Eagles
Eagles OT Lane Johnson mentioned rookie WR DeVonta Smith has been impressive in practices.
“We call him the Slim Reaper, I think that’s his nickname,” Johnson said, via NFL.com. “He’s impressed early on in camp — his change of direction, his ball skills. He doesn’t say a whole lot, but he does show a whole lot of what he’s capable of. And I think when you have a guy that high caliber, I think he does nothing but brings everybody else along in the receiving corps. So we’re excited about him. I think he’s going to do tremendous things this year. And yeah, man, the Slim Reaper — watch out for him.”
- Smith said he has enjoyed reuniting with his former college quarterback, Jalen Hurts: “It’s great to have that connection come back. It just feels like old times. Like back in college.” (John Clark)
- The Eagles announced they will have joint practices with the Patriots and Jets in training camp. (Zach Berman)
Giants
- According to the Athletic’s Dan Duggan, the Giants have not yet reached the 85 percent vaccination threshold.
- He adds however that New York is well over 50 percent, which places their vaccination rate about in the middle of the pack for NFL teams.
Washington
- JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington predicts that QB Ryan Fitzpatrick will start this season behind a line consisting of Charles Leno Jr., Ereck Flowers, Chase Roullier, Brandon Scherff and Samuel Cosmi.
- When it comes to DL Jonathan Allen, Finlay reports that while talks between the two sides have been amicable, no deal is expected to happen yet.
- Finlay notes that even with S Landon Collins likely to begin the season on the PUP list, S Troy Apke may be the odd man out and could end up not being able to earn a roster spot for the upcoming season.
- As for DE Chase Young, Finlay expects him to get double-digit sacks, potentially doubling his number of seven and a half from his rookie season.
- Washington made RB Jaret Patterson its lone UDFA signing and he turned some heads during OTAs. But one longtime NFL scouting executive doesn’t think Patterson has the juice to crack a deep Washington running back room: “If he does good on special teams, then he has a chance to make the roster, but I don’t see him wowing coaches in training camp. Maybe in the fourth quarter of preseason games because he does have some instincts for the position and had some success in college because of it. But I don’t think there’s anything dynamic.” (Ben Standig)
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