Eagles practice highlights: Wicks makes key catch as Payton struggles
Philadelphia Eagles' training camp saw wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks deliver a notable play, while rookie quarterback Cole Payton faced difficulties during drills.
The Philadelphia Eagles continued their training camp at the Jefferson Health Training Complex on Thursday, focusing on integrating Sean Mannion's offensive system and refining Vic Fangio's defensive scheme. In the final 11-on-11 drill, quarterback Jalen Hurts rolled left on a play-action and threw a deep pass to wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks, who leapt over two defenders to secure the ball near the left pylon, a play described as the most impactful of the session. The catch highlighted Wicks' potential role in bolstering the Eagles' receiver depth after the departure of A.J. Brown, with the team counting on him and other recent additions such as Hollywood Brown for slot and backup duties.
On the defensive side, veteran edge rusher A.J. Epenesa intercepted a pass during a 7-on-7 drill after the ball was deflected by receiver Danny Gray, and linebacker Jihaad Campbell recorded a second consecutive interception in the same series. Both plays were noted as early indicators of their efforts to secure positions on the depth chart.
Conversely, fifth-round rookie quarterback Cole Payton struggled in the same drills, throwing two interceptions and a poorly timed pass that was read by linebacker Keyshawn James-Newby, exposing weaknesses in his decision-making. While the performance was described as challenging for the young quarterback, coaches indicated he remains in a developmental role within the depth chart.