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The DiCecco Daily: Explaining Eagles Transactions; Happenings At Birds First Practice · Inside the Birds: A Philadelphia Eagles Podcast

0:10
Speaker 1: Hey, what's up, everybody. Welcome into another edition of the
0:13
check O Deli. It's Andrew de Checko and the Eagles
0:17
were back on the practice field Wednesday afternoon, and it
0:22
had obviously been a very active forty eight hours for
0:24
the Eagles and really every NFL team, But the roster
0:28
still isn't one hundred percent set. That's why they call
0:31
it the initial fifty three. There was still the waiverclaim process,
0:35
and of course they had to set their practice squad.
0:38
So let's get into some of that very quickly. Gone
0:42
from the fifty three second year offensive lineman Trevor Keegan
0:46
and safety Tristan McCollum, on to the fifty three for
0:50
the Eagles veteran long snapper Charlie Hewlett and center Willie Lampkin.
0:56
Lampkin is an undersized center out of North Carolina, five
0:59
to eleven U seventy nine if you're going off his
1:01
pro day number. He was a rookie phragent signing of
1:04
the Rams, and he suffered a knee injury in addition
1:09
to an ankle spring during preseason play in the game
1:11
against the Chargers, and I think him joining a crowded
1:15
offensive line allows him the opportunity to grow and develop
1:19
without having that pressure under a renowned offensive line coach
1:23
Jeff Stoutlin. He's obviously a player that the Eagles coveted,
1:27
and now he adds another body and another intriguing developmental
1:32
prospect to the room, and the Eagles obviously had to
1:35
really like the player in order to claim and have
1:39
to part way. So Trevor Keegan, if you're going based
1:42
off of the order in which the players were waived,
1:46
he was first waved, so that inplies that he was
1:49
player of fifty three. Assumingly McCollum would be player of
1:53
fifty two on the initial fifty three. So Hewlett and
1:58
Charlie Hewlett was signed in free agency. He replaces a
2:02
longtime long snapper, Rick Livado. He was omitted from the
2:05
initial fifty three. The Eagles have done that before with
2:08
Rick Lovado, so it wasn't entirely I guess unprecedented is
2:14
a fair word to say. But he fell short of
2:17
making the initial fifty three, and he did have a
2:21
neck injury earlier in training. Company overcame that he's healthy,
2:24
and later in the summer he was able to participate
2:27
in the preseason and he's going to be a key
2:30
part of this three man specialist operation, alongside Jake Elliott
2:35
and punter Braden Mann. But those are the two players
2:40
that the Eagles had to put on the fifty three
2:42
and the two players that are now gone at least
2:44
for now. And both players, it's important to note, are
2:47
subjected to waivers, and that is Trevor Keegan and Tristan McCollum.
2:53
So we'll have to wait and see until Thursday afternoon
2:56
to see what the status is for them. But as
2:59
of this moment, right now, there's only one open spot
3:04
on the practice squad, but we'll get to that so
3:07
just quickly. Trevor Keegan was a twenty twenty four fifth
3:10
round pick. He played thirty five snaps last season for
3:13
the Eagles, and in camp he had some good moments,
3:17
but more often than that he struggled. I think that's
3:19
fair to say, particularly snapping the football. But he did
3:24
showcase interior versatility and I could see him resurfacing on
3:28
the practice squad if he isn't claimed. So. Tristan McCollum
3:32
twenty six years old. He appeared in fourteen games for
3:35
the Eagles last season. He had two hundred and fifty
3:37
defensive snaps and another two hundred and twenty seven on
3:40
special teams. So he was a key contributor in some
3:45
regards as a reserve safety, but certainly on special teams.
3:48
He made the fifty three last summer outright, and that
3:52
was one of the better stories I remember last summer
3:54
because he just put everything together. And he is a
3:57
vic Vangaio favorite, so that speaks vou to how far
4:00
he is along in his development.
4:03
Speaker 2: He's a smart player.
4:04
Speaker 1: He's fundamentally sound, and I thought that he was the
4:07
quintessential fourth safety that if you want to plug him
4:10
in defensively, you have an idea of what he's going
4:14
to give you. He's not going to necessarily give up
4:15
the big play. He's as Simon sound. He's fundamentally sound,
4:19
he's disciplined, and he doesn't necessarily have the big playability
4:24
of the other players there. But there's something to be
4:27
said for a player that isn't necessarily high variance, and
4:29
I think that goes a long way with someone like
4:32
vic Vangio. So he also could return to the Eagles
4:35
practice squad. But it's going to be really interesting to
4:39
see how the Eagles play this if both players clear waivers,
4:42
who then would be way from the practice squad that's
4:45
currently a member of that if they want to bring
4:47
both players on and keep them in the building. So
4:51
on the practice field i mentioned, McCollum isn't there, which
4:56
leaves the Eagles with three true safeties on the fifty
4:58
three man roster. If you're also including do it all
5:01
defensive back Cooper Degen, he gives you a little bit
5:04
more depth there. But not practicing today rookie safety Drew
5:08
mccooba with the hamstring, and in other injury news, quarterback
5:12
Tanner McKee was spotted wearing a splint a some sort
5:16
on his injured right thumb. We also got a chance
5:20
to talk today to new Eagles quarterback Sam Howell, who
5:23
was acquired in the trade with Minnesota Vikings. We spoke
5:26
to reacquired tackle Fred Johnson, who of course was traded
5:31
to Philadelphia from the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this week, and
5:36
we also heard from wide receiver Darius Cooper, the undrafted
5:41
for re agent out of Tarlatan State tremendous story, and
5:44
Gabe Hall, the second year defensive tackle who Vic Fangio
5:48
called the poster child of what the practice squad is
5:52
for great story of development under Clint Hurt and Vic Fangio,
5:56
and I thought that that was the most compelling of
5:58
the interviews that we had today. A lot to like
6:01
about Gabe Hall, I mentioned, I got a chance to
6:03
talk to him a few times last season, and it's
6:07
really kind of cool to see everything come together, knowing
6:11
where he was at this time early last season to
6:14
now and hearing what he's worked on and some of
6:17
the battles that he had in practice and things like that.
6:20
So it's a great story of development. And those were
6:24
the four players who spoke today. Now let's get to
6:27
the practice squad, because the Eagles signed the following players
6:30
to the practice squad. Linebacker Chance Campbell, wide receiver Elijah Cooks,
6:35
guard Kenyon Green, tight end e J. Jenkins, cornerback Brandon Johnson,
6:41
outside linebacker Patrick Johnson, tight end Cam Lattu, wide receiver
6:45
Terris Marshall, quarterback Kyle McCord, cornerback Perry Nickerson, tackle Holland Pierce,
6:52
outside linebacker Antoine Powell, Ryland, and cornerback Eli Rix.
6:57
Speaker 2: Of this group, perhaps the.
6:59
Speaker 1: Only surprise to me was Campbell, who was signed just
7:02
two days before the preseason finale and omitted Dallas Gant
7:07
and Lance Dixon, who the Eagles had in training camp
7:10
and both made some plays throughout the summer. Now, Lance
7:13
Dixon did suffer an injury in the preseason finale, so
7:17
maybe that impacted their decision a little bit. Gant was
7:21
a little bit surprising, but I think Chance Campbell was
7:26
an interesting one. Annias Smith, who the Eagles waived on
7:31
Tuesday to get down to fifty three, He was signed
7:35
to the Carolina Panthers practice squad. Perhaps a change of
7:38
scenery will serve an Is as well. I know that
7:41
he has the work ethic and a new perspective on things.
7:44
Hopefully he's able to utilize what he was able to
7:47
showcase this summer as a springboard towards prosperity there in Carolina.
7:52
Speaker 2: I think that they have something there in him.
7:54
Speaker 1: It just there wasn't a fit for him here in Philadelphia,
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and he wasn't consistent enough this summer for them to really,
8:00
you know, pound the table.
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Speaker 2: And find a roster spot for him.
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Speaker 1: Eli Rix is an interesting player who was retained on
8:08
the practice squad, and they say that not because of
8:12
his play this summer. He had largely for the first
8:15
half of camp anyway, a pretty sound start to training camp,
8:20
and then he was most victimized by the addition of
8:23
Jacorian Bennett and his REP started to dwindle. But a
8:29
young player, young corner at twenty three years old, has
8:31
the pedigree Alabama and LSU. I thought there might have
8:36
been a small chance that he was claimed now. He
8:37
also played believe it was three hundred and fifteen snaps
8:41
as a rookie.
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Speaker 2: He still has loged more.
8:44
Speaker 1: Defensive snaps in the NFL than Keeley Ringo for perspective,
8:49
but because of that, because young cover corners are at
8:52
a premium, I thought there was an outside shot that
8:55
he might get claimed. But he didn't play a lot
8:57
last year. He played in seven games, fourteen defensive snaps.
9:01
I think it was fifty one on special teams, so
9:04
not a lot out there. He isn't someone who teams
9:06
are going to look at as a core special teamer
9:08
because he has a wiry build and he really hasn't
9:12
been much of a factor when he has been active
9:15
on game days for the Eagles. I don't think that's
9:18
his wheelhouse per se, Although he has worked at.
9:22
Speaker 2: You know, shoring up his tackling and things like that.
9:25
Speaker 1: But I was a little bit surprised that maybe he
9:27
didn't look elsewhere for maybe a more advantageous opportunity that
9:32
had a clearer path to playing time, or maybe they
9:35
had plans for him in the immediate future. Who knows,
9:39
Maybe there weren't any, but I think somebody who fits
9:42
that profile young Lsu Alabama played in the league a
9:47
little bit, has good size. You think that teams would
9:50
covet that, but maybe not. Maybe he wanted to be
9:53
in Philadelphia where he's comfortable and he knows the system.
9:56
Hard to say, but that's a welcome edition on the
9:59
practice squad. Rookie Antoine Powell Ryland, who the Eagles drafted
10:04
in the sixth round. He had a nice preseason finale,
10:09
but he was virtually invisible this summer. Didn't do a
10:12
lot in camp one way or the other. In the preseason,
10:16
he was largely quiet, and then he had the awakening
10:19
of sorts in the finale, picking up the sack fumble.
10:22
Still it wasn't enough, and I didn't think it was
10:24
going to be enough for him to punch his ticket
10:25
onto the fifty three.
10:28
Speaker 2: But he will.
10:29
Speaker 1: Continue to be with the Eagles. It's a good player
10:32
to keep in the building. He'll continue to learn under
10:35
outside linebackers coach and defensive ends coach Jeremiah Washburn, and
10:39
that really is the best case scenario for him. Patrick Johnson,
10:44
I believe I mentioned on yesterday's podcast that I had
10:46
a feeling he was coming back on the practice squad.
10:49
I can also see him eventually making his way to
10:52
the fifty three at some point because of the special
10:54
teams upside, because he's played defense in the NFL, and
10:58
you know what he can give you rushing the pass
11:01
or maybe on early down situations. I think there's a
11:03
lot other there's a role for Patrick Johnson on defense
11:08
in this league. He can absolutely play, and you have
11:12
to wonder what the Eagles, having questionable edge depth at
11:14
this time, if eventually Patrick Johnson might find his way
11:18
into the picture, But as of now, on the practice squad,
11:22
an interesting one here was EJ.
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Speaker 2: Jenkins.
11:26
Speaker 1: Not really interesting in the sense that I didn't think
11:28
it was gonna happen. I very much did think it
11:30
was gonna happen once he was waived. But he offers
11:34
a quality that you don't find aside from Dallas Goddter
11:39
at that position that is the blocking prowess. He's still young,
11:43
great size. I think he's still growing into that position.
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So he's the ideal player that you'd like if you're
11:48
the Eagles to have on the practice squad. Continue to
11:51
work with tight ends coast Jason Michael and really start
11:54
to see this thing through. That's his solid signing. Andre
11:57
sam returns on the practice squad. Andre Sam I highlighted
12:02
his summer. Him and Tristan were virtually neck and neck.
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Tristan edged him out. Andre's the better special teams player
12:08
in my opinion. Tristan's the better safety right now in
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my opinion. But Andre was my fifty fourth player because
12:15
of what he can give you in the third phase,
12:17
the energy he plays with, feistiness, he's hippy, and it's
12:22
all in the best way possible. It's not in the
12:25
way of, you know, where you're bordering on getting a penalty. No.
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He brings a spirited nature and a love for the
12:32
game to the defense that I think is infectious when
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you see him out there, and he had come a
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long way in a short period of time. But they
12:41
do keep him in the building he'll be on the
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practice squad again. Best case scenario for the Eagles. He
12:47
knows the system, they know him, and so it just
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made the pairing a lot more I think, a lot
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more feasible, if we're being honest. More teams out there
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aren't typical as inclined to bring in somebody from another
13:02
from another team because you spent the whole summer learning
13:06
a different team's defense. Obviously you can learn it, but
13:09
I think that's actually more prudent or more relevant in
13:13
terms of claiming players off waivers. So the Eagles had
13:16
to really like Willie Lampkin to claim them because you're going,
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as I mentioned, you go into camp with all these
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guys and you know what they're able to do, and
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you spend time, you've invested months in developing them really
13:28
since the spring sot to have to part with one
13:31
to bring in somebody from the outside indicates that you
13:34
really like the player, probably throughout the pre draft process.
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Speaker 2: Another interesting name on.
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Speaker 1: This list, and I'll leave you with that, is veteran
13:44
cornerback Parry Nickerson. So Parry Nickerson's a veteran. He was released,
13:49
He was not subjected to waivers. Neither was Patrick Johnson.
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So both players chose.
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Speaker 2: To sign with the Eagles.
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Speaker 1: Either they see opper tunity, they like the culture, they
14:01
like their teammates, they liked the system. Regardless, it reflects
14:04
very well on the Philadelphia Eagles that both players wanted
14:07
to be a part of what they're building.
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Speaker 2: So Parry Nickerson.
14:11
Speaker 1: Veteran corner, the elder statesman of that room, and he's
14:17
a player that's widely respected, and it's very evident watching
14:20
how teammates talk to him on the field, how they
14:23
talk about him if his name ever comes up, how
14:26
Vic Vangeo spoke about him in training camp. Those are
14:29
the type of players you want in the building because
14:31
they radiate positivity and they can certainly be a resource.
14:39
And Lincoln Bakalahi, the Eagles international pathway player who spent
14:45
the past two seasons on the practice squad.
14:48
Speaker 2: His name wasn't included.
14:50
Speaker 1: In this initial list that we have, so one can
14:56
surmise that maybe he won't be coming back. I mean,
15:01
there are other players that they could bring in to
15:04
fill that spot. And I'm in fact, if my gut
15:08
tells me that Lake in Vacalah, he will not be back.
15:11
I think the Eagles will get another international Pathway player
15:14
program and very soon. Just my opinion, and I also
15:18
want to add that the Eagles did sign This is
15:21
a player from the outside. Former Denver Broncos running back
15:24
audrich S team, and he was a bulldozer type of
15:28
running back at Notre Dame. They did not bring back
15:30
Montreal Johnson Junior yet, at least they did not bring
15:33
back Shandrek Powell yet, at least nor Keelan Robinson. They
15:37
go on the outside and they bring in a player
15:39
that I like quite a bit coming out of Notre Dame,
15:42
and I think that's an intriguing one that they can
15:44
kind of work with and who knows what the future
15:48
may hold for him, but he does have NFL ability,
15:51
played at the highest level in college football. So there's
15:54
your practice squad for now. They still have one spot remaining.
15:58
What will they do with it? Well, we're gonna find out.
16:00
The Eagles are back on the practice field Thursday afternoon
16:03
at one thirty, and I'll have all the news and
16:07
notes and whatever post practice interviews are to follow. And
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this has been the Checko Daily. I am Andrew Decheco
16:14
signing off. I'll catch you on the next one,