As Isaac Seumalo arrived at training camp last week, offensive coordinator Frank Reich named him the starting left guard just hours before the Eagles traded away his biggest competition for the job, Allen Barbre, to Denver.
So Seumalo is the Eagles' starting left guard. But Chance Warmack isn't going down without a fight.
Warmack, the former first-round pick who signed with the Eagles on a one-year deal to be reunited with his college position coach Jeff Stoutland, has been working hard to learn the playbook. And on Saturday afternoon, Warmack got a few reps with the first-team offense in Seumalo's spot.
Warmack thinks he still has a chance to be a starter in Philly.
"Oh yeah, that's why I came here," he said. "But at the same time, it's a process and you have to start at the beginning and work your way up just like everybody else. They ultimately make that decision. You just want to be one of the best five. That's all I'm trying to do."
Seumalo was the Eagles' third-round draft pick last year, so it makes plenty of sense that they want to give him every opportunity to start. They invested in him and still have him under contract for two more seasons after 2016. But at some point in the future many expect Seumalo to shift to center, replacing Jason Kelce.
Warmack, meanwhile, is with the Eagles on a relatively inexpensive one-year deal. It's a prove-it deal for the 25-year-old after four years in Tennessee, where he simply never lived up to his draft status or lofty expectations.
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There's talent there, though, and it's up to Stoutland to try to pull it out. Warmack was the 10th overall pick in the 2013 draft and a part of three national championship teams for a reason.
And it sounds like the Eagles' coaching staff is starting to see some of his attributes show up on the field.
"Chance has strong hands," Reich said. "Really strong, explosive, physical. He plays with good leverage. He's getting more and more accustomed to the offense, the calls, the system. Obviously, his background with Coach Stoutland helps. So excited about his progress."
Warmack said the one area where he's improved the most in his few months in Philadelphia is paying attention to details and technique. Those are things Stoutland stresses to his players.
It won't be easy for Warmack to rip the starting job away from Seumalo, but it's at least something to watch, especially after he got some work with the ones.
"It don't really matter to me," Warmack said. "Third team, first team, second team. I'm just trying to get reps. The more reps I get, the better it will resonate in my head and I can do it with my eyes closed."
A little less Corey
Through the first few training camp practices, undrafted rookie running back Corey Clement, from Glassboro, New Jersey, has looked good.
And lighter? Clement is listed at 5-10, 220, but Reich said he thinks he came back to camp a little lighter.
Clement has looked faster early on.
"He's lost some weight from when he was here," the offensive coordinator said. "I think that's done him well. I think he looks elusive. I think he even looks more elusive since he's come back and lost a little bit of weight. He's smart and he knows what he's doing. I think he runs hard. He's into it. He just seems like he's a football player. I think he has that aggressive mindset that you need for running back."
Clement probably doesn't have a great shot at making the Eagles' 53-man roster. There are four players seemingly locked into running back slots — LeGarrette Blount, Darren Sproles, Wendell Smallwood and Donnel Pumphrey — but maybe a practice squad spot is up for grabs.
Training swing tackles
When the Eagles traded Barbre, they didn't just lose a guard, they lost a versatile player who has also played tackle before. Even before the trade, the Eagles' tackle depth wasn't nearly as great as their depth along the interior line.
But for now, backups Dillon Gordon, Halapoulivaati Vaitai and Matt Tobin are going to need to play both tackle spots. Eventually one of them might need to be the backup swing tackle during the season.
"Yeah, that swing tackle is a very critical position, because odds are, he's going to play," Reich said. "So you've just got to keep swinging — that's, by nature, what they have to do. They drew the short straw, right? The guys who are starters get to work their side and be good at their side. But when you're the backup, you've got to be versatile."