Eagles Training Camp Practice Notes: The Landon Dickerson backup plan

Tuesday marked the 13th Philadelphia Eagles training camp practice ahead of the 2025 NFL season. It was a relatively light session that lasted just under an hour as the Birds gear up for hosting joint training camp practices against the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday and Thursday. Here’s what I observed at the NovaCare Complex.

Hurts was razor sharp. The reigning Super Bowl MVP only attempted eight passes in today’s practice but he completed all eight of them. Hurts had multiple connections with DeVonta Smith, who was flat out unguardable. Two of Hurts’ completions to Smith were anticipation throws over the middle with the wide receiver working out of the slot. Hurts also hit a toe-tapping Jahan Dotson in a tight window along the right sideline. To me, his most impressive completion came when he rolled right and fired a bullet across his body to Dallas Goedert with Quinyon Mitchell in tight coverage. Maybe Hurts is sick of all the QB ranking disrespect. Will be interesting to see if he can stay hot against old friend Jim Schwartz’s defense over the next two days.

WR Elijah Cooks (shoulder)
OG Landon Dickerson (knee)
OL Kenyon Green (shoulder)
DT Gabe Hall (shoulder)

Cooks and Green have missed three straight practices. Green is reportedly expected to miss the rest of the preseason.

Dickerson is “week-to-week” due to the knee injury he suffered on Sunday night. He’s set to undergo a “minor procedure” that could give him a chance to play early in the regular season, if not Week 1.

Hall got banged up on Sunday night. In related news, the Eagles signed a free agent defensive tackle.

LB Zack Baun (back contusion)
WR A.J. Brown (hamstring)
RB Montrell Johnson Jr. (hamstring)
DT Byron Young (groin)

Baun and Brown have yet to return to team drills. We’ll see if that changes over the next two days.

Johnson was upgraded to limited after missing five practices and one preseason game.

Young was upgraded to limited after missing four practices and one preseason game.

UPGRADED TO FULL PARTICIPATION

Veteran long snapper Charley Hughlett (neck) was upgraded to full go after missing the Eagles’ first preseason game and the last two practices. In related news, the Eagles waived Christian Johnstone.

THE LANDON DICKERSON BACKUP PLAN

The Eagles had Brett Toth line up at first-team left guard in Dickerson’s absence. This doesn’t come as a surprise since Toth was repping there when Dickerson had previously been either limited or resting.

Toth also saw a good deal of first-team practice reps last summer before the Eagles cut him and kept him on their practice squad for the entire regular season. They did sign Toth to their roster on January 10 after Jack Driscoll suffered an injury.

Toth has notably struggled to snap the ball while repping at center in the past but the 6’6”, 304 pound blocker hasn’t looked out of place at guard.

Had Dickerson suffered a season-ending injury, the Eagles might’ve opted to move Tyler Steen to left guard and put Matt Pryor in at right guard. But Toth as a direct fill-in for Dickerson seems to be the plan they’re going with for now.

It’s worth noting that Darian Kinnard, who had previously been repping on the right side of the offensive line, was working at left guard today. He could be in the mix to play if Toth loses his grip on the job.

POSITION BATTLE UPDATE — CORNERBACK

Adoree’ Jackson was first up with the first-team defense on Monday. That makes eight days Jackson has been up first and five days for Ringo. Ringo still did rotate in with the starters in the same 11-on-11 series. Will be interesting to see how the CB2 playing time is split against the Browns.

Ringo gave up an intermediate gain to Darius Cooper, who was able to create separation from the cornerback.

Mac McWilliams mixed in at first-team cornerback. McWilliams played tight coverage on Dotson’s aforementioned sideline catch, though the rookie did grab the receiver’s jersey (flag wasn’t thrown).

POSITION BATTLE UPDATE — SAFETY

Andrew Mukuba took some first-team safety reps (in nickel, Cooper DeJean is still the top guy in base) for the first time since prior to his shoulder injury that occurred relatively early in training camp. So, this position battle clearly hasn’t been called just yet.