5 Things To Know As Eagles Start Training Camp

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Are you ready for some football? The Eagles have begun their training camp ahead of the 2019-20 season, as they prepare to get ready for another season of high hopes.

The Birds are entering their second season since their first Super Bowl championship in franchise history in 2018. Though they lost last year to the New Orleans Saints in the divisional round last season, they put together an impressive run just to make it to the playoffs — not to mention the now-legendary "double doink" blocked field goal that advanced them past the Chicago Bears in the opening round.

But the 2019-20 Birds will look a little bit different. They'll be without the chief architect of that improbable, season-salvaging run last season, in quarterback Nick Foles. They'll be without veteran presence and leader, defensive end Chris Long. However, the Birds also retooled in the offseason, extending key players and adding some new faces. And many experts are predicting this team will win the NFC East, and has a good chance of returning to the Super Bowl for the second time in three years.

Here's a few things to know as Eagles training camp begins:

Big offseason moves

The Birds made several impact moves in the offseason. Here's a few of them:

• Trading for DeSean Jackson, a top wide receiver
• Trading for running back Jordan Howard
• Drafting offensive tackle Andre Dillard in the first round
• Drafting running back Miles Sanders in the second round
• Signing free agent defense end Malik Jackson
• Re-signing defensive end Brandon Graham
• Extending center Jason Kelce's contract
• Extending offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo
• Resigning offensive lineman Jason Peters
• Signing safety Andrew Sendejo
• Keeping Nate Sudfeld as backup quarterback, effectively replacing Nick Foles

Birds ranked among the 100 best in the NFL

Several Eagles have made the list of the top 100 players heading into the 2019-20 season.

Fletcher Cox has risen all the way up to 28th overall, after being ranked 69th last year.

Zach Ertz, who was 68th last year, is now at 40th.

Jason Kelce, unranked heading into last season, came in at 72nd.

And finally Carson Wentz, last year's number three after an MVP-level campaign in 2017-18, was dropped to 96th overall.

Training camp and schedule

Training camp formally is a period of adjustment, as players get accustomed again to football activities.

The camp formally began last Friday. Tackling and full contact drills began on Tuesday. The Birds practices run for a few hours, and are held at the NovaCare Complex in south Philadelphia.

The Birds will hold several public practices this summer. Tickets were on sale for $10.

The Birds kick off their preseason with a home game against the Tennessee Titans on Thursday, Aug. 8 at 7:30 p.m. The regular season begins Sept. 8 at home against the Washington Redskins at 1 p.m.

Injuries

The Birds are handling a few injuries at the moment.

Cre'von LeBlanc is week to week with a foot injury.

Mack Hollins has an unspecified lower body injury that has him day to day.

Jalen Mills is out with a a foot injury.

And linebacker Paul Worrilow is out with an unspecified injury.

Several other players, including Fletcher Cox and Ronald Darby, have been limited in their activities thus far this week with minor ailments, but they have not sat practice out.

What the experts think

The Eagles are improved on both sides of the ball from 2018-19, and have every reason to hold high expectations for the coming season. The health of Wentz and the effectiveness of key veterans will ultimately determine they reach their ceiling of a Super Bowl contender.

Sports Illustrated has the Birds going 11-5, citing an especially difficult early season schedule but noting their impressive offensive depth. They predict the Eagles will handily take the division over Dallas (8-8, in second).

ESPN, meanwhile, ranks the Eagles has the 10th best team in the NFL heading into the season, and also points to their revamped offense. The outlet has the Birds winning the division, with a 66.5 percent chance of making the playoffs.

According to the oddsmakers over at OddsShark, the Birds have the ninth best odds to win the Super Bowl, coming in at +1600. The New England Patriots are the current favorites at +700. Eagles fans should feel familiarly comfortable with that disparity.