The Philadelphia Eagles have completed the mini-camp portion of their offseason. Based on various reports and observations, here’s my initial reaction on who stood out and who disappointed.

Jalen Hurts Struggles?

If you follow my podcast on X, you will know how I feel about this. For reference I said this “I’ve seen quite a few people overreact to Jalen Hurts and the offense struggling… what did you expect? We’re going from an offensive playbook with 3 routes to a playbook with so much more. It’ll take time to adjust.” I believe that if Hurts is struggling, it’s because he’s being challenged, and that’s exactly what Kellen Moore needs to do. It’s no secret that the Eagles have had one of the more basic offenses in the league since Nick Sirianni took over. With Moore as the offensive coordinator, the Eagles should theoretically have a more complex scheme. This is a big change and one I’m excited to see, especially once Hurts gets comfortable with what Moore wants him to do. Early reports indicate there’s a lot of underneath routes and middle-of-the-field plays, something the Eagles didn’t emphasize in previous years. I expect Hurts to be just fine. Don’t overreact.

Kelee Ringo Locked in at Starting CB?

Before the Eagles reported to OTAs and mini-camp, if you had asked me who I thought would start at cornerback opposite Darius Slay, I would have said Quinyon Mitchell. After all, the Eagles spent a first-round pick on him. Not so fast—Ringo has received the most praise from beat writers. For many, Ringo has been overlooked due to the additions of Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Let’s not forget that Ringo is still only 21 years old, making him one of the youngest players on the team and in the league. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is the starting CB opposite Slay come September.

John Ross Still Has Something in the Tank

John Ross was invited to the rookie mini-camp on a tryout and was eventually signed by the Eagles after DeVante Parker retired. Ross was known for his speed coming out of college, running a 4.22 40-yard dash at the combine. That 40 time raised his draft stock and led to him being drafted 9th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Bengals. His career so far has been a disappointment, with 62 catches for 957 yards and 11 touchdowns. While he’s a long shot to make the roster, he has been performing well in mini-camp, catching the eye of many reporters with his speed against the Eagles defense. There’s an opportunity for him with how the roster is set up. I would love for the John Ross story to have a great ending; I wish him the best of luck and hope he makes it.

Defense Shines Against the Offense

As many beat writers have noted, the defense is getting the upper hand on the offense. Players like Devin White, Reed Blankenship, Cooper DeJean, Quinyon Mitchell, and others are making plays and catching attention. For the first time in a long time, the Eagles have young talent at CB, a position that has been patched with band-aid signings year after year. As I mentioned in the Hurts section, the offense is installing a new system, so hiccups are to be expected. But perhaps the Vic Fangio system is thriving with Fangio himself?

Final Thoughts

It’s just minicamp at the end of the day. It’s exciting—fans have waited since January/February to see their team play some type of football, and now we’re here. There will be plenty of overreactions, and that’s okay. Just know that things change when the pads are on and the lights shine bright. Some players don’t perform well in camps, while others are camp stars. Try to enjoy everything—football will be back before you know it.