Eagles stock up, stock down after first week of 2020 training camp

After going five days straight, the Eagles have Saturday off before getting back on the field for Sunday. 

There was a lot of thought that went into this practice schedule. The Eagles went two days in pads, one day without pads and then finished the week with two days in pads, going live on Friday. 

After the first five real practices of the summer, here’s my first stock watch: 

Stock Up

WR Jalen Reagor 

Even though he missed the final practice of the week with an illness, it was still a good start for the rookie. He has played at the X, Z and even in the slot, showing off the explosiveness that made him a first-round pick. Even if he doesn’t begin the season as a “starter” he’s going to play a lot as a rookie and the Eagles are going to rely on him. 

It also seems like a great sign that Reagor and Carson Wentz seem to have already built a strong rapport. 

QB Jalen Hurts 

Even thought I thought Hurts had his worst day of the bunch on Friday, what he’s been able to do as a rookie quarterback this week was very impressive. He’s already basically splitting reps with Nate Sudfeld most days. The first thing that pops about Hurts is his athleticism and speed. The kid can flat out fly and you can see how dynamic he might be, especially as a red zone option. 

But it’s not just his legs. “He can really spin it,” Nate Sudfeld said. Yes, he can. While Hurts might have to break his thought process of running too early, when he sits back in the pocket, he has a great arm. That’s been on display, with plenty of beautiful deep balls. 

WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside 

If you would have told me to start the week that JJAW would be on this list and not Stock Down, I wouldn’t have believed you. Arcega-Whiteside began the week in a baseball cap with another injury, but he returned and finished off the week strong, making some huge catches on Thursday and Friday. And I even liked how honest he was in an interview, admitting that last year simply wasn’t good enough. He didn’t make excuses. 

If you don’t want to buy the hype, I get it. But he’s been getting first crack at the X position with Alshon Jeffery on PUP. There’s a chance he’s a starter in Week 1. 

DT Malik Jackson 

With Javon Hargrave sidelined with a pec strain, Jackson has been working with the first-team defense next to Fletcher Cox, getting valuable reps next to the Eagles’ perennial Pro Bowler. Jackson and Cox played just half a game together last season before Jackson went down against Washington. In the last week, Jackson said he has something to prove and he’s been playing like it. 

S Will Parks 

Jalen Mills and Rodney McLeod are going to be the Eagles’ starting safeties this season but Parks is going to play a big role on this team. All week, he’s been active on defense and is already building a reputation as an energy guy on his unit. Parks has had several big pass breakups already playing in the dime package and as a nickel cornerback at times. The Eagles love his versatility. 

Stock Down 

CB Sidney Jones 

The idea this camp was that Jones and Avonte Maddox were going to battle it out for the CB2 job in what Jim Schwartz had called an “open competition.” Forget that. Because to start the week, Maddox was taking every first-team rep and then Jones got hurt, missing the last couple practices of the week. 

Jones was a 2nd-round pick in 2017, so just the fact that he was working with the twos was already disappointing. The fact that he can’t stay on the field is even worse. 

OT Jordan Mailata 

This is Year 3 for Mailata and it’s time for him to turn into a viable backup and get past being a project. It wasn’t a smooth first week. After coming off the Reserve/COVID-19 list, the former rugby player and 7th-round pick has had some really rough moments in these practices. He’s been getting beaten by guys like Joe Ostman and Genard Avery. No disrespect to those guys, but if Mailata is the backup left tackle in 2020, he might end up needing to play against DeMarcus Lawrence and Chase Young. It’s a scary proposition. 

DT Javon Hargrave 

Jackson has really thrived in the DT position next to Fletcher Cox and we still haven’t even seen Hargrave. Hargrave has a strained pec and even though the Eagles are hopeful he’ll be ready for the season opener, he’s missing valuable practice time. 

Not only is Hargrave switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3 but he is also supposed to be learning how to play next to Cox, who has been pretty honest about how long it’ll take to build that chemistry. It won’t happen overnight. 

RB Mike Warren 

It’s not that Warren has done anything wrong in camp. It’s just that some others have flashed more. Corey Clement looks good. And the guys Warren is battling with have also done nice things. I came into the live session on Friday excited to see Warren — I loved what I saw from him at Cincinnati — but I left that practice more impressed by Elijah Holyfield. To me, Holyfield has a better shot to win the job. And even Adrian Killins, although he hasn’t been perfect, has plenty of juice. That speed is no joke and Killins might offer something as a returner. 

I still like Warren, though, and think there’s a chance he could end up on the Stock Up list before this camp is over. 

DE Derek Barnett 

This is supposed to be a potential breakout season for Barnett in a contract year and he’s already hurt, missing the first five days of practice with a reported ankle injury. If you’re wondering if this guy will ever be able to stay healthy, you’re not alone. 

Generally, I think a healthy Barnett is better than most people give him credit for, but he can’t seem to stay healthy. And the chances of him ever living up to his first-round draft status seem to keep getting slimmer.