have raved about Woolen's spring, and it is easy to understand why. His length, speed, and outside cornerback skill set give Philadelphia a unique secondary piece opposite Quinyon Mitchell and alongside Cooper DeJean. Woolen still has to prove he can be consistent in Fangio's system, but strong coverage reps against a receiver as polished as Smith are exactly the kind of moments that stand out in spring practices.
Philadelphia's cornerback room has a chance to be one of the deepest in the NFL. Mitchell and DeJean already give the Eagles two young, high-end defensive backs, and Woolen's development could make the group even more difficult to attack.
6. Michael Carter II and Marcus Epps are rotating at safety
Michael Carter II was first in at safety during team drills when DeJean lined up at nickel, with Marcus Epps also rotating into the mix.
That alignment is important because DeJean's versatility affects the rest of the secondary. When DeJean is inside at nickel, the Eagles need a safety combination that can communicate, tackle, and handle Fangio's coverage responsibilities. Carter and Epps appear to be part of that early evaluation, while Drew Mukuba's role remains one of the bigger long-term questions in the secondary.
The Eagles have several moving parts in the back end, and June rotations are not final. Still, Carter getting the first look in that setup gives the safety battle an early reference point before training camp.
7. Jonathan Jones worked at nickel with the second and third groups
Jones received work at nickel with the second and third rotations during 7-on-7 periods, giving the Eagles another veteran option inside.
Jones' presence matters because Philadelphia is balancing young talent with proven experience. DeJean is the top nickel option, but the Eagles need depth and flexibility behind him. Jones can help stabilize the room, compete for a role, and give Fangio another defender who has experience playing inside against slot receivers.
The nickel rotation will be especially important because DeJean can also be used in other alignments. The more reliable options the Eagles have behind him, the more creative they can be with their secondary packages.
8. Jalen Carter sat out team drills, Byron Young worked with the first-team defense
Carter did not take part in team drills, which gave Byron Young first-team work on the defensive line.
Carter remains one of Philadelphia's most important players and a top Pro Bowl candidate entering 2026, so any missed teamwork will draw attention. In June, however, the Eagles can afford to manage established players while taking longer looks at defensive linemen competing for roles. Young's first-team reps are valuable because Philadelphia needs depth behind Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, and the rest of the interior group.
Young has a chance to use the spring and summer to show he can be more than a depth piece. First-team reps, even when created by another player's absence, are opportunities to prove he belongs in the defensive line rotation.
9. Andy Dalton remained QB2, and Jalyx Hunt picked him off
Dalton was the second quarterback again during the open portion of practice, continuing a pattern that has held throughout the offseason practices available to the media.
That is notable because the Eagles have Tanner McKee and other quarterbacks on the roster, but Dalton's experience appears to have him positioned as the early backup behind Hurts. The veteran's place in the rotation does not end the competition, but three straight open practices as QB2 is a meaningful spring signal.
The defense also had its moment against Dalton, with Jalyx Hunt recording an interception. Hunt is entering an important season as the Eagles continue sorting out their edge rotation, and splash plays in coverage or pressure situations can only help his case for a bigger role.
10. Punt return work featured Cooper DeJean, Hollywood Brown and James Proche II
DeJean, Hollywood Brown, and James Proche II, who is at minicamp on a tryout, handled punt return work for the Eagles. Smith and Lemon, who were not practicing, also stood near the return group.
Special teams roles will matter at the back end of the roster, and return work could help decide some of the final wide receiver and defensive back spots. DeJean has return ability, but the Eagles also have to balance his defensive importance. Brown offers speed and experience, while Proche's tryout gives him a chance to show value in a phase that often creates roster opportunities.
The Eagles have several receivers fighting for positioning behind Smith, Lemon, Wicks, Brown and Moore, so punt return ability could become part of the roster math.
11. The second- and third-team offensive lines offered an early depth snapshot
The second-team offensive line in team drills featured Markel Bell at left tackle, Myles Hinton at left guard, Jake Majors at center, John Ojukwu at right guard, and Fred Johnson at right tackle.
The third-team offensive line included Hollin Pierce at left tackle, Jaeden Roberts at left guard, Willie Lampkin at center, Micah Morris at right guard, and Cameron Williams at right tackle.
Those combinations are worth noting because Philadelphia has traditionally placed a premium on offensive line depth. The Eagles have an established starting group, but the reserve competition will be one of the more important battles on the roster in training camp. Bell, Hinton, Majors, Ojukwu, Johnson, Pierce, Roberts, Lampkin, Morris, and Williams all have a chance to shape the depth chart before the preseason.
12. Day 1 showed how many roster battles are still unsettled
The first day of mandatory minicamp did not provide final answers, but it offered several useful clues. Hurts looked sharp on one of the best offensive plays of the day. Chance Campbell received first-team linebacker work. Woolen continued to build momentum at cornerback. Carter was managed during team drills, giving Young a first-team opportunity. Dalton remained the backup quarterback in practice rotation, while Lemon and Jihaad Campbell remained limited by injuries.
For the Eagles, the biggest takeaway is that the roster has talent but also several important competitions to sort out. The wide receiver room is being rebuilt after Brown's departure. The linebacker group is waiting on Jihaad Campbell's full return. The safety rotation is still taking shape. The offensive line depth chart remains in motion.
Mandatory minicamp is only one step before the long summer break, but Day 1 gave Philadelphia plenty to evaluate before training camp begins.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles minicamp takeaways: Jalen Hurts, young defenders flash on Day 1
