Eagles training camp practice: Andre Dillard, K’Von Wallace leave early; preseason depth chart revealed | 5 takeaways from 11th practice

PHILADELPHIA -- The Eagles worked in shells and shorts on Tuesday during their 11th practice of training camp at the NovaCare Complex.

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The workout served as the team’s final training camp practice before Thursday’s preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lincoln Financial Field.

PREVIOUS PRACTICE OBSERVATIONS: Practice 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

Here are five observations from Tuesday’s practice:

Trio of injuries to start practice

The Eagles’ final practice before their first preseason game was an eventful one. Left tackle Andre Dillard walked to the medical tent early in practice and stayed there for roughly 10 minutes, which is longer than the typical visit. He walked with a limp out of the tent and into the facility and didn’t return to practice.

Even a minor injury for Dillard could put a clamp on the left tackle competition with Jordan Mailata. As it stands now, Mailata has played much better in a camp setting. If Dillard is forced to miss a preseason game or two, and Mailata plays well, the former first-round pick will probably be moved to the bench come Week 1.

Dillard wasn’t the only notable name to leave practice with an apparent injury. Safety K’Von Wallace, who has worked with the first-team defense as Rodney McLeod’s replacement (knee, PUP), walked with a trainer inside the facility and didn’t return. Third-year safety Marcus Epps will probably be asked to step up in his place.

Shortly before Wallace walked inside, wide receiver Michael Walker, who had already been battling a foot injury, was carted into the facility. He hopped on the cart and took a ride, which isn’t a great sign for his chances of playing in the preseason.

UPDATE (3:18 p.m. ET): The Eagles announced Dillard suffered a knee sprain and Wallace has a groin strain. Both are listed as week-to-week.

Eagles release initial preseason depth chart

The Eagles’ public relations department cultivated its first preseason depth chart on Tuesday. There were some notable placements within the depth chart:

Here’s what stood out:

- Dillard and Mailata were listed as co-starters at left tackle. Josh Sweat and Derek Barnett were listed as co-starters at defensive end, while Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert received the same treatment at tight end.

- Greg Ward retained his starting slot receiver job with J.J. Arcega-Whiteside getting positioned as his backup. As NJ Advance Media has noted regularly, Arcega-Whiteside and former RB Adrian Killins have been working regularly in the slot. Killins is listed as the third slot receiver.

- DeVonta Smith and Jalen Reagor are listed as the starting outside wide receivers and Travis Fulgham and Quez Watkins are listed as their immediate backups, respectively. As NJ Advance Media projected in our latest 53-man roster prediction, the top six WRs (Smith, Reagor, Ward, Fulgham, Watkins and Arcega-Whiteside), barring injury, are expected to make the team.

- While third-round lineman Milton Williams has been playing some defensive end, he’s listed as the backup three-technique behind Fletcher Cox. Hassan Ridgeway is the backup nose tackle behind Javon Hargrave.

- The starting linebackers are Alex Singleton (WILL), Eric Wilson (MIKE) and Genard Avery (SAM). The second-team linebackers are Davion Taylor (WILL), T.J. Edwards (MIKE) and Joe Ostman (SAM). Avery is currently sidelined, so Ostman could get the start on Thursday.

- Darius Slay, Steve Nelson and Avonte Maddox (nickel) are the starting cornerbacks. Zech McPhearson, Michael Jacquet and Josiah Scott (nickel) are the backups.

- The starting kick returner is Watkins and the starting punt returner is Reagor.

Hurts and the tight ends

Heading into camp, there was some internal concern about Jalen Hurts’ ability to consistently target tight ends. Due to Hurts’ limited height (6-1) at the position, tight ends could get lost in the way of the trenches. Hurts has squashed those concerns -- at least in training camp -- as he’s targeted Goedert and Ertz regularly.

Hurts had a solid day in 11-on-11 work, with most of his success coming on passes to Ertz and Goedert. During one period, Hurts connected with Goedert twice over the middle for 15-20 yards. Hurts also targeted Ertz on a couple of intermediate throws.

With the wide receivers dealing with injuries and inexperience, Hurts’ targeting of the tight ends, and their overall chemistry, is worth monitoring.

According to Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, Hurts will start the preseason game against the Steelers with the first-team offense, but it’s unclear how much he will actually play in the game.

Ryan Kerrigan undergoes surgery

Defensive end Ryan Kerrigan elected to undergo thumb surgery this week. Kerrigan injured his hand during the first week of practice and had been used in a limited capacity ever since. According to the team, Kerrigan is expected to miss 7-to-10 days as he recovers from the procedure.

Kerrigan isn’t expected to miss any regular-season time. He will be a rotational pass rusher and linebacker for the Eagles.

Other injuries

The Eagles are dealing with several injuries entering the preseason matchup with the Steelers.

In positive news, left guard Isaac Seumalo (hamstring) returned to individual work after missing the first 10 workouts of camp. Right guard Brandon Brooks (hamstring) continued to work in a limited capacity as well. Neither player is expected to miss Week 1.

Safety Grayland Arnold (hamstring), linebacker Genard Avery (groin), tight end Jason Croom (knee) and cornerback Craig James (foot) were listed as day-to-day. James, who was new to the sideline, was seen wearing a walking boot.

Wide receivers John Hightower (groin) and DeVonta Smith (knee), linebackers JaCoby Stevens (hamstring) and Davion Taylor (calf) and offensive tackle Casey Tucker (biceps) remained out of the workouts. They are all listed as week-to-week.

QB EVALUATIONS: Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

QUICK HITS

- Deep-depth wide receiver Andre Patton made an impressive diving catch towards the sideline in 11-on-11 drills.

- RB Kenny Gainwell has been used a lot on screens and checkdowns with the second- and third-team offense lately.

- Recently re-signed safety Blake Countess wore No. 36 in practice. This is his fourth stint with the team that drafted him in 2016.

- Slay and Nelson, the two starting outside cornerbacks, both had impressive pass breakups in 11-on-11 drills. Slay broke up a pass from Hurts to Reagor over the middle. Nelson broke up a similar pass from Hurts to Fulgham. Following practice, LB T.J. Edwards said he thinks Nelson is going to be a standout this season.


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- Physical Play Alert: During an 11-on-11 rep, RB Kerryon Johnson shifted from one side of the backfield to another after the ball was snapped and was popped in the chest by DE Derek Barnett. Barnett hit Johnson so hard that he had to take off his helmet and take deep breaths behind the offensive group after the play.

- Rookie DE JaQuan Bailey blew up an RPO attempt by third-string QB Nick Mullens in 11-on-11 drills.

- The Eagles will host a private walkthrough on Wednesday that won’t be open to the media. NJ Advance Media will have full coverage of Thursday’s preseason opener against the Steelers on Eagles Extra (sign up for two weeks FREE now) and NJ.com.

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