The Philadelphia Eagles open training camp on July 25 at their practice facility, the NovaCare Complex, in South Philly. Here’s a closer look at a few storylines:
Can Carson Wentz bounce back and how important is it for him to stay healthy with Nick Foles gone?
Wentz looked great this spring, and he is the healthiest he has been since 2017 when he was on an MVP charge. He took a deep dive on body wellness this offseason and came away with a new and improved diet and training regimen that he believes will help keep him on the field and aid in career longevity. The Eagles showed their belief in his ability to return to form by giving him a four-year, $128 million contract extension in June. They need him to stay upright. While they believe in Nate Sudfeld, Foles' successor, he only has played 25 career snaps in the NFL.
With a rookie running back in Miles Sanders and a veteran newbie to the Eagles in Jordan Howard, who will emerge as the lead dog?
This likely will be a fluid situation, to the frustration of fantasy players. Sanders missed most of the spring with a hamstring injury, and he will be playing catch-up this summer as he tries to solidify a role before opening day. Given the learning curve that is in front of him, Howard is in good position to get more of the snaps early. But coach Doug Pederson is going to spread the love around between Howard, Sanders and Corey Clement, with matchups dictating who gets more carries in a given week. There probably won't be a "lead dog" in 2019, though Sanders could creep close to that designation as the season wears on.
What will DeSean Jackson's impact be on the Eagles' passing game, including affecting others such as Zach Ertz?
We got a taste this spring of how difficult this attack will be to defend with Jackson added to the mix. On one notable sequence during OTA practice, the safety came down from the high post to account for Ertz, who rightly commands extra attention over the middle. That left Jackson one-on-one with cornerback Rasul Douglas, and Wentz found Jackson for a 60-yard pitch-and-catch touchdown. Defensive coordinators will have to choose who to shade the coverage toward, and unfortunately for them, there's no right answer.
How will Jim Schwartz continue to elevate the Eagles' defense as well as incorporate the talents of DT Malik Jackson into the fold?
Schwartz often would kick defensive end Brandon Graham or Michael Bennett inside next to Fletcher Cox for their "race car package" on passing downs. There is less of a need for that now with Jackson ready for action, which should help strengthen the edge rush in turn. Jackson is going to benefit greatly from playing alongside Cox, and vice versa. Both are disruptive, penetrating tackles. You can't double-team both. It will be a field day for the one who draws the one-on-one matchup.
Who is the biggest key to this team's success that would surprise you?
Defensive end Derek Barnett. With Chris Long retiring and Bennett being dealt to the New England Patriots, Philly's defensive line depth took a hit. The addition of Vinny Curry should help, and the Eagles like what they've seen from second-year player Josh Sweat, but it's up to Barnett to solidify the defensive end spot opposite Graham. The former first-round pick out of Tennessee missed most of last season with a shoulder injury following a promising rookie campaign in which he registered five sacks and 16 QB hits. Barnett needs to wreak havoc in order to offset the loss of the Eagles' two most productive edge rushers from a season ago.