August 24, 2026
Bill Streicher/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Makai Lemon finally returned to full practice Monday, but didn't find the ball much in 11-on-11s.
The Eagles returned to practice in South Philly for the first time since last Monday and for likely the penultimate time that sessions at the Jefferson Health Training Complex will be open to media and select fans.
Tuesday's practice will be the annual open practice at the Lincoln Financial Field. Wednesday's will be back at their complex before a closed walkthrough and Friday's preseason finale at the Linc.
The session lasted just about an hour, and the Eagles were in shorts and shells, but the first-team offense and defense logged the majority of reps.
Here are the heroes and zeroes from the 15th practice of camp:
The pass rush: This practice was not refrigerator material for the offense, even with Makai Lemon finally get back to full participation (more on that later), as the big guys in the middle and edges of Vic Fangio's front made life difficult for Jalen Hurts.
On just the second snap of 11-on-11 drills, starting around midfield, Hunt knifed into the backfield for a "sack." Hunt set the tone for an afternoon of linemen and edge defenders routinely moving Hurts off his spot or getting into the QB's face to threaten passes.
Moro Ojomo also took up residence in the backfield, twice getting enough interior pressure to register a "sack." On the first, Hurts just lobbed the ball out of bounds after holding onto it long enough for Ojomo to be right in his face. Jalen Carter also gave some work to the interior of the o-line.
There are some really good reasons to be optimistic about the defense this season, and at the top of the list is the pass rush.
Honorable mention would go to safety/nickelback Cooper DeJean, who reaped the benefit of that pass rush by supplying tight coverage and breaking up a few passes.
Rookie first-round wideout Makai Lemon practicing in full was a good thing, and he got plenty of reps with the first team, too. He and DeVonta Smith were out there, together, for the first time in what seemed like an eternity, but big plays among them were few and far between.
Lemon was frequently involved as the motion man, but by my count only caught two short passes for modest gains. Smith caught a nice pass from Hurts in 7-on-7s but only grabbed one in 11-on-11s on a short slant off play action.
If history is any indication, the offense will probably bounce back under the Linc's bright lights on Tuesday evening.
SIGN UP HERE to receive PhillyVoice's Sports newsletters.
Follow Geoff on Twitter/X: @geoffpmosher
Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Sports
